DATE: June 16, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Clerk
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Extending the Terms of Current Hayward Youth Commission Voting Members through June 30, 2027, and Promoting Alternates to Voting Member Status with Terms Expiring June 30, 2027
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopt a resolution (Attachment II) extending terms of six (6) Hayward Youth Commission members through June 30, 2027, as well as promoting nine (9) alternates to voting member status with terms expiring June 30, 2027.
SUMMARY
The City of Hayward traditionally conducts its annual recruitment for the Hayward Youth Commission (HYC) between March to May of each year.
The HYC consists of twenty-one ( 21) members and eleven (11) alternates. Six voting members whose terms expire in June 2026 have been determined to be eligible and in good standing to continue their service. In addition, nine alternates have been identified as being in good standing and eligible to continue serving on the Commission.
Due to current staffing reductions, the prioritization of the City’s Passport Program, and the significant staff resources required to conduct the annual recruitment process, including outreach, application review, interviews, onboarding, and ongoing coordination, staff was unable to conduct the 2026 Hayward Youth Commission recruitment.
To assess future participation, staff surveyed all current commissioners regarding their willingness to continue serving. Based on the response received, four voting members will not continue serving due to attending college in the fall, one voting member will age out and no longer be eligible to serve, and two alternates will not continue serving due to attending college in the fall.
Considering these anticipated vacancies and current operational priorities, staff recommend extending the terms of eligible voting members by one year to preserve continuity and institutional knowledge within the Commission . Staff further recommend filling the seven upcoming member vacancies by promoting alternates who have demonstrated solid attendance and participation. The alternate positions would remain temporarily vacant, as
alternates do not count toward quorum and a temporary reduction in alternate membership will not impact the Commission’s ability to conduct business.
This approach will allow the Commission to continue operating effectively with twenty-five (25) active members, maintaining quorum , operational continuity , and active youth representation during a period of limited staffing resources. Because the terms of six current voting members are recommended to be extended and nine alternates are recommended for promotion to voting member status, the Commission will temporarily operate with twenty- five voting members rather than its standard twenty -one voting members. This temporary adjustment will ensure continued participation by engaged youth leaders while maintaining operational continuity until the next recruitment cycle is conducted in 2027.
Although this approach results in no alternate members serving during the upcoming year, it provides an opportunity for engaged alternates to assume voting roles while ensuring the Commission remains functional and productive.
An Informational Report was presented to the City Council on March 13, 2026, to inform the City Council of staff’s decision to suspend the 2026 recruitment process, extend the terms of eligible members through June 30, 202 7, and promote alternates to voting member status.
This information was also shared with the Hayward Youth Commission. Additionally, this approach creates an opportunity to engage current commissioners in the 2027 recruitment effort by partnering with the City Clerk’s Office to conduct outreach at local schools. This outreach will allow students to learn about the Commission’s accomplishments, future goals, and service opportunities while promoting representation from schools throughout Hayward.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this item.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
All thirty-two (32) current members were contacted to confirm their commitment to continue serving through June 30, 2027, and, where applicable, through June 30, 2028.
Table 1 identifies the voting members whose terms are recommended to be extended through June 30, 2027, as well as members who intend to complete their current terms as scheduled.
Table 2 identifies the alternate members recommended for promotion to voting member status. Table 3 identifies the seven (7) members who will be attending college in the fall or who have other extracurricular activities that prevent them from continuing their service beyond June 30, 202 6. As a result, the Commission will have (1 1) alternate member vacancies, which staff recommend through the 2027 recruitment process.
TABLE 1
CONTINUING VOTING MEMBERS
# VOTING
MEMBER SCHOOL DATE
APPOINTED
TERM
EXPIRES
EXTENDED
TERM
EXPIRES
1 Florencio Babasa Mt. Eden High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2027 - 2 Mateo E Barajas Mt. Eden High School 6/20/2023 6/30/2027 - 3 Elisabet N Barrera Mt. Eden High School 6/20/2024 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 4 Josue S Barrera Mt. Eden High School 6/20/2023 6/30/2027 - 5 Arianna M Cervantez Castro Valley High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2027 - 6 Alex (a) N Cervantes
Fernandez Hayward High School 6/20/2023 6/30/2027 -
7 Peter Gikanga Mt. Eden High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2027 - 8 Jacob J Jones Moreau Catholic High
School 6/18/2024 6/30/2026 6/30/2027
9 Zoe N Kyama Mt. Eden High School 6/20/2023 6/30/2027 - 10 Remy Martin Hayward High School 6/20/2025 6/30/2027 - 11 Julia Patel Tennyson High School 6/18/2024 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 12 Shreya K Rathaur Chabot College 6/21/2022 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 13 Isla A Salgado College 6/24/2025 6/30/2027 -
14 Leilani A Sandoval Tennyson High School 6/18/2024 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 15 Nishant Singh Hayward High School 6/18/2024 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 16 Michelle Villalobos Mt. Eden High School 6/20/2023 6/30/2027 -
TABLE 2
PROMOTING ALTERNATES TO VOTING MEMBERS
# ALTERNATE
MEMBER SCHOOL DATE
APPOINTED
TERM
EXPIRED
EXTENDED
TERM
EXPIRES
1 Amera Banuelos Hayward High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 2 Cesar A Cordoba Mt. Eden High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 3 Lydia L Dedrick Undecided 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 4 Amelie L Hernandez Mt. Eden High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 5 Rachel M Fuentes Hayward High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 6 Ezekiel Nii Mensah Bret Harte Middle School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 7 Teresa Ramirez Hayward High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 8 Shyla V Reddy Moreau Catholic High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027 9 Ivan R Munoz Hayward High School 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 6/30/2027
TABLE 3
NOT CONTINUING MEMBERS
#
MEMBERS SCHOOL MEMBER
STATUS
DATE
APPOINTED
TERM
WOULD
HAVE
EXPIRED
1 Eliam K Ghirmay Freshman in College Voting 6/24/2025 6/30/2027 2 Israel J Mendez Chabot College Voting 6/18/2024 6/30/2026 3 Temiloluwa Ogunkanmi UCL Voting 6/20/2023 6/30/2027
4 Ananya Suresh Tennyson High School Voting 6/21/2022 6/30/2026 5 Jeremiah S Wong Mt. Eden High School Voting 6/20/2023 6/30/2027 6 Erik D Alba California Crosspoint Academy Alternate 6/24/2025 6/30/2026 7 Alaia S Smith Cesar Chavez Middle School Alternate 6/24/2025 6/30/2026
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item is a routine operational item and does not relate to the six priorities outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap.
PUBLIC CONTACT
The agenda was posted according to the Brown Act and Hayward Youth Commission members were notified about staff’s recommendation to the City Council.
NEXT STEPS
Hayward Youth Commission members and advisors will be notified of City Council’s action and the City’s webpage dedicated to the Hayward Youth Commission will be updated accordingly.
Prepared and Recommended by: Miriam Lens, City Clerk
Approved by:
_________________________________
Jennifer Ott, City Manager