City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Youth Commission
Draft
6:00 PM Youth & Teen Center
2446 Cabrillo Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95051
11/18/2025
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
This meeting was called to order by Chair Martin at 6:07 p.m.
Commissioner Allysa Domensino, Commissioner Mateo Espinal, Commissioner Seoyun Chong, Commissioner Namita Gaidhani, Commissioner Srikha Gopisetti, Commissioner Julianna Arias Hernandez, Commissioner Neha Israni, Commissioner Drew
Madriaga, Commissioner Rebecca Kunze, Commissioner Malia Martin, Commissioner Samaira Mehta, Commissioner Aneesha Vemu, Commissioner Brian Rong, Commissioner Samarth Suresh, and Commissioner Niharika Uppalapati
Present 15 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. 25-1587 Action to Approve the Youth Commission Minutes of the October 14, 2025 Meeting
A motion was made by Commissioner Israni, seconded by
Commissioner Gopisetti to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was carried by the following votes:
Aye: Commissioner Domensino, Commissioner Espinal, Commissioner Chong, Commissioner Gaidhani, Commissioner Gopisetti,
Commissioner Arias Hernandez, Commissioner Israni, Commissioner Madriaga, Commissioner Kunze, Commissioner Martin,
Commissioner Mehta, Commissioner Vemu, Commissioner Rong, Commissioner Suresh, and Commissioner Uppalapati
15 -
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None
GENERAL BUSINESS
11/18/2025Youth Commission Meeting Minutes
2. 25-1588 Discuss and Take Action on Youth Commission FY 2025/26 Work Plan & Goals
At the November 18, 2025 meeting, the Youth Commission will begin discussions regarding its work plan priorities and goals for the FY 2025/26 term. Commissioners developed mission statements for each committee to align with their work plan goals.
1. The Community building committee aims to foster a culture of inclusion, belonging, and connection among the Santa Clara youth through bonding events and collaborative opportunities.
2. The Youth Empowerment committee seeks to empower the Santa Clara youth through projects including but not limited to panels highlighting local voices and activities to create opportunities for youth to serve our community.
3. The Civic Engagement Committee seeks to facilitate community outreach and education, while providing better accessibility to city resources. Our goal is to broaden the awareness of Santa Clara’s youth by highlighting essential services and information.
STAFF REPORT
Gayle Ichiho, Recreation Supervisor announced the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, December 5th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at Central Park. The event will feature live entertainment, local artist booths, arts and crafts activities, and food trucks. Santa will visit and distribute complimentary teddy bears and candy canes to children. A special guest tree lighter, Wanda Buck will illuminate the tree to mark the beginning of the holiday season. Community members are encouraged to attend this festive celebration.
Karen Guzman, Teen Librarian highlighted several resources and programs available to teens. Brain Fuze offers free live tutoring for students from kindergarten through college, accessible to library cardholders. The service includes test preparation for PSAT, SAT, AP, ACT, and other exams, as well as skills building, a 24-hour writing lab, and foreign language assistance with limited timing. Additionally, personalized e-learning opportunities are available. Upcoming programs include a Teen Yoga Workshop for destressing on December 11th and JIAREN. Teens are also encouraged to participate in the Library Card Art Contest designed specifically for their age group.
11/18/2025Youth Commission Meeting Minutes
COMMISSIONERS REPORT
Chair Martin attended a meeting on November 16th with Jack and Jill of America focused on a mix of civic education, community service, and youth policy debate. The session began with a talk and Q&A featuring Council Member George Casey, who emphasized the importance of civic engagement and fostering youth participation in local government.
Following this educational segment, the group collaborated on a community service project, preparing essential items for the upcoming Holiday Giveaway to benefit local families. The meeting concluded with a policy debate on the timely topic of whether 16- and 17-year-olds should be granted the right to vote for School Board members, a discussion that included a specific review of the new youth-voting laws recently enacted in Berkeley and Oakland.
Alternate Rayees, attended activities from late October to early November involved a mix of civic dialogue, regional volunteering, and attendance at official government proceedings. On October 18th, there were discussions about the SCPD Explorer program and a meeting with the Mayor of the City of Saratoga to learn about the initiatives of the Saratoga Youth Commission. This was followed by a community service effort on October 25th, where the participant volunteered for City’s Halloween SpooktaClara event with students from different high schools.
The reporting period concluded with attendance at the Joint City Council/Stadium Authority Board Meeting via Zoom on November 4th, and a SCUSD Special Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees on November 6th.
Commissioner Gopisetti, Commissioner Domensino, Commissioner Madriaga attended the Santa Clara Unified School District Board meeting on November 13, 2025. The superintendent presented wanting to increase student engagement.
Commissioner Arias Hernandez reported that the Santa Clara High School Marching band recently ended their historic record-breaking season, ending with 2nd place in the 2A Regional Division Level. They will be attending next month's City Council Meeting to be recognized by the major for their achievements and hard work.
ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Suresh and seconded by Commissioner Vemu to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 p.m.
11/18/2025Youth Commission Meeting Minutes
Aye: Commissioner Domensino, Commissioner Espinal, Commissioner Chong, Commissioner Gaidhani, Commissioner Gopisetti,
Commissioner Arias Hernandez, Commissioner Israni, Commissioner Madriaga, Commissioner Kunze, Commissioner Martin,
Commissioner Mehta, Commissioner Vemu, Commissioner Rong, Commissioner Suresh, and Commissioner Uppalapati
15 -
MEETING DISCLOSURES
The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker." In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible. The City of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision impairments so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
Agendas and other written materials distributed during a public meeting that are public record will be made available by the City in an appropriate alternative format. Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative format copy of the agenda or other written materials.
Individuals who require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or any other disability-related modification of policies or procedures, or other accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Santa Clara, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 408-615-3000 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.