HomeMy WebLinkAbout13. Discuss & Approve Updated City of Downey Youth Commission GuidelinesI 101"l
APPROVED BY
CITY a ER
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: VANIAH DE ROJAS, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
SUBJECT: DOWNEY YOUTH COMMISSION GUIDELINES
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council discuss and approve the updated City of Downey Youth Commission
Guidelines.
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The Downey City Council approved the formation of the Downey Youth Commission in June 28,
2011. The goals of the Downey Youth Commission are:
Leadership development
Civic/local government education (including planning Youth in Government Day)
Provision of youth input to the City Council
- Completion of annual assignments/priorities from the City Council
In additional to the established goals, Attachment A includes the approved City of Downey
Youth Commission Guidelines.
As the Downey Youth Commission enters its 8t" year and appointments are needed for the new
school year, staff is recommending to update the Youth Commission Guidelines.
Attachment B includes the modified City of Downey Youth Commission Guidelines. The new
Guidelines include non -substantive clean up items, such as the date of meetings and updated
formatting, etc. Other changes, listed below, include clarifications that were not previously
stated in the Youth Commission Guidelines or consistently practiced.
1. Eligibility eguirements
• Maintain that applicants must reside in Downey.
• Allow students who reside in Downey, but attend a high school outside of the City
to apply to the Youth Commission.
DOWNEY YOUTH COMMISSION
PAGE 2
2. Number of Appointees
• Include language that in 'accordance with the Downey City Charter at least one
Commissioner shall be appointed from each of the five Council districts.
3. Selection Process-
• Include language that each Downey City Council member shall review submitted'
applications from their respective districts.
• Include language that each Downey City Council member shall appoint up to
three (3) applicants to the Youth Commission from their district.
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action;
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Public Engagement
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A —City of Downey Youth Commission Guidelines
Attachment B — City of Downey Youth Commission Guidelines September 2019
city of Downey
Guiii
1*- NAME
The name of this Committee shall be the Downey Youth Commission.
MINEFORT-574
The Commission's purpose shall be:
- Leadership development
Civic/local government education (including planning Youth in Government
Day)
Provision of youth input to the City Council
Completion of annual assignments/priorities from the City Council
The Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Downey City Council.
Commissioners shall not receive payment for their service and shall not have the
authority to expend City funds.
This Commission is created under the jurisdiction of the Downey City Council.
The Chair or Vice -Chair of the Commission or her/his representative shall attend
the Downey City Council meetings to:
- Provide reports on Youth Commission recommendations and/or actions; and
- To hear & report back the City Council's directives to the Youth Commission.
The Commission shall be comprised of a minimum of five (5) voting members.
Commissioners must live in Downey and be enrolled in a high school (grades 9-
12) located in Downey.
1 Potential commissioners shall submit an application to the City.
2. Commission members shall be enrolled in high school and entering
grades 9 through 12.
3. Commission members entering grades 9-11 shall serve for a two-year
term. Commission members entering grade 12 shall be limited to a
one-year term.
ATTACHMENT A
4. Commission members may request and be reappointed for up to 2
terms of 2 years, provided the Commissioner still resides in Downey
and is enrolled in 9th -12th grades at school located in Downey.
If a member is absent from a total of three meetings per fiscal year (July -
June) without notice, her/his office shall automatically become vacant.
Commission vacancy is filled by the eligibility list created through the
annual application process.
Long-term absences, due to extenuating circumstances, may be excused
by the Staff liaison. Such request must be submitted in writing.
C. Expiration of Terml
Commission member terms run concurrently with the City's fiscal year,
beginning on July 1. Terms expire either years or 1 year following initial
appointment, on June 30th. The term of a Commission member appointed
mid -year shall expire June 30 unless reappointed.
The Commission shall meet regularly each month,
The Commission will select a meeting time and date convenient to most
members and adhere to that schedule. The Chair will have power to call
special meetings, but all members shall have at least three days notice for
a special meeting.
At the July meeting each year, the Commission shall organize by electing
a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary from its membership to serve for one
year. Successful candidates must receive a majority vote of members
present. Elected officers may be re-elected to serve in the same capacity
for two consecutive years.
1. Duties;
a. The Chair shall preside at Commission meetings, shall
represent the Commission at various functions, and make
necessary decisions affecting the Commission when_a meeting
is not possible. It is his/her responsibility to attend or send
another Commission member to represent him/her to all City
Council meetings.
b. The Vice Chair shall assume the Chair's duties in the Chair's
absence or inability to perform duties. In the absence of the
Chair, the Vice Chair will attend or send another Commission
member to represent her/him at all City Council meetings.
c. In the absence or the disability of both the Chair and Vice Chair,
the Staff Liaison shall chair the meeting.
d. The Secretary shall record the minutes for each meeting, keep
accurate record of attendance and notify the Chair and Staff
Liaison of members missing three (3) total meetings.
e. Staff Liaison shall be a member of the City of Downey staff. The
duties shall include: providing staff assistance as necessary for
the conduct of the Commission's business and acting as the
principal staff advisor.
All rules and regulations governing the Commission shall be approved by
the Downey City Council and shall be kept on file with the City. The
Commission shall keep written record of its transactions, findings, and
determinations. Copies of such materials, as well as minutes of each
meeting, shall be forwarded to the Staff Liaison.
The designated staff liaison may recommend removal of a Commission
member as a result of derogatory or inappropriate comments,
inappropriate behavior or failure to comply with the established guidelines.
Commission will operate under parliamentary procedure
A simple majority of the Commission members shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business. The affirmation or negative vote of the
majority of the members present shall be necessary for the final
transaction of any business.
•
The Chair may establish sub -committees as needed to accomplish a
Commission project. The Chair shall appoint all sub -committee members
from the Commission.
Amendments to these guidelines may be recommended to the Downey
City Council upon a 2/3 -majority vote of the Youth Commission members.
All amendments to said guidelines must be approved by the Downey City
Council.
City of Downey
Youth Commission Guidelines
Updated: September 2019
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The name of this Committee shall be the Downey Youth Commission..
The Commission's purpose shall be:
• Leadership development
• Civic/local government education (including planning Student
Government Day)
• Provide input to the City Council regarding youth issues
• Completion of annual assignments/priorities from the City Council
The Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Downey City Council.
Commissioners shall not receive payment for their service and shall not have the
authority to expend City funds.
This Commission is created under the jurisdiction of the Downey City Council.
The Chair or Vice -Chair of the Commission or her/his representative shall attend
the Downey City Council meetings to:
• Provide reports on Youth Commission recommendations and/or actions;
and
• To hear & report back the City Council's directives to the Youth
Commission.
IV. MEMBERSHIP
A. Eligibility Requirements
1. Commission members must live in Downey.
2. Commission members must be enrolled in high school and entering
grades 9 through 12.
B. Number of Appointees
1. The Commission shall be comprised of a minimum of five (5) voting
members
2. The Commission shall be comprised of a maximum of fifteen (15)
voting members, with each Council member appointing up to three (3)
Commissioners.
ATTACHMENT B
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3. In accordance with the Downey City Charter, at least one
Commissioner shall be appointed from each of the five Council
districts.
C Selection
1. Applicants shall submit an application to the City.
2. Each Downey City Council member shall review submitted applications
from their respective districts.
3. Each Downey City Councilmember shall appoint up to three (3)
applicants to the Youth Commission from their district.
4. Applicants shall be appointed at a Downey City Council meeting.
D Term
1 Commission members entering grades 9-11 shallserve for a two-year
term. Commission members entering grade 12 shall be limited to a
one-year term.
2. Commission members may request and be reappointed for up to 2
terms of 2 years, provided the Commissioner member still meets the
Eligibility Requirements as stated in IV. MEMBERSHIP — A. Eligibility
Requirements.
E. Vacancies
If a member is absent from a total of three meetings per fiscal year (July
June) without notice, her/his office shall automatically become vacant.
Commission vacancy is filled by the eligibility list created through the
annual application process or ongoing marketing for the program.
Long-term absences, due to extenuating circumstances, may be excused
by the Staff liaison. Such request must be submitted in writing.
F Expiration of Terms
Commission member terms run concurrently with the City's fiscal year,
beginning on July 1. Terms expire either 2 years or 1 year following initial
appointment, on June 30th. The term of a Commission member appointed
mid -year shall expire June 30 unless reappointed.
A. Meetings
The Commission shall meet on the third Thursday of each month from
September through May to coincide with Downey Unified School District's
school year. The Commission shall select a meeting time that is
convenient to most members and adhere to that schedule
The Chair will have power to call special meetings, but all members shall
have at least three days' notice for -a special meeting.
Page 2 of 4
B Officers
In September of each year, the Commission shall organize by electing a
Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary from its membership to serve for one
year. Successful candidates must receive a majority vote of members
present. Elected officers may be re-elected" to serve in the same capacity
for two, consecutive years.
i.- Duties:
1. The Chair shall preside at Commission meetings, shall
represent the Commission at various City functions, and
make necessary decisions affecting the Commission when a
meeting is not possible. It is his/her responsibility to attend or
send another Commission member to represent him/her a
City Council meetings.
2. The Vice Chair shall assume the Chair's duties in the
Chair's absence or inability to perform duties. In the absence
of the Chair, the Vice Chair will attend or send another
Commission member to represent her/him at City Council
meetings.
a. In the absence of both the Chair and Vice Chair, the
Staff Liaison shall chair the meeting.
3._ The Secretary shall record the minutes for each meeting,
keep accurate record of attendance and notify the Chair and
staff liaison of members missing three (3) total meetings.
A staff liaison shall be a member of the City of Downey staff. The duties
shall include: providing staff assistance as necessary for the conduct of
the Commission's business and acting as the principal staff advisor.
All rules and regulations governing the Commission shall be approved by
the Downey City Council and shall be kept on file with the City. The
Commission shall keep written record of its transactions, findings, and
determinations. Copies of such materials, as well as minutes of each
meeting, shall be forwarded to the staff liaison and in turn the City Clerk's
Office.
The designated staff liaison may recommend removal of a Commission
member as a result of derogatory or inappropriate comments,
inappropriate behavior or failure to comply with the established Youth
Commission Guidelines.
Page 3 of 4
The Commission will operate under parliamentary procedure.
A simple majority of the Commission members shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. The affirmation or negative
vote of the majority of the members present shall be necessary for
the final transaction of any business.
The Chair may establish sub -committees as needed to accomplish
a Commission project. The Chair shall appoint all sub -committee
members from the Commission.
t- _
Amendments to the Youth Commission Guidelines may be
recommended to the Downey City Council by City staff or upon a
2/3 -majority vote of the Youth Commission members. All
amendments to said guidelines must be approved by the Downey
City Council.
Page 4 of 4