REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Resolution No. 6047 Relating to the Youth Commission Selection Process and Action on Appointment of Youth Commissioners for the 2019-20 Term
Report
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara Youth Commission was established on June 6, 1995 by Ordinance No. 1673 (Attachment 1). The Commission provides opportunities for youth involvement in, and access to, City government through a formal commission. On July 25, 1995 Council passed Resolution No. 6047 (Attachment 2) which further defined eligibility criteria for membership and granted powers and duties to the Commission, such that the Youth Commission is comprised of 15 residents of the City of Santa Clara, aged 12-19, who serve a one-year term with a maximum term of service of four calendar years, who don't hold paid office or employment in the City, and include at least one representative from each high school and middle school in the City. The Youth Commission serves in an advisory capacity to Council and makes recommendations on matters pertaining to the youth and teen population, especially as related to municipal programs and City projects, and is under supervision of a staff liaison designated by the City Manager.
DISCUSSION
Following past practice, on March 23, 2019, 27 candidates for the City of Santa Clara Youth Commission were interviewed by a panel including the Commission's Staff Liaison, a Parks & Recreation Department supervisor, and the outgoing Youth Commission Chairperson. The applicants were screened for the eligibility criteria listed above and evaluated on how well they would represent the City's youth and teen population on the Youth Commission. However, while Council Resolution No. 6047 states in paragraph 3(b) that the Staff Liaison will coordinate the interview process, the selection process did not include the two specified steps found in sections 3(c) and 3(d), which is to have volunteer college students from Mission College and Santa Clara Univer...
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