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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 03 14 Regular 500 - Discussion on the Youth Council + , REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 500 CITY COMMISSION AGENDA I MARCH 14, 2022 REGULAR MEETING TITLE Discussion on the Youth Council SUMMARY The Winter Springs Youth Council was formed in 2020 with the passage of Resolution 2020-01 on March 9, 2020. The Youth Council is made up of twelve (12) members who serve for one-year terms. Since the approval of the Resolution the group has met twice. Sunshine Law concerns and difficulties, the large number of Council Members, the need for quorums, scheduling difficulties, and the length of terms all present difficulties for the successful operation of the Youth Council. Alternatives to a Sunshine Board could include working with the high school to determine interest in a club or other organization. The City could continue to offer space for meetings periodically and we could also schedule a quarterly update to appear on the Commission agenda as a presentation on matters of youth concern. At this time Staff is looking for the Commission to discuss the Youth Council and provide direction. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Commission discuss and provide direction. 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-01 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS YOUTH COUNCIL; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS; SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,the City is granted the authority,under Section 2(b),Article VIII,of the State Constitution, to exercise any power for municipal purposes, except when expressly prohibited by law; and WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to encourage and facilitate the involvement of youth in the Winter Springs community and city government and, therefore, desires to create an ad-hoc Winter Springs Youth Council to obtain input in matters of special interest to youth within the City and to engage in youth-identified community initiatives; and WHEREAS,the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs finds that this Resolution is in the best interests of the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Winter Springs. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY,FLORIDA,AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are deemed true and correct and are hereby fully incorporated herein by this reference. Section 2. Creation of the Winter Springs Youth Council. The City Commission hereby creates an ad-hoc Winter Springs Youth Council to advise and make appropriate recommendations to the City Commission regarding issues of special interest to youths within the City and to identify and organize appropriate youth-led community initiatives, programs or events as the Youth Council deems fit. The Winter Springs Youth Council shall be an advisory committee only and shall not have any final decision making authority. Section 3. Composition of the Winter Springs Youth Council. The Winter Springs Youth Council shall consist of no more than twelve (12) and no fewer than six (6) members, who shall have been residents of the City of Winter Springs for a minimum of six months preceding their appointment and shall maintain said residency during their term. In addition, each member must be between the ages of 14 and 18 years old and be enrolled in high school or entering high school, which may be a public school,private school, or home school. City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2020-01 Pagel of 3 2 Section 4. Appointment and Term of Members. The Mayor and each City Commission member shall have the authority to appoint two members to the Winter Springs Youth Council, and the appointments shall be ratified by a majority vote of the City Commission. No alternates shall be appointed. Members of the Winter Springs Youth Council shall serve terms one year in length and may reapply each year of enrollment in high school. Members shall be appointed by the City Commission on or before August 1 of each year. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment to the extent deemed necessary by the City Commission. Prior to appointment, each applicant shall be required to complete a Youth Council application as prescribed by the City Commission or City Manager. Applicants for the Youth Council may be requested to interview with the respective appointing City Commissioner or Mayor and the staff liaison. Upon appointment, each member of the Winter Springs Youth Council shall serve at the pleasure of the City Commission and may be summarily removed at any time with and without cause. In addition, members shall be automatically removed for lack of attendance at three (3) consecutive, regularly scheduled meetings or failure to attend at least two-thirds of the regularly scheduled meetings during a calendar year. Each member of the Winter Springs Youth Council shall serve without compensation. Section 5. Winter Springs Youth Council Meetings. Meetings of the Winter Springs Youth Council shall be duly-noticed, public meetings which shall be open to the public. The Winter Springs Youth Council shall meet no less than quarterly. Meetings shall be coordinated and scheduled through the City Manager or his or her designee so as not to conflict with other City meetings or overburden limited City resources. A portion of each meeting will be reserved for taking public input relevant to issues being considered during the meeting or matters of special interest to Winter Springs youth. The agendas, minutes and a record of the proceedings and recommendations of the Winter Springs Youth Council shall be kept and filed with the City Clerk in the same manner as those kept and filed for the City Commission. The first order of business for the Winter Springs Youth Council shall be to elect a chairperson and deputy chairperson. The chairperson shall be responsible for running the meetings,which may be conducted informally. In the absence of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson shall run the meetings. A majority of the members of the Winter Springs Youth Council shall constitute a quorum. The Winter Springs Youth Council shall act by consensus to the extent possible,but if consensus cannot be reasonably reached, then the Council may act by majority vote. However,the Winter Springs Youth Council may reference and explain minority opinions/positions which obtained the vote of at least four(4) members of the Council in any recommendation made to the City Commission. Section 6. Winter Springs Youth Council Responsibilities. The City Commission desires to delegate authority to the Winter Springs Youth Council to perform the following responsibilities: • To make recommendations to the City Commission on matters affecting youth in the City; • To increase and make recommendations regarding increasing youth participation and involvement in local government; City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2020-01 Page 2 of 3 3 • To seek and recommend ways to improve communication with students in area schools; • To organize and perfonn service projects, events or functions that benefit the City of Winter Springs community, subject to approval of the City Manager; • To recommend the creation of recognition programs for youth; and • To perform any other youth-related matters assigned by the City Commission or City Manager. Section 7. Staff Resources. The Marketing and Events Manager, through the City Manager, shall serve as staff liaisons to the Winter Springs Youth Council. The staff liaison may utilize thew assistance of area school teachers and administrator as he or she may deem appropriate. The City Clerk's office shall provide administrative assistance to the Winter Springs Youth Council and shall be responsible for noticing meetings,preparing minutes, and archiving public records. Section 8. Repeal of Prior Inconsistent Resolutions. All prior inconsistent resolutions adopted by the City Commission, or parts of prior resolutions in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. Section 9. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause,phrase,word, or portion of this Resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion hereto. Section 10. Effective date. This Resolution shall take effect upon adoption, DONE AND ADOPTED in regular session of the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, this day of March, 2020, CHARLES L Ah'y' or ATTEST�, CHRISTIAN GOWAN,Interim City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Winter Springs only: .......... .........--—-----______-----...................................... ANTHONY A.GARGANESE, City Attorney City of Winter Springs Resolution No.2020-01 Page 3 of 3 4