CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Provide direction regarding youth commission/council/task force.
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DEPARTMENT: Mayor's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Miranda Barfuss, Assistant to City Council
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW: Not required
BACKGROUND:
Noting the significant numbers of youth involved in local protests, the City Council discussed the concept of forming a youth commission/council/task force at their June 2, 2020 meeting. The Council requested staff research and report on the concept of forming a youth commission/council/task force at their June 16, 2020 meeting.
The City of Naperville currently invites high school student representation for 33 positions on existing boards and commissions. Students representatives must be a Naperville resident, enrolled in a local high school and preference is given to high school seniors; however, all high school students may apply. Student representatives on our existing boards and commissions do not have voting power, nor are they considered to be a member of a board or commission as it relates to vote counts or quorum requirements.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has researched area youth councils and others across the nation, as well as best practice research documents produced by the National League of Cities and National Civic League on engaging youth in municipal governments.
Models
Models vary by municipality; however, four main models are summarized below:
1) Youth Academy- a year program for high school youth that focuses monthly meetings on a specific topic and features guest speakers and interactive sessions (e.g. About the City, Strategic Planning, City Budgeting, Non-Profits, Economic Development, Civic Engagement, Lobbying, Safety and Security in the Community, My Future in Municipal Government). This model is similar to the previous Citizens Academy.
2) Youth/Adult Commission- these commissions have youth members and adult members and can include members from the school district, park di...
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