Report Prepared by: Lamguene Kindavong, Recreation Supervisor, Parks and Recreation
Title
SUBJECT: Revise Merced Youth Council District Boundaries to Reflect City Council District Boundaries Instead of Measure C District Boundaries
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers revising the current representative districts for the Merced Youth Council which mirror those established by Measure C and approve modifying Youth Council representative districts to mirror City Council Districts 1 through 6 as indicated by adopted City Council District maps.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving the request by Merced Youth Council to revise the Merced Youth Council district boundaries to reflect the boundaries for Merced City Council Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 as adopted by Merced City Council in April 2022.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by the Parks and Community Services Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by the Parks and Community Services Staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
22/23- Parks and Recreation, A. Recreation, 6. Allow for Youth Council to expand role and access to City Council.
DISCUSSION
During the formation of the Merced City Youth Council in 2014, City Council approved the use of Measure C district boundaries to guide Youth Council membership. Measure C uses Bear Creek and Highway 99 as district boundaries, dividing the city into South, Central and North districts. The current structure of the Youth Council allocates two seats for each of the three districts with one additional seat dedicated for an at-large member. These district boundaries do not align with the boundaries determined to best represent the community at this point in time. The use of Measure C boundaries decreases direct links between City Council members and Youth Council members and makes recruitment of Youth Council members difficult.
Current City Council priorities include expansion of the Youth Council’s role and their accessibility to City Council. The Merced Youth Council appreciates the support of the Merced City Council and believes boundaries should provide the best representation of the diverse needs of young people in the community. The City Council recently allocated substantial resources to determine boundaries to best represent the community members and the Youth Council would like to capitalize on that investment.
Staff requested the Youth Council consider revising the district boundaries that make up Youth Council seats and suggested they reflect the boundaries developed for City Council. As a result, City Council members will have their districts each represented by young people on the Youth Council and Youth Council will have District representatives on City Council to work with on certain objectives. Staff presented this revision for Youth Council’s consideration in October 2022. On November 10, 2022 the Merced Youth Council adopted a motion to recommend City Council consider replacing the Measure C boundaries with the Merced City Council District boundaries for use in determining Merced Youth Council membership.
Implementation of new boundaries would be done in phases starting next fiscal year. Each of the three current Youth Council districts would elect new representatives for District 1, 3 and 5 in year one and Districts 2, 4, 6, and at large in year two. It is the hope of the Youth Council that this revision will help strengthen the Youth Council relationship with and access to City Council.
As the City of Merced grows and new representative needs are determined, any modifications to the City Council boundaries will be adopted for the Merced Youth Council.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Additional City resources are not required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Merced Youth Council District Map
2. Merced City Council District Map