HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 22 - Youth Commission Informational ReportParks, Recreation, and Community Services
www.santa-ana.org/parks
Item # 22
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 19, 2024
TOPIC: Youth Commission Informational Report
AGENDA TITLE
Youth Commission Informational Report (continued from the meeting of March 19, 2024,
Item No. 25)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Accept informational report and provide direction to staff.
GOVERNMENT CODE 84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION:
Background
At the February 20, 2024 meeting, the City Council directed staff to return with options
regarding the future of the Youth Commission. Accordingly, staff conducted preliminary
research regarding different commission structures, alternatives to a commission, and
out-of-the-box considerations as options to obtain greater youth involvement. Below are
some options for the City Council to consider.
1.Keep Youth Commission as-is. Staff requests that Councilmembers encourage
their appointees to attend meetings and remind them that they receive $100.00 per
meeting. The Commission is currently missing appointees from Ward 1, Ward 3,
and the Mayor (appointment listed separately on agenda for March 19, 2024).
2.Disband Youth Commission.
3.Staff-run Youth Advisory Committee. The City of Anaheim was experiencing
similar issues with lack of quorum and participation and recently dissolved their
Youth Commission and established a Youth Advisory Committee to be appointed
and managed by staff, meetings to be held with any number of members present,
and not subject to the Brown Act.
4.Subcommittee for Parks and Recreation with two rotating seats for members of
the Youth Subcommittee to attend Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Commission meetings as commissioners.
Youth Commission Informational Report
March 19, 2024
Page 2
4
1
6
4
5.Create two seats on the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
Commission as done for the two Senior representatives. Youth would submit
applications to the City Clerk and staff would select from the applicants for
approval by the City Council.
In terms of keeping the Youth Commission as-is (Option No. 1), the City Council had
inquired about the use of Zoom, providing transportation, and changing the location of
meetings. The Youth Commission was created by the City Council as an advisory body
and its members are appointed by the City Council. Therefore, its meetings are subject
to the Brown Act; the provisions of the Brown Act preclude the City from conducting a
completely virtual meeting. In terms of providing transportation, the City does not have
the proper driver certifications to transport youth individually. Additionally, there are
additional insurance and liability concerns pertaining to transporting and supervising
minors. Alternative locations for meetings could be investigated and possibly
implemented, noting that as commissioners are appointed by ward, a location that is
closer and more convenient for one commissioner may pose a greater hardship for
another commissioner. Staff recommends maintaining a central location for the
meetings at City Hall.
Recommendation
Staff recommends Option No. 5: the creation of two seats on the Parks, Recreation, and
Community Services Commission meeting, similar to the two Senior representatives.
Interested youth would submit applications to the City Clerk and staff would review
applicants, interview, and select two for the Commission, subject to approval by the City
Council. Councilmembers are asked to encourage youth to apply for this opportunity.
Appointees made by the Parks and Recreation Staff would be full commissioners on the
Parks and Recreation Commission, with a $100 per meeting stiped.
Should the City Council provide direction to staff related to Option nos. 2-5, staff will
return at a future meeting for formal action by the City Council to implement the chosen
direction.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT(S)
Submitted By: Hawk Scott, Executive Director of Parks, Recreation and Community
Services
Approved By: Tom Hatch, Interim City Manager