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 th...
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