CC SR 20241001 F - YAC Advisory Board Appointments
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 10/01/2024
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to appoint four members to the City’s Youth Advisory
Committee (YAC) and appoint the Chair and Vice Chair.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1. By majority vote of the entire City Council, appoint Mayah Barrett, Aiden Cruz,
Valentina Sherer, and Matthew Song as the four new members to the Youth
Advisory Committee, as recommended by the Council Subcommittee; and,
2. Appoint Andrew Lu as Chair and Katelyn Beggans as Vice-chair of the Youth
Advisory Committee, as recommended by the Council Subcommittee.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as below
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. YAC List of Applicants (page A-1)
B. City Council Policy No. 54A (page B-1)
C. July 18, 2023 City Council Staff Report to Form the YAC (page C-1)
D. January 16, 2024 City Council Staff Report to Appoint YAC Members
BACKGROUND:
On July 18, 2023, the City Council adopted City Council Policy No. 54A (Attachment B)
to create the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) comprised of 13 youths in grades 7-12
who reside in Rancho Palos Verdes (Attachment C). Mayor Pro Tem Alegria and
Councilmember Seo were selected as members of a Council Subcommittee
(Subcommittee) to oversee the YAC application review process and to recommend
appointments for City Council consideration.
1
The initial 13 YAC positions were recommended by the Council Subcommittee and
approved by the City Council on January 16, 2024 (Attachment D), laying the foundation
to begin holding regular meetings starting on January 29, 2024 and continuing through
June 2024, before the YAC recessed for the summer.
DISCUSSION:
On June 30, 2024, four out of 13 YAC Members, Aiden Cruz, Sydney Iravanchy, Braydan
Maloney, and Tristan Tang, concluded their terms upon transitioning out of either
intermediate school or high school, a provision outlined in Council Policy No. 54. As of
July 1, the following members remained on the YAC and will continue to do so until their
terms expire on June 30, 2025.
NAME TERM BEGAN TERM
EXPIRES
FIRST
APPOINTED
1 Beggans, Katelyn 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
2 Kapoor, Nikita 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
3 Lozano, Grace 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
4 Lu, Andrew 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
5 Ma, Jacob 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
6 Magnatta, Mattia 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
7 Peterson, Kiernan 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
8 Porter, Sarah 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
9 Yao, Evan 01/16/2024 06/30/2025 01/16/2024
10 Vacant 10/01/2024 TBD* 10/01/2024
11 Vacant 10/01/2024 TBD* 10/01/2024
12 Vacant 10/01/2024 TBD* 10/01/2024
13 Vacant 10/01/2024 TBD* 10/01/2024
*Term expiration date depends on a student’s grade level at the time of appointment. Students
in 8th and 12th grade who will transition out of their school in the following year will serve one -
year terms; students in all other grades may serve two-year terms.
During the summer recess, the City began soliciting applications to fill the four vacancies
and received a total of 18 applications from a diverse and talented group of students
(Attachment A). Following an interview process with Subcommittee Members Alegria and
Seo on August 29, 2024, four applicants were selected for City Council’s consideration:
• Barrett, Mayah - 10th grade at Palos Verdes Peninsula High; term expires 6/30/26
• Cruz, Aiden - 9th grade at Palos Verdes Peninsula High; term expires 6/30/26
• Sherer, Valentina - 8th grade at Ridgecrest Intermediate; term expires 6/30/25
• Song, Matthew - 9th grade at Palos Verdes Peninsula High; term expires 6/30/26
In addition, the Subcommittee recommends appointing a Chair and Vice Chair from the
current roster of YAC members until the end of their terms on June 30, 2025:
• YAC Chair: Andrew Lu, 12th grade at Palos Verdes Peninsula High
• YAC Vice Chair: Katelyn Beggans, 12th grade at Chadwick School
2
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The first YAC meeting of the FY 2024-25 school year will be held in October 2024,
following confirmation of member availability at the Community Room located at the Ken
Dyda Civic Center. Per the FY 2024-25 City Council Goals, the YAC’s focus will be on
mental awareness, participation in City-sponsored events and leadership conferences,
and promotion of important issues affecting youth such as E-Bike safety which is
tentatively scheduled for City Council review at its November 6 meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council appoint Mayah Barret, Aiden Cruz, Valentina Sherer,
and Matthew Song to the YAC; and appoint Andrew Lu as Chair and Katelyn Beggans as
Vice-chair as recommended by the Council Subcommittee.
3
Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Applicants for 4 Vacancies
September 2024
*Recommended for appointment by the YAC Council Subcommittee.
Applicant Name School Grade
Barrett, Mayah Singh* Peninsula HS 10
Bayram, Tula S. Rolling Hills Country Day 7
Chan-Mott, Ashley Chadwick 10
Chin, Audrey Peninsula HS 10
Chowdhury, Anish Palos Verdes HS 12
Chung, Jin Chadwick 10
Cruz, Aiden* Palos Verdes HS 9
Deng, Kris Peninsula HS 12
Deng, Krystal Palos Verdes HS 11
Miramontes, Emily Peninsula HS 11
Moran, Ethan Peninsula HS 9
Pagni, Manuele Peninsula HS 11
Patel, Kanaiya Ridgecrest Intermediate 8
Sherer, Valentina Sophia* Ridgecrest Intermediate 8
Song, Matthew* Peninsula HS 9
Tatman, Maegan Chadwick 10
Viljoen, Anabelle Palos Verdes HS 10
Zhao, Caiyi (Aya) Chadwick 9
A-1
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 54A
DATE ADOPTED: July 18, 2023
AMENDED:
SUBJECT: Youth Advisory Committee
POLICY:
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Youth Advisory Committee is to advocate for the needs of the youth
by elevating youth voices to improve their overall well-being and allow the youth to engage
with the inner workings of local government.
FUNCTION
In the Youth Advisory Committee, student Committee members will:
x Learn about and become involved with local government. Not only will they take
part in City work, but they will also help improve the quality of life for the youth
community in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. Committee members will receive
feedback from their peers and use this information to recommend solutions to
rising issues.
x Learn about the inner workings of local government and will receive guidance and
a new understanding of how the City’s goals are developed and implemented.
x Receive feedback from the youth community to improve the quality of life for
children and teenagers.
x Help to inform the youth community about ongoing events, programs, and other
activities within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
x Help provide the youth with the opportunity to voice their opinions and propose
issues within the city or any area they may have.
x Assist with City projects or planning of City events.
MEMBERSHIP
Participants must have written parental consent.
The Committee will have 13 members who are a part of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Community, meaning that these students must live within the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.
B-1
Members may range in grade from 7th to 12th grade. Students may serve terms of different
length based on their grade level. Students may not serve more than two terms regardless
of other term conditions, and when there is a vacancy in the committee, a new committee
member will be appointed to fill that absence.
Students in 7th and 9th-11th grade will serve terms that are two years in length. 8th and 12th
grade students will serve terms that are one year in length. Students may serve a total of
two terms regardless of grade and term length.
Terms may be renewed at the end of one’s term. Returning members may not serve more
than two consecutive terms.
Members must attend meetings and participate in activities and events that are hosted or
organized by the Committee.
Committee members that acquire two or more absences throughout a single term may
be terminated from the Committee at the discretion of the Council subcommittee.
Consideration may be made to return at a later time to complete the term.
Whenever a vacancy occurs, the Council subcommittee shall fill the vacancy for the
remainder of the term.
COMMITTEE MEMBER SELECTION
Committee members will be selected by the City Council for showing previous
participation in their community and other related activities. These selected Committee
members must plan to serve at least one 1-year term.
The City Council will elect a Chair and Vice Chair that will lead the committee for the
following term. The selected Chair and Vice Chair will have specific leadership roles and
responsibilities.
The Chair and Vice Chair must serve at least one year on the Committee before being
selected for the role with exception of the first year of the Committee.
If either the Chair or Vice Chair vacates their seat at any point throughout a term, the
subcommittee can elect another Committee member to fill that position for the remainder
of the term.
Committee members must actively participate in the Committee meetings.
STAFF LIAISON
One senior member of City staff shall be appointed by the City Manager as the YAC’s
Staff Liaison, and they or their designee must be present at all meetings.
B-2
The meeting agendas and minutes will be prepared by the Staff Liaison prior to the
meeting date, with input from the Committee Chair and the Council subcommittee.
MEETINGS AND AGENDAS
The Youth Advisory Committee will hold meetings as deemed appropriate throughout the
duration of the school year and will be on hiatus during the summer break. All meeting
agendas will be provided to the Committee members and anyone in attendance.
Meetings will be held at the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Ken Dyda Civic Center in the
Community Room. Should the location change, appropriate notifications and postings will
occur. These meetings will last for approximately one hour.
a. All meetings shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend
any meeting, and they may not be recorded.
b. Meeting timeframes will be established with the staff liaison that best fits the
schedule of students.
c. A quorum is formed when more than half of the Committee members are present.
d. No business may be conducted unless a quorum of members is present at a
meeting.
e. A written agenda must be prepared for each regular or adjourned regular meeting
of each legislative body.
f. Action or discussion on any item not appearing on the posted agenda is generally
prohibited.
g. The agenda must be posted within 72 hours of the meeting time.
h. There must be a brief description that is sufficient to inform the public about the
nature of each item on the agenda.
i. Committee members will take suggestions for topics or activities that may come
up during a “future agenda items” item on the agenda. They may also obtain
suggestions from anyone in the youth community and bring up the suggestions on
their behalf during that item.
j. Emails and text messages by Committee members regarding Committee business
may be subject to public disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
k. A majority of Committee members shall not discuss Committee matters outside of
the meetings.
l. No Committee member shall respond to, comment on, or share any other
Committee member’s social media post relating to Committee business.
WORKPLAN
The committee will cooperate with city staff liaison to prepare an annual work plan that
will be presented to City Council for approval. The work plan shall include a review of the
Committee’s goals, activity feedback, project progress, and results from events hosted by
the Committee. Throughout the year, there will be two check-ins to discuss with City
Council the progress that the Committee has made throughout that period.
B-3
CITY COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE
The City Council subcommittee will consist of two City Council members. The
subcommittee will oversee the Committee application review and interviewing process.
The subcommittee will have the final decision in selecting those that will be accepted into
the committee.
COMPENSATION
Students will not receive paid compensation for their participation in the Youth Advisory
Committee. This is a volunteer program.
Students may use this program to receive volunteer service hours based on their amount
of participation in the Youth Advisory Committee.
CODE OF CONDUCT
Because the Youth Advisory Council’s members are minors, individuals who attend
meetings will be required to avoid foul language and personal attacks. Respectful
discourse, including disagreement, are encouraged.
B-4