Subject
title
Adopt a Resolution amending Resolution No. 15-21, which established the Youth Commission, to replace references to Montgomery College with references to middle school, lower the age of Youth Commission members to include members who are in grades 7th through 12th, change the terms to be one-year terms with options for renewal, increase minimum meetings from seven to eight, and change references in the mission of the Youth Commission from young adults and college to youth and middle school.
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Department
Recreation & Parks
Recommendation
The Mayor and Council of Rockville should adopt changes to Resolution No. 15-21, which established the Youth Commission, as proposed by the current Youth Commission Commissioners.
Change in Law or Policy
The changes proposed by the current Commissioners serving on the Youth Commission will refocus the Youth Commission from high school and community college age City youth concerns to middle school and high school age City youth concerns (Attachment A).
Discussion
Background on the Youth Commission:
On November 1, 2021, the Mayor and Council passed Resolution No. 15-21, establishing the Youth Commission. The Mayor and Council made appointments to the Youth Commission on March 27, 2023. The Commission remained inactive until January 2024, when the Department of Recreation and Parks was named to provide a staff liaison to the Youth Commission. On April 26, 2024, the Youth Commission held its inaugural meeting and reviewed its mission as set forth in Resolution No. 15-21. At that meeting, the Commissioners identified areas for improvement in the Resolution to better accomplish the mission of the Commission and more effectively serve Rockville's youth.
Recommendations for Resolution Updates:
Members of the Youth Commission propose the following updates to Youth Commission Resolution No. 15-21.
1. Membership (Section 2(a)): Remove the reference to "Montgomery College" and replace it with "middle school." This will allow the Commission to reflect the students it represents and provide a broader youth perspective.
2. Membership Age (Section 2(b)): Lower the minimum age for membership from 16 to 21 to grades 7th to 12th. This aligns better with the proposed membership change focusing on middle school and high school students.
3. Appointment Terms (Section 2(c)): Change the language of membership terms to eliminate staggered terms and authorize a one-year term for all commission members, followed by the possibility of additional one-year reappointments. The Commissioners felt this removes the uncertainty of language and allows members to continue with the commission if they so desire.
4. Meeting Frequency (Section 3(a)): Increase the minimum number of meetings per year from seven to eight. This increases the commitment for each Commissioner to encourage more time to address youth issues effectively.
5. Focus on Youth (Section 4(b) & (d)): Replace all references to “young adults” with “youth” and references to “college” with “middle school” throughout these sections. This clarifies the commission’s primary focus on middle and high school students.
Benefits of Proposed Changes:
The Commissioners felt the edits will have the following benefits:
• Increase Youth Participation: Lowering the membership age and clarifying the focus on middle and high school students will encourage broader youth involvement.
• Enhance Commission Effectiveness: Clear terms and frequent meetings will promote continuity and allow a deeper exploration of youth issues.
• Strengthen Connection with Schools: Including middle school students will allow the Commission to better connect with and represent the needs of students throughout their secondary education.
• Provide Earlier Exposure to Civic Engagement: Including younger students fosters a culture of civic engagement from a young age, leading to a more informed and active youth population.
• Identify Issues Earlier: By including students from earlier grades, the Commission can identify emerging issues and concerns before they become more prevalent in the high school years.
• More Diverse Perspectives: A more comprehensive age range will ensure the Commission considers a more diverse range of experiences and perspectives, leading to more well-rounded recommendations.
The proposed changes in the Resolution as reflected in Attachment A are presented for your consideration.
Mayor and Council History
On November 1, 2021, the Mayor and Council passed the Youth Commission Resolution No. 15-21, and the Mayor and Council made appointments to the Youth Commission on March 27, 2023.
On June 3, 2024, the Mayor and Council of Rockville were sent an e-mail from Becca Fulton, Youth Commission Chair, detailing the suggested revisions to Resolution No. 15-21. At the Mayor and Council meeting held on June 10, 2024, Ms. Fulton’s e-mail was brought up during Old/New Business.
Boards and Commissions Review
At their meeting on April 26, 2024, the Youth Commissioners discussed the Resolution No. 15-21 and voted to propose the changes to the resolution in Attachment A.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the adoption of the Youth Commission resolution updates in Attachment A.
Next Steps
If the Mayor and Council adopt the resolution updates, the Youth Commission will recruit commissioners accordingly and looks forward to working with the Mayor and Council on areas important to youth in Rockville.