CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
June 23, 2025
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, 2025, and concluding on June 30, 2026
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 through 12. The Youth Council’s composition includes up to ten members who represent each of the three middle schools and f ive high schools within the Simi Valley Unified School District, 11 to 12 Community at Large representatives, and up to three alternate representatives.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
Recruitment for the 24 Youth Coun cil positions opened on March 10, 202 5, and concluded on April 2 3, 2025. Youth Council bylaws provide for the reappointment of up to nine returning members. A total of 90 applications were received, 1 8 of which were received from returning members desiring reappointment.
Pursuant to the bylaws, on May 27, 2025, an interview panel comprised of Mayor Pro Tem Judge , two non -returning Youth Council members, and Community Services Coordinator Ryan Fowler , reviewed the applications, conducted interviews, and nominated nine incumbents as returning members. On June 11, 2025, and June 12, 2025, an interview panel comprised of four returning Youth Council members reviewed applications, conducted interviews, and made nominations for the 15 remaining Youth Council positions. The process was conducted in accordance with the Youth Council bylaws, and each candidate met all requirements set forth for being a nominee.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
3A(6)
2 Those nominated for Youth Council appointment are shown below:
Royal High School Jasleen Khangura*
Rylan Downey*
Santa Susana High School Nishta Kubsad*
Jiya Bhatt
Simi Valley High School Nandhiha Krishnamoorthi*
Saydee Ro*
Hillside Middle School Aman Sreejith*
Sinaloa Middle School Claire Krier
Valley View Middle School Brian Agak
Community at Large
Ethan Bhat*
Mahie Daga
Saanvi Daga*
Ashlyn Eddula
Vedika Gupta
Sarina Khangura
Kishan Mehta
Rithmika Naveen*
Dhiya Prabhuram
Elizabeth Rakowski
Daniel Sy
Flora Yuan
Alternates Avery Opp
Surya Ravikumar
Lauryn Weitzman
*Current Youth Council incumbent applicants nominated as returning members
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, 2025, and concluding on June 30, 2026.
The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. Authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 24 applicants nominated to serve one-year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 202 5, and concluding on June 30, 2026;
2. Provide staff with further direction.
The Youth Council Selection Committees recommend Alternative No. 1.
3 SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to authorize, and the Mayor appoint, the 2 4 applicants nominated to serve one - year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 202 5, and concluding on June 30, 2026.
SUMMARY
The application period for the 24 Youth Council positions was initiated on March 10, 2025, and concluded on April 23, 2025. A total of 90 applications were received, including 18 incumbent members desiring reappointment. Interview panels met on May 27 to interview returning Youth Council members, and June 11, and June 12, 2025, to intervie w new youth council applicants. The interview panels nominated 21 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 2 4 applicants nominated to serve one -year terms on the Simi Valley Youth Council, commencing on July 1, 2025, and concluding on June 30, 2026.
____________________________________
Luis Garibay
Assistant City Manager
Prepared by: Ryan Fowler, Community Services Coordinator