09/13/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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opportunity to share information and also regularize the budget process - a single budget proposal could be prepared covering all of the commissions. e Mr. Long continued that the selection process for members of the youth com- mission was the same as that for all the human rights commissions, recogniz- ..- ing practical difficulties had been encountered in that process. However, it was felt when and if the process was changed, it should be changed for all commissions, including the youth commission, at the same time and on the same basis. The one provision essentially different from the other commissions, he said, was probably in the youth commission's duties and powers. This com- mission would bear a somewhat closer relationship to the Council - that is, it would be gathering information with regard to what the Council could do to- ward solving problems facing youth of the community as well as making recommenda- tions with regard to solutions. There would also be the responsibility ,to provide information to youth of the community pertinent to their rights and responsibili- ties and telling them what was available to them. The ordinance, he said, also encouraged participation of qualified youth on city boards and commissions. In response to Councilman Bradley, Mr. Long said the youth commission representa- tives would be voting members of the Human Rights Council, that the Human Rights Council would have no adjudication or appeal function wi th regard to youth. He didn't think there would be any Human Rights Council decisions that would be Unique to enforcement which is not within the purview of the youth commission. Mayor Anderson referred to section 2(4) stating".. . youth commission shall be representative of the youth and other groups...." He thought that meant practically anyone could be a member. Mr. Long responded that the provision was left purposely vague. It didn't seem to make sense that one could repre- e sent youth without also representing racial or religious nrinorities, etc. ,- It would also seem a reasonable prerogative, he said, for the Council to - appoint a senior citizen, a religious or racial nrinority person, etc., to the youth commission. Assistant Manager added that the membership provision for experience in active participation in rights of women, minorities, etc., couldn't very well apply to youth. Mayor Anderson referred to Section 3(l) (d) and (e) stating "It shall be the duty. . . to disseminate information to youth..." and ".. . encourage participation... on ci ty boards and commission." He thought that should be expanded to provide the opportunity for a more active role in the community, recognizing the low turnover in commission memberships that to a certain extent would preclude avail- ability of appointments of youth to boards and commissions. Mr. Forbes agreed with that suggestion. Councilman Haws wasn't against expanding that provision ei ther . He pointed out, however, the possibility of a higher turnover on the youth commission. For example, he said, a junior in high school could be appointed to the commission and be unable to complete a full three-year term. It was understood language in Section 3(1) (d) and/or (e) would be changed to reflect encouragement for service in other community effort such as neighborhood organizations, civic projects, etc. Assistant Manager turned to staffing problems of a new youth commission. He noted that the four existing human rights commissions are relying now on 2-1/4 posi- tions for staff support. He referred to a memo given the Council in June indicat- ing each commission has a workload of between lfr and l2-person-days per month. e The same staff people are charged with enforcement and investigation of viola- tions and, more importantly, with contract compliance provisions of the code -' which workload in particular has not yet really started. In addition, the handling of individual problems and complaints leads to a 50/60 hour work week. If't8 Minutes 9/13/76 -- 13