CC SR 20250819 E - YAC Appointments
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 08/19/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration to appoint ten members to the City’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and
appoint a Chair, Vice Chair, and two Secretaries.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
As recommended by YAC Council Subcommittee Members Seo and Ferraro:
1. Appoint Ashley Chan-Mott, Brian Coulon, Annabelle Huang, Gianna Jeon, Landon
Park, and Amy Wen for their first term as members of the YAC;
2. Re-appoint Krystal Deng, Mattia Magnatta, Kiernan Peterson, and Valentina
Sherer for a second term as members of the YAC; and
3. Appoint Kieran Peterson as Chair, Krystal Deng as Vice Chair, and Aiden Cruz
and Mattia Magnatta as Secretaries of the YAC.
FISCAL IMPACT: The appointment of members to the YAC does not have a fiscal
impact.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Chloe Steffen, Intern CS
REVIEWED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager CJ
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. 2025 City Council Assignments (Linked)
BACKGROUND:
On July 18, 2023, the City Council adopted City Council Policy No. 54A (Attachment B)
to create the YAC) comprised of 13 youths in grades 7 -12 who reside in Rancho Palos
Verdes. In December 2024, Mayor Pro Tem Seo and Councilmember Ferraro were
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selected as members of a Council Subcommittee (Subcommittee) to oversee the YAC for
2025, which includes the application review process and to recommend appointments for
City Council consideration (Attachment C).
DISCUSSION:
On June 30, 2025, ten out of 13 YAC Members Katelyn Beggans, Krystal Deng, Nikita
Kapoor, Grace Lozano, Andrew Lu, Jacob Ma, Mattia Magnatta, Kieran Peterson, Sarah
Porter, Valentina Sherer, concluded their first terms. As of July 1, the following members
remained on the YAC and will continue to do so until their terms expire on June 30, 202 6.
NAME TERM BEGAN TERM
EXPIRES
FIRST
APPOINTED
1 Aiden Cruz 2 10/01/2024 06/30/2026 01/16/2024
2 Mayah Singh Barrett 10/01/2024 06/30/2026 10/01/2024
3 Matthew Song 10/01/2024 06/30/2026 10/01/2024
4 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
5 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
6 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
7 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
8 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
9 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
10 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
11 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
12 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
13 Vacant 07/01/2025 TBD*
2 Second term
* Term expiration date varies, depending on a student’s grade level at the time of appointment – per Council
Policy No. 54. Students in 8th and 12th grade who will transition out of their current schools the following
year serve one-year terms; students in all other grades serve two-year terms.
Throughout the year, the City began soliciting applications to fill the ten upcoming
vacancies and received a total of 54 applications from a talented group of students
(Attachment A). The Subcommittee are recommending four returning YAC members who
applied for a 2nd term, given that they are in good standing and were currently involved in
multiple projects that will continue this fiscal year. Their re-appointment will lend
institutional knowledge to the YAC.
Recommended for re-appointment to a 2nd term:
• Krystal Deng – 12th grade at Palos Verdes High; term expires 6/30/2026
• Kieran Peterson – 12th grade Peninsula High; term expires 6/30/2026
• Valentina Sherer - 9th grade at Peninsula High; term expires 6/30/27
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• Mattia Magnatta – 11th grade at Chadwick; term expires 6/30/2027
On August 6, 2025, the Subcommittee also interviewed 11 new applicants to fill the
remaining six vacancies. Following careful consideration of their application, skillset, and
interviews, the Subcommittee selected the following students as their recommendation
for appointment to a 1st term with the YAC:
Recommended for appointment to a 1st term:
• Brian Coulon – 10th grade at Palos Verdes High; term expires 6/30/2027
• Ashley Chan-Mott – 11th grade at Chadwick; term expires 6/30/2027
• Annabelle Huang – 11th grade at Palos Verdes High; term expires 6/30/2027
• Gianna Jeon – 11th grade at Chadwick; term expires 6/30/2027
• Landon Park – 11th grade at Chadwick; term expires 6/30/2027
• Amy Wen – 11th grade at Palos Verdes High; term expires 6/30/2027
In addition, the Subcommittee recommends appointing a Chair, Vice Chair, and two
Secretaries through June 30, 2026. All recommended members served on the
Committee in prior year(s), remain in good standing, expressed interest in a leadership
position, and were recommended by the former Chair Andrew Lu and Vice Chair Katelyn
Beggans of the YAC.
• Chair: Kieran Peterson
• Vice Chair: Krystal Deng
• Secretaries: Aiden Cruz and Mattia Magnatta
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The first YAC meeting of the FY 2025-26 school year will be held on September 8, 2025
at 4:15pm at the Community Room located at Ken Dyda Civic Center. Per the FY 2025 -
26 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 and environmental sustainability.
CONCLUSION:
The Subcommittee recommends the City Council:
1. Appoint Brian Coulon, Ashley Chan-Mott, Annabelle Huang, Gianna Jeon,
Landon Park, and Amy Wen for a first term as members of the YAC; and
2. Re-appoint Krystal Deng, Mattia Magnatta, Kiernan Peterson, and Valentina
Sherer for a second term as members of the YAC; and
3. Appoint Kiernan Peterson as Chair, Krystal Deng as Vice Chair, and Aiden Cruz
and Mattia Magnatta as Secretaries of the Youth Advisory Committee.
ALTERNATIVES:
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In addition to the recommendations, the following alternative actions are available for the
City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not approve one or more appointments and request the Subcommittee to make
additional recommendations for future consideration.
2. Take other action as deemed necessary.
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Applicant Name Applicant Name
1 Ableser-Jaffe, Grace 38 Patel, Kanaiya
2 Abraham, Moses 39 Pellier, Piers
3 Acharya, Suri 40 Persky, Charlotte
4 Chambers, Madeline 41 Peterson, Kieran*
5 Chang, Mark 42 Pourafzal, Keanu
6 Chan-Mott, Ashley*43 Sherer, Valentina*
7 Chin, Audrey 44 Shon, Mina
8 Chong, Mirim 45 Sohara, Koko
9 Clark, Donny 46 Stein, Jade
10 Comess-Williams, Ashlee 47 Takahashi, Taiga
11 Coulon, Andrew 48 Tang, Dagny
12 Coulon, Brian*49 Tariq, Adina
13 Deng, Krystal*50 Viljoen, Annabelle
14 Doh, Jessica 51 Vuong, Thanh
15 D'Onofrio, Matthew 52 Wen, Amy*
16 Gu, Crystal 53 Yu, Evalyn
17 Guo, Matthew 54 Zhao, Caiyi (Aya)
18 Huang, Annabelle*
19 Jaramillo, Madeline
20 Jeon, Gianna (Jihyun)*
21 Kim, Noah
22 Kuwasaki, Lisa
23 Lam, Lucy
24 Lee, Jieun (Julia)
25 Lee, Lauren
26 Lee, Taewoo
27 Lin, Bailee
28 Magnatta, Mattia*
29 Moran, Ethan
30 Morshedi-Meibodi, Aryan
31 Mouradian, Brooklyn
32 Neumann, Nadia
33 Nguyen, Kaitlyn
34 Nulman, Adelaide
35 Nulman, Lucas
36 Park, Landon*
37 Pascale-Gajate, Ana Maria
*Recommended for appointment by the YAC Council Subcommittee.
Youth Advisory Committee Applicants for 10 Vacancies
August 2025
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