REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Appointment of Youth Commissioners for the FY2020/21 Term [Council Pillar: Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency]
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, especially as it relates to municipal programs and City projects, and is under supervision of a staff liaison from the Parks & Recreation Department and designated by the City Manager. The Youth Commission was established in 1995 by Ordinance 1673, with eligibility criteria, powers and responsibilities outlined in Resolution No. 6047. The candidate selection and recommendation processes were updated in 2019 under Resolution No. 19-8706.
DISCUSSION
As of August 2020, there are ten (10) returning Youth Commissioners eligible to be reappointed, five (5) Youth Commission vacancies, and two (2) alternate positions to be filled by Council appointment.
On July 11 and 18, 2020, 33 candidates for the City of Santa Clara Youth Commission were interviewed by a selection panel comprised of the Commission's Staff Liaison, a Parks & Recreation Department supervisor, and the outgoing Youth Commission Chairperson in accordance with the approved process. The applicants were screened for the eligibility criteria and then evaluated on how well they would represent the City's youth and teen population on the Youth Commission.
Following the interview process, the selection panel recommends reappointment of the ten (10) eligible returning commissioners, appointment of five (5) of the eligible candidates to serve on the Commission, and the naming of two (2) candidates to be conditionally appointed as Commission alternates. Alternate members are not voting members of the Commission but will attend meetings and assume a position on the Commission should a Youth Commissioner be unable to complete their term. Each Commissioner will serve a o...
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