Berkeley Municipal Code Ch. 3.42 Youth Commission

A. A Youth Commission of the City is hereby established. Members shall be appointed as hereinafter in this chapter provided.

B. In order to give youth a voice in effecting City policy and services, the City Council and School Board strongly support the concept of a Youth Commission composed of youth and young adults between the ages of twelve and twenty-five. (Ord. 4896-NS § 1, 1976)

A. One member of the Youth Commission shall be appointed by each City Councilmember, in accordance with Ordinance 4780-NS, and nine members shall be appointed by the School Board, for a total composition of eighteen.

B. The following desirable criteria may guide, but not restrict, each councilmember and the School Board in making appointments:

1. Members to be residents of the City;

2. Members to be between the ages of twelve and twenty-five;

3. At least half of the members to be high school students or junior high school students. (Ord. 4896-NS § 2, 1976)

The term of office of each member shall be one year. Members shall be eligible for reappointment for up to three terms, but in no event shall the term exceed four consecutive years on the commission, except as provided in Section 2.04.070 of this code. (Ord. 4896-NS § 3, 1976)

Vacancies on the Youth Commission, from whatever cause except temporary vacancies as provided in Section 3.02.030, shall be filled in accordance with Section 2.04.070 of this code. (Ord. 4896-NS § 4, 1976)

Subject to the approval of the council in each case, the commission may designate one of its members to act as a liaison representative to any other board, commission or committee of the City. The functions of such liaison representatives are to attend meetings of such other board, commission or committee; advise the Youth Commission of the background, attitudes and reasons behind the actions of such other board, commission or committee; and on request of such other board, commission or committee, to advise such other board, commission or committee of policy, procedures and decisions of the Youth Commission that may bear upon matters under discussion by such other board, commission or committee. Such liaison representative shall have no power to vote. (Ord. 4896-NS § 6, 1976)

A. The commission may make and alter all rules and regulations governing its organization and procedures not inconsistent with this chapter or any ordinance of the City.

B. The commission shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings and transactions, and shall submit an annual report to the City Council with a copy to the City Manager.

C. A majority of the members appointed to the commission shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members appointed is required to take any action.

D. The commission shall elect one of its members president and one of its members vice-president, who shall hold office for one year and until their successors are elected unless their terms as members of the commission expire sooner. An officer or employee of the City designated by the City Manager shall serve as secretary of the commission.

E. The commission shall establish a regular place and time for meeting. All meetings shall be noticed as required by law and shall be scheduled in a way to allow for maximum input from the public. The frequency of meetings shall be as determined by City Council resolution. The scheduling of special meetings in addition to those established by City Council resolution, except special meetings that take the place of cancelled regular meetings, shall be subject to approval by the City Council. A request for a special meeting shall include the reason for the proposed meeting and should be expedited on the City Council’ s agenda, or in the alternative, placed before the Agenda Committee for approval. (Ord. 6895-NS § 1, 2006; Ord. 6023-NS § 1, 1990; Ord. 5372-NS § 1, 1981; Ord. 4896-NS § 9, 1976)

The functions of the Youth Commission are as follows:

A. Identify the needs of the youth of the community and create a citizen awareness of these needs;

B. Recommend and encourage improved standards of services to youth in the City;

C. Recommend and encourage needed new services for youth, both public and private, initially using the report of the Youth Services Ad Hoc Task Force submitted to council on June 10, 1975;

D. Encourage coordination among organizations providing services to youth in the community, both public and private, and provide advice and assistance to them;

E. Review all programs that are developed and operated for youth by the City and the Berkeley Unified School District and make recommendations as to the success or failure of these programs;

F. In cooperation with other agencies, collect, maintain and interpret information and statistics on youth for the use of citizens and organizations in the City. No information shall be gathered or maintained which can be associated with identifiable individuals;

G. Encourage preparation of publications and results of study and research pertaining to youth;

H. Advise the City Council and School Board on all matters affecting youth in the community;

I. Render advice and assistance to other City boards, school boards, commissions, committees, departments, and to private agencies on matters affecting youth;

J. Sponsor an annual "youth day symposium" in the City to gain the input of concerned youth;

K. Perform such other functions and duties as may be directed by the City Council or School Board. (Ord. 4896-NS § 11, 1976)