TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report from the Commission on Youth and Children (Commission); request City Attorney to draft a resolution repealing Resolution No. C-28279 for the dissolution of the current Commission; and request City Attorney to draft a new resolution creating a nine-member advisory Commission on Youth and Families. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On October 21, 2003, the City Council adopted Resolution No. C-28279 establishing the 19-member Commission on Youth and Children (Commission) (Attachment A). The objectives and functions of the Commission are to advise the Mayor and City Council on issues relating to Long Beach youth, and promote coordination between the City of Long Beach (City), the Long Beach Unified School District (District), and other youth-serving agencies. The current Commission consists of members representing each City Council District with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, as required by Resolution No. C-28279.
In recent years, the Commission has experienced various challenges. Some of these challenges include the inability to regularly convene a quorum to conduct the business of the Commission and determining the purpose and role of the Commission. Some of the Commissioners have expressed concern that the 19-member body is too large to consistently and effectively convene a quorum. Some of the Commissioners have also expressed confusion with the Commission’s purpose and are interested in being more involved with current City initiatives related to youth and families.
At its March 7, 2017 meeting, the City Council requested that City staff work with the Commission to conduct a review of the Commission and report back. In response, the Commission created an ad hoc Committee (Committee) comprised of six Commissioners to review current Commission practices and provide recommendations for improvements.
The Committee worked with City staff to develop various recommendations for improvement. However, due to the inability to convene a quorum in recent months, the Commission was unable to formally approve the Committee’s recommendations to the City Council.
In an effort to proceed with improvements to the effectiveness of the Commission, the Committee is recommending the following changes:
• The body of the Commission should be comprised of nine Commissioners, instead of a maximum of 19. The proposed composition would include seven adult members and two youth members under the age of 19 at the time of appointment. The Commissioners should possess experience working with or serving youth and/or families; however, not necessarily be required to represent different subject areas as outlined in the existing Resolution C-28279. In addition, the Commission should continue to require one sitting District Board Member since coordination between the City and the District will remain one of its primary functions.
• The Commission should continue to promote coordination among youth and family serving agencies with a strong focus between the City and the District.
• The Commission should serve as an advisory body to the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department on matters pertaining to youth and family programs. The Commission may also provide policy recommendations as requested by the City Council.
• The youth members of the Commission, with mentorship from the adult Commissioners, should lead an annual youth forum that would allow them to engage youth throughout the community in a conversation about the issues and concerns facing the youth today, as well as their suggested solutions. The outcome would be reported to the entire Commission and the City Council.
• The Commission should support efforts to promote current City initiatives that benefit youth and families, such as: My Brother’s Keeper, Building Healthy Communities and All Children Thrive. The Commission would receive and file reports from committees working with these initiatives, as well as review new initiatives focused on children and families.
• Since the ongoing work and efforts of the Commission impact families as a whole, the Committee recommends that the Commission also incorporate families into its scope and change its name to the Commission on Youth and Families.
To carry out these recommendations, the current Commission on Youth and Children would need to be dissolved and a new City Council Resolution reflecting the proposed changes would need to be adopted. Existing Commissioners in good standing would be appointed to the new Commission on Youth and Families.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on February 1, 2018.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on February 20, 2018, to expedite changes to the composition of the Commission on Youth and Children.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal or local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MARIE KNIGHT
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER