HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3388 City of Palo Alto
COLLEAGUES MEMO
December 17, 2012 Page 1 of 2
(ID # 3388)
DATE: December 17, 2012
TO: City Council Members
FROM: Council Member Price, Council Member Shepherd, Mayor Yeh
SUBJECT: COLLEAGUES MEMO FROM MAYOR YEH AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
PRICE AND SHEPHERD REGARDING YOUTH COUNCIL LIAISON
Recommendation
That the Council Project Safety Net (PSN) Liaison role be renamed “Youth Liaison” and
expanded to include serving as liaison to the City’s Youth Council.
Background
In 2010, the Mayor expanded liaison appointments to include a Council Liaison to PSN. This
memo recommends that the PSN liaison position to renamed to Youth Liaison, and expand the
role to also include serving as liaison to the City’s Youth Council. This expansion of the council
appointment is an effort to solidify and sustain efforts to support the City’s priority of
Collaboration for Youth Health and Well-Being. The position is intended to ensure a
Councilmember is designated as a formal link to enhance the communication between the youth
and the City Council and generate improved communication and understanding of youth issues.
The liaison would become the go-between to contact Youth Council when issues about youth are
before the City Council and encourage them to make comments about agendized and non-
agendized youth-related issues, activities, concerns and events. The goal is to expand on Council
relationships with the youth of our community.
In order to reduce the duplication of efforts and interests, the Youth Liaison would also serve as
the liaison to Project Safety Net. This would further enhance and promote communication of
important and timely information to the City Council, Youth Council and the community.
The City Council would continue to have a study session for the Youth Council, which provides
an opportunity for the Palo Alto Youth Council and Teen Advisory Council to highlight their
accomplishments and further inform the Council of youth-related issues and concerns.
Conclusion
The City Council continues to take important steps to support and empower youth in Palo Alto.
As the Community Collaborative for Youth Health and Well-Being completes its third year as a
December 17, 2012 Page 2 of 2
(ID # 3388)
City Council priority, the creation of a Youth Liaison by expanding the PSN Liaison role would
formalize and further strengthen the City Council's and the City’s commitment to youth.