REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Appointment of Youth Commissioners for the FY 2026/27 Term
Report
BACKGROUND
The Youth Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council and makes recommendations on matters pertaining to the Santa Clara youth and teen population, particularly as they relate to municipal programs and City projects. The City Commission operates under the supervision of a staff liaison from the Parks & Recreation Department.
The Youth Commission was established in 1995 by Ordinance No. 1673, with eligibility criteria, powers, and responsibilities outlined in Resolution No. 6047. The candidate selection and recommendation process was updated in 2019 by Resolution No. 19-8706.
DISCUSSION
The Youth Commission is comprised of fifteen (15) appointed members and three (3) alternates. As of April 2026, eight (8) Youth Commissioners are eligible for reappointment, resulting in seven (7) Youth Commissioner vacancies, and three (3) alternate position vacancies to be filled by Council appointment.
On March 14, 2026, a selection panel interviewed twenty-three (23) candidates for the City of Santa Clara Youth Commission. In accordance with the approved process, the panel consisted of the Commission’s Staff Liaison, a Parks & Recreation Department Recreation Supervisor, and the outgoing Youth Commission Chairperson. The applicants were screened for eligibility and evaluated on their ability to represent the City’s youth and teen population on the Youth Commission.
Following the interview process, the selection panel recommends the reappointment of eight (8) existing eligible commissioners, the appointment of seven (7) eligible candidates to serve on the Commission, and the conditional appointment of three (3) eligible candidates to serve as alternates. The alternates are non-voting members who will attend meetings and may fill a vacancy if a Youth Commissioner is unable to complete their term. Each Commissioner will serve a one-year term beginning in September 2026 and ending in May 2027. All recommended candidates meet the eligibility requirement of being a City of Santa Clara resident between the ages of 12 and 19.
Table 1 below identifies the candidates recommended for reappointment, appointment, and conditional appointment to serve as alternates for the FY 2026/27 Youth Commission.
Table 1. Recommended Youth Commission Appointments for FY 2026/27
A. Returning Commissioners Eligible for Reappointment
Name Grade School Entering Fall 2026
Seoyun Chong 11 Archbishop Mitty High School
Allysa Domensino 11 Santa Clara High School
Mateo Espinal 12 Santa Clara High School
Srikha Gopisetti 12 Wilcox High School
Neha Israni 12 Cupertino High School
Drew Madriaga 12 Wilcox High School
Brian Rong 12 Lynbrook High School
Aneesha Vemu 12 Archbishop Mitty High School
B. Candidates Recommended for Appointment
Name Grade School Entering Fall 2026
Aryav Ahuja 9 Archbishop Mitty High School
Nikhil Gupta 10 Archbishop Mitty High School
Hunar Kaur 11 Santa Clara High School
Sahana Mahesh 9 Santa Clara High School
Nevan Molina 10 Cupertino High School
Shwasa Muttumu 11 Notre Dame High School
Ibrahim Rayees 11 University Preparatory Academy
C. Candidates Recommended for Conditional Appointment as Alternates
Name Grade School Entering Fall 2026
Maryam Shaahid 9 Granada Islamic School
Aditri Bhatla 9 Santa Clara High School
Hannah Mercado 11 Archbishop Mitty High School
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impacts associated with the approval of appointments to the Youth Commission for the FY 2026/27 term include staff support, Commissioner training, and meeting-related expenses. These costs are included in the Parks & Recreation Department’s Adopted Operating Budget for FY 2026/27.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council takes the following actions related to the FY2026/27 Youth Commission:
1. Reappoint Seoyun Chong, Allysa Domensino, Mateo Espinal, Srikha Gopisetti, Neha Israni, Drew Madriaga, Brian Rong, and Aneesha Vemu as Youth Commissioners;
2. Appoint Aryav Ahuja, Nikhil Gupta, Hunar Kaur, Sahana Mahesh, Nevan Molina, Shwasa Muttumu, and Ibrahim Rayees as Youth Commissioners; and
3. Appoint Maryam Shaahid, Aditri Bhatla, and Hannah Mercado as alternates to the Youth Commission.
Staff
Prepared by: Richard Casem, Recreation Coordinator
Reviewed by: Damon Sparacino, Director of Parks & Recreation
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager