HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.8.2012 Youth Commission Minutes
City of Saratoga
Youth Commission
MINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, May 8, 2012
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Warner Hutton House
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Call to Order 7:06
Roll Call: Agrawal, Chang, Chien, Fariba, Finch (late), Khare, Pandya (late), Smith, Sreedhara,
Tang, Zaidi (late)
Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this
meeting was properly posted on May 1, 2012.
Approval of April Minutes (4/10, 4/24) Sierra, Jane
Accept Agenda Items: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section
54954.2.
Oral & Written Communication: Any member of the public may address the Commission
about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up three minutes. Commissioners
may not comment on the matter, but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda.
I. Old Business
i. Review
1. WOW – gift giveaway
I. Any changes for next year?
i. Good and organized.
ii. Next year, spend more time on prizes to suit the older
kids as well.
2. Pet Parade (Fariba & Sreedhara)
i. For upcoming events, keep posted on news from the
City Council. Send some representatives to other
events.
3. Scavenger Hunt (June 23rd)
i. Meet with Councilmember Jill Hunter to talk about
helping with the scavenger hunt in the village.
ii. Tentative meeting Monday, May 14th at 3:30 at Blue
Rock Shoot.
4. Rotary Art Show
i. Good volunteer work!
5. JT Council Meeting
i. Impressed with the work of the youth commission.
ii. We’ve made a lot of improvement from last year.
iii. Ask councilmembers to come to all of our future
events.
iv. Advice from councilmembers: radio station, blog,
emails, Celebrate Saratoga,
6. YAC Debate Evaluation
i. Mostly positive comments.
ii. For next year: make it more engaging, stay on topics for
a longer time, let the audience elaborate, larger bank of
follow-up questions, more facts.
ii. Project Cornerstone
1. Follow up with leadership classes?
I. Share their results and feedback from City Council
i. Follow up with the Redwood leadership teacher asking
how the commission should approach the speak-out.
ii. Ask the Mayor to come and share input on Tuesday or
Thursday of next week.
iii. SYC Alumni Network
1. Ideas on how to get it started?
i. Start creating the Facebook page: write the text, pictures,
get it started. (5/17 at 3:30 Big Basin Cafe)
ii. Private settings (invitation only). Make it interesting and
interactive.
iii. Keep the page going, and keep in touch: Reunion! Kia’s
time capsule from 5 years ago.
iv. Article about the reunion in Saratoga News.
iv. 2012 Fall Political Forum
1. Keep it local? Regional?
i. Local benefits: involvement in Saratoga and nearby
cities. Nationwide level: draws a bigger crowd
2. Speak Out? Traditional Style? Debate?
i. Panel discussions, Speak-out: (Evan Low, the Mayor,
Professors, Government teachers, Kathleen King, school
board). Get a wide range of political affiliation and
gender. Geared towards why this matters to us. Teaching
youth about politics.
ii. See who we can get to speak and form the speak-out
focus around them.
iii. Political debate between candidates. Use comments from
YAC Attack. What will they do for us? What topics can
we have that will engage youth?
iv. How to engage students: controversial topics attract
students (debates, etc.), Measure B, Lowering the voting
age, universal issues, reviving safe rides
v. Recommendations for next year’s Commission
1. Senior Advice
i. Keep up the good work!
ii. Events for next year: Invite city council members to
events, WOW, Youth Political Forum, Project
Cornerstone
iii. Project Cornerstone
a. talk to the whole school
b. talk about controversial issues that relate to middle
school students: pose a new angle to bullying
(personal level, relatable)
c. become friendly with school faculty members
d. branch out to all of the elementary, middle schools
e. high schools issues: drinking, reviving safe rides
f. see if we made an impact in a few years by taking
another project cornerstone survey
vi. End of the Year Party
1. May 22nd : 5:30 PM Dinner, 6:30 PM Meeting
i. Make your own burritos
II. Upcoming Events
i. SYC Application Due – 5/17
ii. End of the year party? Ideas? –5/22
iii. Commission Recognition Dinner – 5/30
III. Adjournment 8:50 PM
Minutes completed by Somya Khare, Secretary (substitute)