To: YOUTH COMMISSION
From: KELLY ORTA, DEPUTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
TITLE
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RECEIVE AND FILE REPORT OUTLINING THE YOUTH COMMISSION’S MOST RECENT DISCUSSION ITEMS AND TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE COMMISSION’S PROJECT PLANNING DISCUSSION
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BACKGROUND
The Youth Commission has not been active since 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and waning interest to participate. The current Commission and Ad Hoc Subcommittee members were recently appointed by the City Council and are scheduled to serve a one-year term.
Title 2, Article 6 of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code (RBMC) outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Commission. Specifically, RBMC § 2-9.602 includes the following roles and purposes of the commission:
a) Identify and report to the City Council annually on the youth needs and priorities of Redondo Beach
b) Remain informed on the programs providing youth services to Redondo Beach (annual review)
c) Research, formulate, suggest proposed policies, programs and services designed to meet the needs of Redondo Beach youth
d) Review and evaluate requests received by the City pertaining to its youth-related policies/services
e) Maintain liaison with the Youth Commissions in other cities, and/or youth-related agencies
f) Represent the City of Redondo beach when requested to do so
As the Commission resumes its meetings, it must determine what projects and focus areas to consider throughout the next year. Staff will return at the November meeting to provide an opportunity for the Commission to have this critical discussion. In the meantime, and in an effort to create a foundation of past practices to help guide this future discussion, the following includes a list of topics that were discussed at the Commission’s most recent meetings held in 2020 and 2021:
• Discussion with Redondo Beach Unified School District Board President regarding the reopening of schools
• Mental Health Awareness with the Beach Cities Health District Youth Advisory Council
• Discussion with “A Night in Jail” author Heidi Swan about drugs and mental illness
• AES Power Plant
In addition, during the commissioner interviews, the following topics were mentioned when asked about important issues currently facing teens:
• Barriers to socialization
• E-bikes
• Mental health
• Drug use
• General safety
• Nutrition and obesity
Furthermore, the following projects or ideas were shared during commissioner interviews as ways the City’s teen programs could be enhanced and, as a result, better supported by the teen population:
• Create a social media presence that caters to the City’s teens
• Develop a teen survey to gather data on issues, areas of improvement, event ideas, potential collaborations, etc.
• Create teen and family event nights
• Create a comprehensive activities calendar
• Develop a one-stop shop for teen resources
• Create a streamlined way to communicate with teens via text or social media
It should be noted that the City plans to reopen its Teen Center at Perry Park in early 2025. As part of this reopening, staff will be requesting assistance from the Commission to develop programs, activities, events, and resources that would take place at the facility, so many of these topic areas will likely be addressed at that time.
Staff recommends that the Commission receive and file this report in preparation of a future agenda item that will provide an opportunity for the commission to develop its desired discussion topics or projects for the 2024-25 term. The topics provided in this report are informational only and are included to assist commissioners in brainstorming key focus areas to propose for this future discussion.
ATTACHMENTS
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