1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: October 29, 2024
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Marisa Garcia, Park, Recreation and Community Services Director VIA: Diego Cevallos, Assistan t Park, Recreation and Community Services Director
BY: Jenny Griffin, Recreation Supervisor
SUBJECT: Appointment of Members to the Youth Board for the 2024-25 School Year
RECOMMENDATION
Appoint students to serve a one-year term on the Youth Board (Board) based on school recommendations and submitted applications.
BACKGROUND
Since 1973, the Board has served an important role within the City of Burbank (City), fostering an increase in communication between youth and City government, providing a means by which young people can actively participate in government , organize community fundraisers , and provid e input and planning for programs that will benefit youth in the community.
Participation in the Board empowers youth by enhancing their confidence and leadership skills while increasing awareness of issues impacting youth in Burbank. Participation on the Board fosters a sense of belonging, cultivates critical thinking and communication skills, and promotes empathy through the exchange of diverse perspectives. Ultimately, it instills civic responsibility and encourages lifelong participation in the democratic process, contributing to individual growth and positive community engagement.
The following is an excerpt from the Burbank Municipal Code (BMC) § 2-1-416 governing the Board:
PARKS AND
RECREATION
2 The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To represent the interests of local youth in community affairs.
2. To represent the City in matters of interest to youth in the community.
3. To assist in helping other youth in the community to understand and appreciate local government.
4. To obtain interpretations for local youth on City ordinances, rules and regulations which affect them.
5. To encourage local youth to actively participate in community affairs and matters of concern to the City.
6. To conduct studies and investigations in the general field of youth and community interest and to communicate its findings and recommendations to the Council.
7. To encourage coordination of effort among community institutions and organizations that focus on youth problems and needs.
8. To advise and assist the Parks and Recreation Board on issues affecting the youth in the community.
According to the BMC, the Board is comprised of 17 members. A representative is selected by designated high school s and middle school s within Burbank ( totaling 10 positions). The school representatives include both the public and parochial schools within the City. The remaining seven positions are designated as At-Large members. All appointments are for a one- year term, with all members beginning and ending their annual terms simultaneously.
At the May 9, 2023, Council Meeting, Ordinance No. 23-3,992 (Attachment 1) was adopted amending BMC § 2-1- 416 to permit staff to recommend an additional At -Large Board Member in the event a designated school fails to submit a School Representative nomination.
DISCUSSION
For the school representative positions, schools were provided the parameters for appointment and asked to select a student representative to serve a one-year term. This year, each designated school responded and submitted a nominee except for St. Robert Bellarmine. Multiple requests were sent to the school to submit an application during the application period of August 26, 2024 to September 13, 2024, however an application was not received. All applications for school representative vacancies are attached for City Council (Council) review (Attachment 2).
For the At -Large positions, there were 13 applications submitted to fill the seven vacancies (Attachment 3 ). Based upon St. Robert Bellarmine failing to submit a school representative, staff is recommending an eighth At -Large member. In-person interviews were conducted, and eight applicants were recommended by staff for appointment to the 3 Board based on experience, leadership skills, interest in school and local government , and ideas for engaging youth in the community.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this report.
CONCLUSION
The Board equips participants with experience to hone essential life skills, including critical thinking, effective communication, and leadership abilities. This program prepares Board Members to be active and informed citizens who can make meaningful contributions in Burbank. Therefore, staff recommends that Council appoint nine School Representatives and eight At-Large applicants to comprise the designated 17 members.
Recommended At-Large applicants are noted with an asterisk (*).
School Representative Nominations
Dolores Huerta Middle School Charlotte Pangman
John Muir Middle School Christopher Ebrahim
Luther Burbank Middle School Avery Gopez
St. Finbar Middle School Sabrina Toner
St. Francis Xavier Middle School Joshua Hardin
St. Robert Bellarmine Middle School N/A
Burbank High School Angel Hanna
John Burroughs High School Alexander Nasev
Monterey High School Riley McGann
Providence High School Emma Fernandez
At-Large Applicants
Audrey Arutyunyan
Alisa Avetisyan*
Ciaran Daltas
Rachel Dias*
Natalie Garibyan*
Anahit Grigorian
Corbin Gunnell*
Sanchana Karthik*
Janice Kim*
4 Daira Pernilla Conte
Inayat Saini*
Olivia Serafini
Aiden Yoon*
*Recommended Applicants
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Ordinance No. 23-3,992
Attachment 2 – School Representative Nominations
Attachment 3 – At-Large Nominations