HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.N 06/05/2017Agenda Item #3.N
2.
DATE: June 5, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Scott Brodhun, Assistant City Manager ,—_
SUBJECT: Resolution Increasing the Number of Voting Members Serving on the Youth
Commission, Establishing Five Non - Voting Youth Positions, and Repealing and
Updating Previous Enabling Legislation for the Petaluma Youth Commission
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution Increasing the Number of Voting
Members Serving on the Youth Commission, Establishing Five Non - Voting Youth Positions,
and Repealing and Updating Previous Enabling Legislation for the Petaluma Youth Commission.
BACKGROUND
On October 18, 1999 the City Council adopted a Resolution creating the Youth Commission. On
December 15, 2008 the City Council tools further action adding the Teen Council to the Youth
Commission. In February, 2010 the City Council adopted a Resolution adding a member of the
City Council to the Youth Commission as a Council liaison and voting member of the
Commission. In November 2012 the City Council took action to add an adult member to the
Commission.
As it is currently established, the Youth Commission can be comprised of twenty four members,
including up to eight adult members who are appointed at- large; up to 14 youth members; a
representative of the Recreation, Music and Parks Commission; and, a member from the City
Council.
DISCUSSION
At the April 11, 2017 regular meeting of the Youth Commission, the Commission voted
unanimously to recommend to the City Council an amendment to the enabling legislation to
increase the size of the Youth Commission to 20 voting youth members and 5 non - voting youth
members. Youth members expressed a need and desire to have more widespread membership
representing a larger number of area schools, while expanding opportunities for those applicants
placed on a waiting list due to the current membership cap.
On April 17, 2017 student members of the Youth Commission presented a proposal to the City
Council to increase the number of youth voting members on the Commission from fourteen to
twenty, and to add up to 5 additional non - voting youth members to the Youth Commission.
Following the presentation, the City Council directed staff to bring revised enabling legislation to
a future agenda for City Council consideration.
Changes to the enabling legislation will impact the composition of the Commission with respect
to student membership. Below is a summary of the proposed structure of the commission and
the recommended changes:
• Adult Members - No Chance: Up to eight adults (ages 21 or older), shall be appointed
by the City Council from the community at large. Members shall live within the local
school district boundaries.
• Youth Members - Chance from Current 14 to 20: Up to twenty youth (eighth grade
through age 20) shall be appointed by the City Council from the Community at large.
Members shall live within the local school district boundaries.
• Youth Members - Chance to Add 5 Non- Votina Members: Up to five youth
advocates (eighth grade through age 20) shall be appointed by the City Council from the
community at large to serve as non - voting members of the Youth Commission. Youth
advocate members shall live within the local school district boundaries.
• Member from Recreation, Music and Parks Commission - No Chanae: One member
of the Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission (RMPC), shall be recommended by the
RMPC, who shall serve as liaison between the Youth Commission and the RMPC, and
who shall be a voting member of the Commission.
• Member from City Council - No Chance: One member of the City Council shall be
selected by the City Council, who shall serve as liaison between the Commission and the
City Council, and who shall be a voting member of the Commission.
Recruitment and selection for the new youth positions will be completed on the regular schedule
and in conjunction with the filling of boards and commissions vacancies at the second meeting in
June.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
There is no financial impact associated with the action to approve the resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YOUTH MEMBERS
SERVING ON THE YOUTH COMMISSION, ESTABLISHING FIVE NON-
VOTING YOUTH POSITIONS, AND REPEALING AND UPDATING PREVIOUS
ENABLING LEGISLATION FOR THE PETALUMA YOUTH COMMISSION
WHEREAS, on October 18, 1999 the City Council adopted Resolution 99 -204 N.C.S
creating the Youth Commission ( "Commission "); and,
WHEREAS, on December 15, 2008 the City Council adopted Resolution 2008 -226
N.C.S adding the Teen Council to the Youth Commission and repealing and updating the
enabling legislation; and,
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2010 the City Council adopted Resolution no. 2010 -020
N.C.S. adding a member of the City Council as a Council liaison and voting member of the
Youth Commission and repealing and updating the enabling legislation; and,
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2012 the City Council adopted Resolution 2012 -162
N.C.S. adding an adult member, thereby bringing the number of adults currently serving on the
Commission to eight, and repealing and updating the enabling legislation; and,
WHEREAS, at the April 11`x', 2017 regular meeting of the Youth Commission, the
Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council an amendment to the
enabling legislation to increase the size of the Youth Commission to 20 voting youth members
and 5 non - voting youth members; and
WHEREAS, on April 17, 2017 youth members of the Youth Commission presented a
proposal to the City Council to increase youth voting members on the Commission from fourteen
to twenty, and add up to 5 additional non - voting youth members to the Youth Commission,
subsequent to which a majority of the City Council directed staff to bring revised enabling
legislation to a future agenda for City Council consideration.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:
1. Repeal. All previous resolutions relating to the Commission are repealed and
superseded by this resolution, except for any previous resolutions appointing
current Commission members.
2. Continuance of Current Terms. Subject to the terms of this resolution,
current members of the Commission shall continue to serve for the remainder
of the terms to which they have been appointed.
3. Composition, The Commission shall consist of up to thirty five members, as
follows:
• Up to eight adults (ages 21 or older) shall be appointed by the City
Council from the community at large. Members shall live within the local
school district boundaries.
• Up to twenty youth (eighth grade through age 20) shall be appointed by
the City Council from the Community at large. Members shall live within
the local school district boundaries.
• Up to five youth advocates (eighth grade through age 20) shall be
appointed by the City Council from the community at large to serve as
non - voting members of the Youth Commission. Youth advocate members
shall live within the local school district boundaries.
• One member of the Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission (RMPC)
shall be recommended by the RMPC, who shall serve as liaison between
the Youth Commission and the RMPC, and who shall be a voting member
of the Commission.
• One member of the City Council shall be selected by the City Council,
who shall serve as liaison between the Commission and the City Council,
and who shall be a voting member of the Commission.
4. Selection Process. In April of each year, notice will be provided announcing
upcoming openings on the Commission (by means of networking, articles,
flyers, advertising, and other means). During the month of May, a sub-
committee of the Commission will review applications of youth applicants
and interview youth candidates. Recommendations will be conveyed to the
City Council who will make all Commission appointments.
5. Mission. The purpose of the Commission is to be an advocate for the well-
being and development of City of Petaluma youth through the age of 21 in the
five areas o£ health, safety, recreation, jobs, and community engagement.
6. Duties /Authority. The Commission's duties shall include education, public
relations and fundraising relating to issues of importance to youth in the
Petaluma community, providing advice to the City Council regarding such
matters, and such other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance, resolution,
rule or direction of the City Council. The Commission's duties do not include
oversight of Petaluma staff, contractors or operations. The Commission has no
authority to employ any person or incur any expense or obligation without the
approval of the City Council. The commission shall have the right to establish
such procedures and regulations as it deems appropriate for the conduct of its
meetings, the selection of its officers and the performance of its functions,
consistent with applicable law, including all applicable City ordinances,
regulations, rules and /or direction of the City Council.
7. Terms. The terms of office of each member, other than the Council Liaison
and the RMPC Liaison shall be two years. The Council Liaison shall be
appointed annually in January by the City Council to serve for that calendar
year. The RMPC Liaison shall be appointed annually to serve a one -year term
from July 1 — June 30. The members' terms shall be staggered such that the
terms of no more than ten members shall expire in any given year.
Notwithstanding the expiration of a member's term pursuant to this provision,
and subject to provision 8 of this Resolution, and section 55 of the City
Charter, which provides that no person shall be reappointed as a member of a
City commission who has served continuously for six years, until at least one
year shall have elapsed after the expiration of the sixth year of service,
members shall serve until a successor is appointed by the City Council.
Resignation/Removal. The City Council may declare the office of a member
vacant: upon the resignation, death, or disability that results in the inability of
a member to perform her /his duties; loss of residency or other status required
for the member to be eligible to serve; unexcused absence of a member from
three consecutive regular meetings of the Commission; or for any other reason
in the Council's sole discretion.
9. Vacancies. Upon declaring a Commission seat vacant for any reason, the
Commission will implement the selection process and the City Council shall
thereupon appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired
term.
10. Quorum /Action. A quorum of more than 50% of the total number of voting
commission members appointed is required to meet and conduct business.
Fewer than 50% of the total number of commission members appointed, or if
no members are present, staff to the Commission may adjourn meetings of the
Commission in accordance with all applicable requirements of the Ralph M.
Brown Act (California Government Code Section 54950 et seq.). All actions
or recommendations of the Commission shall be made at a meeting at which a
quorum of the Commission is present and shall be made by majority vote of
the members present. A tie vote shall constitute no action on the motion,
proposed action or recommendation.
11. Staff. The City's Recreation Services Division shall advise and support the
Commission as appropriate in the performance of its duties.