HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06062000 - SD2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS =ir CONTRA
COSTA
FROM: Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier and the - COUNTY
Countywide Youth Commission .
.Y j
DATE: June 6, 2000
SUBJECT: Countywide Youth Commission Report for 1999-2000
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION(S):
ACKNOWLEDGE that young people today are faced with many important, sometimes life-altering
decisions; and that they possess strengths and assets that they can and do use to make a
positive difference in their families, schools and communities.
RECOGNIZE that the Board of Supervisors, with the leadership of Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier,
established the Countywide Youth Commission in 1994-5 to utilize and build on the strengths and
assets of youth, give youth a direct voice to the Board, involve youth in the governing process
and encourage youth to form partnerships which ensure that youth-related issues are more
effectively addressed.
RECOGNIZE that a primary role of the Countywide Youth Commission is to advise the Board of
Supervisors on youth-related policy issues.
ACKNOWLEDGE that the Countywide Youth Commission has served the Board of Supervisors
and the County during the 1999-2004 term by studying legislation, sponsoring the annual Youth
Hall of Fame Awards, representing youth on the Library Commission and Children and Families
Policy Forum, appointing liaisons to the Workforce Investment Youth Policy Council, and
preparing for Youth Vote 2040.
ACCEPT the report of the 1999-2040 accomplishments, as well as future plans and directions, of
the Countywide Youth Commission.
CON'T'INUED ON ATTACHMENT: _X,_,YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
—APPROVE —OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)-
ACTION OF BOARD ON -"«. sfl� ,'zv3 APPROVED AS RECOMMEND
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT �'_t7�°V 1 TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
$U VISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact:
ATTESTED
PHIL BATC ELOR,CLERK OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: CAO I!°
BY ✓ UEPUTY
eto
BACKGROUND/REASON(S) FOR RECOMMENDATION(S):
About +CYC
The Countywide Youth Commission (CYC) is an advisory group to the Board of
Supervisors on youth-related issues. Established in 1994-5 through the leadership of
Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, the CYC consists of 25 young people between the ages of
12 and 18 who reside/attend school in Contra Costa County. Term of office is two
years. Since its inception, Supervisor DeSaulnier has provided a high level of ongoing
staffing and support for the Commission.
Each Board member appoints three Commissioners from his/her District and the
remaining ten Commissioners are appointed to "at-large" seats. Term of appointment
is two years, with the District and At-Large seats coming up for reappointment in
alternating years. Parent Volunteers (one from each District) also help support the
CYC.
Each Commissioner is expected to attend the monthly CYC meeting, which Is held on
the 4t" Wednesday, from 5:30 pm-8:30 pm. (Meetings are held in Central County every
other month and rotate among East, West and South County in the alternate months.)
In addition, each Commissioner must serve on at least two Subcommittees during
his/her term. Current Subcommittees include:
➢ Youth Hall of Fame
➢ Youth Vote
Web Page
By-laws and Protocols
➢ Policy
8 "Bridges" newsletter
During the 1999-2000 term, the Youth Commissioners met monthly and worked to
inform themselves on policy and local government issues, such as the County Office of
Education"s Youth Development programs, the Children's Report Card, the Contra Costa
Health Services TeenAge Program, and the Workforce Investment Act. Commissioners
also served as liaisons to the Library Commission, Children and Family Policy Forum and
have been appointed for consideration as members of the newly-forming Workforce
Investment Youth Policy Council.
The CYC, in partnership with the Board of Supervisors, sponsored the third annual
Youth Hall of Fame awards in April, 2000. In addition, the Commissioners have worked
to prepare for Youth Vote 2000, which is scheduled for October, 2000.
mma f the fflivities of the CYCin 1922-2000
Poll
During the 1999-2000 term the Commissioners participated in training by the Assistant
County Administrator on local government. They reviewed the Brown Act and Local
Government Ordinance. The Commissioners studied and discussed state ballot
measure Proposition 21. Commissioners also studied and revised the CYC By-Laws.
The Policy Subcommittee is currently monitoring proposals for the November ballot and
may return to the Board In the fall with recommendations on statewide youth-related
ballot measures.
Youth trill of Fame
Each year, the CYC solicits nominations of outstanding youth and adult advocates for
youth for its "Youth Hall of Fame". Youth Hall of Fame was established in 1998 as a
way to recognize the sometimes over-looked commitment and service of local youth to
their peers, their schools and their communities. The honorees represent the many and
valuable contributions made by young people, as well as the adults who work with
youth, in Contra Costa County.
In 2000, 58 nominations were received and 5 youth and one adult were honored in the
categories of School Leadership, Artiste, Sports Leadership, Adult Advocate,
Good Samaritan and valiant Volunteer. The Youth Commissioners selected the
honorees and the criteria were weighted toward those whose good works might
otherwise go unnoticed. Youth Hall of Fame awards are presented as part of the
annual Cesar Chavez Commemorative Celebration, and the honorees' names are
recorded on a perpetual plaque at the Board of Supervisors Chambers.
Youth Vote
Youth Vote takes place every two years. Youth Vote 2000 will coincide with the
Presidential election. Results are released just before the "real" election, to give the
Board and the public information about youth concerns and Issues.
To prepare for Youth Vote, CYC Commissioners conduct informal focus groups to find
out the issues of most concern to their peers. In addition, they participate in a
statewide training to prepare them to write a Youth Voter's Pamphlet, including
analyses of actual measures on the ballot in November, 2000. They seek and
incorporate candidate profiles Into this Youth Voter's Pamphlet and write background
statements and "pros" and "cons" for the issues young people have selected.
In the past, Contra Costa worked on Youth Vote as a regional project, with Youth
Commissions in Alameda, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties (through
°BAYVArr--Bay Area Youth Vote Alliance). They raised funds, coordinated the event and
developed media outreach for the region. In 1998, 15 Contra Costa high schools were
selected for this exercise in civic responsibility. Voting booths and ballots were
deployed in the selected schools and students voted over a three-day period. School
site coordinators (usually government or leadership teachers) used Youth Vote as a
learning experience for their students. The votes were tabulated and results provided
by a professional tabulation firm. Students got to see how their vote `counts" by
reviewing the results and learned even more about the civic process by discussing the
experience and voting results in class.
For Youth Vote 2000, the Contra Costa CYC will conduct Youth Vote on a smaller scale,
as the regional alliance is not available. 7-10 schools will be selected. Commissioners
have conducted focus groups, developed issues for the youth ballot and are working in
subcommittees on fundraising, media relations and school participation. Commissioners
will return to the Board of Supervisors with Youth Vote results.
L i 9,n
Youth Commissioners serve as liaisons to various groups and organizations to form
partnerships with schools, community-based organizations, government, and
businesses, which address the concerns of youth countywide. CYC members are
delegates to the Children and Families Policy Forum and the Library Commission. These
liaison opportunities have given the youth of Contra Costa County a voice and the
power to change their communities for the better as contributing citizens and
representatives of County government.
WIA Youth Policy Counc*-On January 26, 2000, Ron Wetter (Executive
Director/Contra Costa Workforce Investment Board (WIB)) and Barbara Becnel
(Executive Director/Neighborhood House of North Richmond) Informed the Commission
about the newly-formed Workforce Investment Board. They discussed how this and
other changes resulting from the federal Workforce Investment Act could affect youth.
The CYC was invited to attend WIB Education Committee meetings.
The 35-member WIB that was appointed in March, 2000 is in the process of forming a
Youth Policy Council that would be responsible for recommending youth services
funding, helping create a comprehensive workforce preparation system for youth, and
maintaining a broad view of youth-related issues to advise the WIB. The names of two
Commissioners have been forwarded to represent CYC on the WIA Youth Policy Council.
In addition, the full Countywide Youth Commission looms forward to advising the Board
of Supervisors on the youth-related portions of the Contra Costa WIB's strategic pian
when that plan is presented to the Board.
Children and Families Policy Forum--Two Commissioners are also members of the
county's Children and Families Policy Forum. They attend quarterly Policy Forum
meetings, representing youth and informing CYC about Policy Forum activities. In
January, 2000, CYC members participated in a full-day seminar on "Results-Based
decision-Making."The Commissioners learned numerous skills, which they brought back
to the CYC.
Library Commiss%n--CYC is also represented on the Library Commission, which
meets twice a month, by one Commissioner.
Planning 0-2001
There has been a quorum at every CYC meeting this year and several Commissioners
have had perfect attendance. (Special thanks goes to Mrs. Vernita Givens, Parent
Volunteer, District 1, and to the parents of Commissioners who have helped make it
possible for Commissioners to participate.)
The CYC is in transition. Several long-time Commissioners are due to graduate this
month and will be rotating off the Commission. Together with resignations, about half
the seats on the Commission will soon need to be filled for the Commission to be at full
strength for the 2000-2001 term.
Commissioners request that Board members make every effort to fill current or
upcoming vacancies by August, 2000, so that the Commission can convene In a timely
and productive manner in September, 2000. There is also. greot need to recruit for
Parent V._olunters. Only one Parent Volunteer slot out of five was filled this year.
Parent Volunteers help get Commissioners back and forth to meetings—without Parent
Volunteers, it can be more difficult for Commissioners from all areas of the County,
especially younger Commissioners, to participate.
The returning Commissioners are excited about welcoming new Commissioners and
carrying out the plans made at the annual CYC planning meeting, which was held in
May, 2000. Current plans for next year Include combining former Subcommittees and
adding one new Subcommittee, for a total of 4 standing Subcommittees:
);;> Policy and By Lawn—study and give input on youth-related issues, as well as
update By-Laws as appropriate.
➢ Event`s--Youth Hall of Fame, annual planning meeting, other special events such as
informational workshops on youth-related issues;
Communications—Web Page, newsletter, publicity for events
Outreach--Liaisons to other entities as well as linkages with local schools and
city/regional youth organizations.
COMM COSTA
COUNTYWt0E YOUTH COMMISSION
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