Item: 22-0288
City Council Meeting
May 3, 2022
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Members of the City Council FROM: Loren M. Taylor Councilmember – District 6
SUBJECT: Youth Commission Ordinance
Changes
DATE: April 20, 2022
____________________________________________________________________________
Council Colleagues,
As Chair of the Life Enrichment Committee, it is my pleasure to preside over detailed subject matter discussions that directly impact the lives and livelihood of young Oaklanders and their families. Included in this scope is direct support of the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (OYAC), a nominated body of youth representatives and advocates and service as their direct connection to the City Council.
After extensive discussion and gathering of community input, the OYAC has developed recommendations for improving its rules, procedures, and operating norms, allowing it to be more nimble, responsive, and effective. I fully support the recommendation developed by the Oakland Youth Advisory Commission and am bringing it forward (See attached) to secure the full Council’s adoption of the proposed ordinance.
Please see below for a report summarizing this proposal in addition to the attached draft ordinance. Thank you in advance for your support.
Yours in Service of Oakland,
Loren M. Taylor, Councilmember
Oakland – District 6
City Council Meeting
Subject: Youth Commission Ordinance Changes
Date: May 3, 2022 Page 2
Item: 22-0288
City Council Meeting
May 3, 2022
RECOMMENDATION
ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 10545 C.M.S., 11461 C.M.S., AND 11869 C.M.S. TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE YOUTH ADVISORY
COMMISSION TO THE OAKLAND YOUTH COMMISSION AND AMEND THE
MEMBERSHIP AND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Oakland Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) wishes to have an effective and well- functioning commission body that conducts business on important matters relating to youth. The YAC advises, like all other boards and commissioners, and will continue to do so for policymakers and would like to be treated as a commission with equal footing with other adult- led City boards and commissions.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
On February 5, 1985, the Oakland City Council passed Ordinance No. 10545 C.M.S., establishing the Youth Advisory Commission (YAC), created to advise and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council to address policy priorities impacting Oakland youth ages 13-25. The YAC has 25 seats, whose members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. It represents approximately 50,000 youth in Oakland and is committed to prioritizing Oakland youth from geographically and culturally diverse backgrounds.
The YAC has been effective and accomplished a great deal to build youth power and transform Oakland. YAC strongly believes that they know what is best for them and with the support of adult allies that can have a positive influence on their community.
In 2015, the YAC co-convened 75 youth in a forum that led to the creation of #OYACGivesBack, 5 -year mini-grant to support improved relations between youth and law enforcement. The convention led to the formation of an Oakland Police and Community Youth Leadership Council (OPC-YLC) in 2019. In 2020, the YAC appointed two (2) youth members to the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, who also chaired the Youth Advisory Board to propose youth-oriented solutions to re-invest in community programs. The YAC advocated in the 2021-2023 Budget for allocations that would enhance youth leadership development and equity for low-income Black, Indigenous, People of Color youth. In addition to advising the city on policies, the YAC creates and executes its own community events and drafts its own policies to be considered by the City Council.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
The City Council recognizes that it is a high priority for the City Council to listen and consider policy recommendations from the Youth Commission. The YAC members have communicated a desire to change the name to raise their stature to the same stature of other commissions. This ordinance follows the recommendation of the YAC to change its name from Youth Advisory Commission to the Oakland Youth Commission. In City Council Meeting
Subject: Youth Commission Ordinance Changes
Date: May 3, 2022 Page 3
Item: 22-0288
City Council Meeting
May 3, 2022
addition, YAC members are concerned that they would have difficultly achieving quorum when all 25 seats are not filled and there is a quorum requirement of 13 members.
Under this Ordinance, a majority (50 percent plus one) of the members seated shall constitute a quorum, but in no case shall a quorum be fewer than nine (9) members.
This Ordinance fulfills the YAC’s goal to make it easier for them to achieve the designated number of members necessary for them to discuss important issues related to youth and provide advice to the City Council.
FISCAL AND STAFFING IMPACT
There is no significant fiscal impact to the City by adoption of this ordinance.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
The ordinance was a response to a request by the Youth Advisory Commission after discussion at public meetings.
COORDINATION
This report was prepared in coordination between the Youth Advisory Commission, Council offices and the City Attorney’s Office.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: No direct economic impacts have been identified.
Environmental: No direct environmental impacts have been identified.
Social Equity: In responding to this request by the Youth Advisory Commission, the City Council would achieve YAC’s goal of being treated the same as other commissions and boards and make it easier for them to achieve the quorum necessary for meetings.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
ADOPT AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 10545 C.M.S., 11461 C.M.S., AND 11869 C.M.S. TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE YOUTH ADVISORY
COMMISSION TO THE OAKLAND YOUTH COMMISSION AND AMEND THE MEMBERSHIP
AND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS
City Council Meeting
Subject: Youth Commission Ordinance Changes
Date: May 3, 2022 Page 4
Item: 22-0288
City Council Meeting
May 3, 2022
For questions, please contact Carina Lieu, Youth Leadership Development Division, at (510) 238-3245.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Councilmember Loren Taylor’s office at (510) 238-7006.
Respectfully submitted,
LOREN M. TAYLOR
Councilmember, District 6
Chair, Life Enrichment Committee
Member, Public Works, AND Community &
Economic Development Committees