DATE: March 12, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Library Department
TITLE: RESOLUTION TO RE-ESTABLISH THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION AND BYLAWS
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to re-establish the Youth Commission and approve the application and bylaws.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The City’s Youth Commission was originally formed on November 10, 1999. Its role at that time was to consider and make recommendations to the City Council on youth-related issues in the community. The goals of the Youth Commission were to: encourage and promote youth involvement and participation in City activities; provide an avenue for youth to express their concerns, ideas, and recommendations to City officials; provide and receive input with regard to youth-related interests in the community; and make recommendations to City Council on youth-related matters. It was dissolved on August 18, 2010 after challenges with commissioner attendance at regular meetings. During the last two years of it being active, 17 of the 20 meetings were cancelled due to lack of quorum.
While the prior Youth Commission was dissolved more than 15 years ago, the need for youth input remains an important element to informing the City’s work. Oceanside youth actively engage in programs and internships provided by the City, serve as community volunteers, participate in extracurricular activities, and attend City events. Local youth are poised to provide a critical perspective to City Council and implement educational initiatives for youth, by youth, around important issues such as e-bike safety, drug use, mental health, social justice issues and the environment. The commitment to the sustainability of the Commission was demonstrated when representatives from the local high school and the North County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Youth Council met with City staff and presented to the City Council on October 9, 2024, advocating for re-establishment. Following this presentation, City Council directed staff to re-establish the Youth Commission and the currently recommended actions would accomplish this directive.
The action requested is to approve the resolution re-establishing the Youth Commission with the purpose to provide youth input to City Council and offer a youth perspective on the ongoing work of the City, empowering youth to engage and participate with local government elected officials, as well as providing City Councilmembers with the opportunity to hear and address youth concerns. The functions, duties and governance structure of the Commission are identified in the attached resolution and its bylaws and application. The membership application and by-laws were developed by City staff after consulting with other cities with existing Youth Commissions and meeting with local youth to get their input. It is proposed for the Commission to have nine regular (voting) members, with two alternate members. All Commission members shall be residents of the City of Oceanside. Commission appointments are nominated by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by a majority of the Council. Members should be representative of the demographics, diversity and culture of the City, and the Oceanside City Council Districts. Commission members will be in grades 9 to 12 upon appointment and are not bound to attend any particular school. The Library Department will provide staff support to the Youth Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Library Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Resolution to Re-establish the Youth Commission at its February 25, 2025 meeting.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The application and bylaws have been reviewed and approved as to form.
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Prepared by: CJ Di Mento, Library Director
Reviewed by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Youth Commission Resolution
3. Youth Commission Bylaws
4. Youth Commission Application