25/05-23
CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
June 12, 2023
TO: City Council
FROM: Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT OF YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 24 applicants nominated to serve one -year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 2023, and concluding on June 30, 2024.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The Simi Valley Youth Council was established in 1970 as an advisory board to the City Council on issues of concern to local youth. As directed by Resolution No. 2011-14, the Youth Council consists of 21 members and up to three alternates who are in grades 7 throu gh 12. The Youth Council’s composition includes ten members that represent each of the three middle schools and four high schools within the Simi Valley Unified School District, 11 Community at Large representatives, and up to three alternate representatives.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
Recruitment for the 24 Youth Council positions opened on March 10, 202 3, and concluded on April 28, 2023. Youth Council bylaws provide for the reappointment of up to nine returning members. A total of 62 applications were received, 18 of which were received from returning members desiring reappointment. No applications were received from students at Apollo High School. A recruitment for the vacant position shall be initiated at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.
Pursuant to the bylaws, on May 22, 2023, an interview panel comprised of City Council Member Rhodes, two non -returning Youth Council members, and Community Services Coordinator Kristin Tignac , reviewed the applications, conducted interviews, and nominated nine incumbents as returning members. On June 4, 2023, and June 5, 2023, an interview panel comprised of four returning Youth Council members reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and made nominations for the 14 of the 15 remaining Youth Council positions. The process was conducted in accordance with Youth Council bylaws, such that each candidate met all requirements set forth for being a nominee.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
3(A)2
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Those nominated for Youth Council appointment are shown below:
Apollo High School Vacant
Royal High School Ella McCrossan*
Jasleen Khangura*
Santa Susana High School Abhishek “AJ” Jagannathan*
Advaith Nair*
Simi Valley High School Nandhiha Krishnamoorthi*
Anika Nedunuri*
Hillside Middle School Jiya Bhatt
Sinaloa Middle School Rylan Downey*
Valley View Middle School Sanjeev Akundi
Community at Large
Ethan Bhat
Pranav Bijith
Simran Dhillon
Abhishek Humbe
Tanvi Ijju
Sanchita Karthik
Claire Menges
Ian Nelson*
Divya Nunna
Kalyssa Ro
Jacob Peter Salvanera*
Alternates Saydee Ro
Junxi Chen
Sunchana Sridharan
*Current Youth Council incumbent applicants nominated as returning members
It is recommended that the City Council authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 23 applicants nominated to serve one -year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 2023, and concluding on June 30, 2024.
The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. Authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 23 applicants nominated to serve one-year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 202 3, and concluding on June 30, 2024;
2. Provide staff with further direction.
The Youth Council Selection Committees recommend Alternative No. 1.
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SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 2 3 applicants nominated to serve one - year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 202 3, and concluding on June 30, 2024.
SUMMARY
The application period for the 24 Youth Council positions was initiated on March 10, 2023, and concluded on April 28, 2023. A total of 62 applications were received, including 18 incumbent members desiring reappointment. Interview panels met on May 22, J une 4 and 5, 2023, to interview the applicants. The interview panels nominated 20 applicants for Youth Council membership and three applicants for Youth Council alternate membership. It is recommended that the City Council authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 23 applicants nominated to serve one -year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 2023, and concluding on June 30, 2024.
____________________________________
Linda Swan
Assistant City Manager
Prepared by: Kristin Tignac, Community Services Coordinator