TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, Interim City Manager
TITLE: Discussion regarding creating a Youth Advisory Board and developing an Intern Program in partnership with North Port High School.
Recommended Action
Direct staff to bring back an ordinance for approval and Allow for Commissioner Carusone to continue with developing the Intern program in partnership with NPHS.
Background Information
(Youth Board)
Using a compilation of Ordinances within your backup and the experience as the past Commission liaison, I have developed a draft ordinance for discussion.
I have researched youth boards all over the country. The common denominator for the most successful boards are as follows:
• All met regularly in a location that was frequented by Teens.
• All were involved in community service.
• Boards were a minimum of 7 members and as large as 15.
• Had diverse student representation.
• Worked on projects along with recommending ideas to government.
• All had a scholarship program on place.
• Were called either councils or commissions.
• A minimum of 2 adult liaisons.
• Ages ranged from 13-25.
• All were enacted by ordinance.
• All implemented some form of data collection.
• The majority had an independent youth board website linked to the city and promoted youth only initiatives.
• Many started with an initiated to build a teen center and transformed into determining programming and improvements for the centers duration.
Note that several past board members have submitted letters detailing pros and cons of their time on the board and over 90% if not all have become successful members of our community.
Keep in mind that most cities experienced difficulties when the shift in a commission occurs. For example one city had Boys and Girls club actively involved from the beginning. When the commission liaison was term limited out the board no longer wished to continue with the board. The B&G club took over the board and its initiatives. In another case of term limits effecting the board, the liaison found an appropriate commissioner among his peers and was sure to involve them at every level. Likewise other cases the board was turned over to parks or the city manager.
The budget for this board/council would be minimal as they need funds for parades decor, giveaway items, food, possible travel and miscellaneous items.
(Intern program)
Years ago the intern program was in conjunction with a program in North Port High School. Interns attended a variety of seminars, conferences and league functions. In speaking with them they are interested in bringing back the program as it too was dismantled after the city did so. There will be more planning with the school necessary to implement a citywide intern program but we are working diligently on the effort.
The school is quite excited as many of their students are excelling in their fields of interest but in some cases already certified. They did suggest opening the program up to 10th, 11th and 12th graders as Seniors can be quite busy. These are high performance college level students.
The specific departments that would have HS interns would depend on school curriculum. I know that there would be interns for City Manager, Media, Engineering and Planning. Others would have to be determined at a later date in conjunction with the school.
There is limited information on other governments that support high school interns. I did find one in Texas that had 11 students in different departments. Out of the 11 they qualified for one 1 of 2 scholarships given, by the city, at the end of the year for $1000.00.
The budget would be minimal as it would be within each department and to include travel to specific, career oriented, seminars or functions.
Strategic Plan
N/A
Financial Impact
The budget for this board/council would be minimal as they need funds for parades decor, giveaway items, food, possible travel and miscellaneous items.
The budget would be minimal as it would be within each department and to include travel to specific, career oriented, seminars or functions.
Procurement
N/A
Attachments:
1. Email from Vice-Mayor Carusone
2. Youth Advisory Board Creation Draft Ordinance for North Port
3. A Guide for creating a City Youth Council
4. Building Connections Boulder Valley
5. Draft Ordinance City of Ferguson
6. Youth Advisory Committee for Dunedin
7. Teen Advisory Board Redwood City
8. Patriot Academy
9. Youth Commission Term Application Santa Clara
10. Setting Up a Management Information System
11. Letters from Previous Interns and Youth Advisory Board Members
Prepared by: Patsy Adkins for Vice-Mayor Carusone
Department Director: Patsy Adkins