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HomeMy WebLinkAboutYouth Advisory Board - Minutes - 09/01/1999YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES Regular meeting — September 1, 1999 7:00 p.m. Council Liaison: Ray Martinez Staff Liaisons: Peggy Bowers, Recreation, 221-6357 Scott Gammon, Police, 221-6560 Board Chairperson: Ben Brooks,223-6767 Board Members Present: Ben Brooks, Phillip Chavez, Ki Shih, Robin Horak, Brian Fanning, Mike Davis Board Members Absent: Jo Faith Warsteane, Bill Leary, Steve Hill Staff Members Present: Peggy Bowers, Staff Liaison — Recreation Division Scott Gammon, Staff Liaison — Recreation Division Dave Mosnik, Supervisor — Recreation Division Suzy Danford, Supervisor — Recreation Division Kristie Blackmon, Coordinator — Recreation Division Frank Martinez, Coordinator — Recreation Division Janet Urban, Admin. Support Suprv. - Recreation Division Council Liaison Present: Guest(s) Present: Ray Martinez Catherine Teck, Jenni Pottish Call Meeting to Order: The regular meeting of the Youth Advisory Board was called to order by Chairperson Phillip Chavez at 7:35 p.m. Approval of Minutes: The minutes of June 9, 1999 were approved unanimously (6-0) on a motion by Robin Horak, seconded by Brian Fanning. Agenda Review: No changes to the agenda. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Agenda: Catherine Teck, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at Poudre Valley Hospital working in Community Partnerships, told the Board about National Depression Screening Day on October 7. Depression affects over 17 million Americans each year; few seek treatment even though the success rate is 80%. Youth Advisory Board Minutes September 1, 1999 Page 2 Ms. Teck requested that the Board support this effort by helping to get the word out to schools about the screening that takes 1-2 hours with follow-up by a therapist who will make recommendations for further treatment. There is no charge. Ben Brooks suggested advertising in school newspapers, getting the information on school announcements and in video broadcasts. YOUTH AT PROMISE CONFERENCE Jenni Pottish, who is an AmeriCorps employee, is currently working on a youth resource directory ("yellow pages") that will include youth art. She distributed information about the Youth At Promise Conference which will be held in Denver on Saturday, October 9. Board members can obtain further information from Jenni and can attend if they wish. REVISIT "TOPICS OF INTEREST" FROM AUGUST 3 RETREAT Laws that affect youths. Topics that could be included in a pamphlet to be handed out to all students could include voting, working, drivers license point system, registering to vote, registering for the draft, etc. The Board indicated they were interested in pursuing this topic. Drug issue. Board members believe drugs are a big problem in Fort Collins in spite of DARE and Zero Tolerance. Awareness is lacking; education about drugs in general needs to be improved, and the myth needs to be demolished that drugs don't exist or that only "scuzzy kids" are users. There is a problem with enforcement on school grounds; perhaps there should be a hotline for reporting drug use to police. The Board would like authorities to attend a Board meeting and provide them with information about drugs. Smoking issues. The Board questions whether the ordinance is being enforced appropriately. Developing inter -relationships with fellow students as part of student orientation. The Board suggested creating something that gives a better sense of community among students and citizens of Fort Collins and that helps eliminate clique barriers. Staff will work on securing guests to attend Board meetings and discuss these topics. SET GROUND RULES FOR YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS On a motion by Robin Horak and seconded by Brian Fanning, the Board voted unanimously (6-0) to adopt the ground rules developed in 1998 with the addition of "criticize ideas, not people". Youth Advisory Board *es September 1, 1999 Page 3 The ground rules are as follows: • • Respect opinion of others / listen when they are talking • Try to be objective • Follow through with actions • Attendance at meetings is required / be punctual • Have patience with each other and the processes • Work to create change • Try not to make generalizations • Criticize ideas, not people PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE Dave Mosnik reminded Board members of the sequence for business proceedings: motion, second, discussion, vote (MTV — motion, talk, vote). An amended motion must be seconded again. The chairperson leads the group in the voting process. Citizen input is acceptable. REVIEW "HOW TO GET INPUT FROM YOUTHS" DISCUSSION FROM RETREAT To the list that was created at the retreat on August 3, the Board suggested adding "Student Council connection". Ben Brooks made a motion to put ads in school newspapers with Board members' pictures and the way to contact them (e-mail, leave comments on cards in counseling office/main office, maybe CityLine). Ads would be personalized for each Board member. Brian Fanning seconded the motion. The motion was then amended to include previous list. Brian Fanning seconded the motion; approved unanimously (6-0). How to get input from youths: • Focus group retreat • Tap into multi -cultural retreat • Survey in connection with discussion • Phone survey • Survey in conjunction with school newspaper with results published • Ad with picture(s) of YAB members in school newspaper encouraging students to meet and talk with YAB member(s) • YAB meeting schedule in school newspaper • YAB members' e-mail addresses in school newspaper • Youth/adult forums (well -focused) 0 Student Council connection Youth Advisory Board Minutes September 1, 1999 Page 4 Robin Horak moved that all members let people know they are on the Youth Advisory Board through nametags and business cards when they go to community events for teens. Brian Fanning seconded; approved unanimously (6-0). ELECTION OF OFFICERS Ben Brooks was elected chairperson; Phillip Chavez was elected vice -chairperson. NORTHSIDE AZTLAN COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE Tutoring for children in grades K-12 will begin September 28 and will be held from 6:00- 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays & Thursdays throughout the school year. NACC staff needs the Board's help in getting the word out to people needing tutoring. Tutors are also needed. Mayor Martinez will contact fraternities about tutoring in exchange for community service hours. Youth nights are held on Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m. for kids of all ages; the computer lab is available on youth night and at other times when staff is available. Robin Horak asked what the Board could do for the NACC as well as the YAC. Staff responded that quite often people who have never been to either facility have a negative image of the NACC and the YAC. Board members can promote activities that are listed in the Recreator and help dispel the negative image. Board members can also help educate youths about what activities are offered and solicit ideas for programs and activities. Word of mouth seems to be the most effective means of transmitting information. Staff is working on a flyer that can be distributed, and Board members will soon have business cards for distributing. Mayor Martinez suggested that youth night at the NACC would be a prime target for Youth Advisory Board outreach. YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER UPDATE Staff distributed the calendar of activities for September and participation reports for July and August, 1999. Summer drop -in was down; class participation was up. The Youth Employment Program was very successful, and staff reported they had the best workforce ever. The RAD Van is going to continue throughout the school year at two sites — Leisure Park and Collins Aire Park. YAC staff is planning a haunted house/dance for Saturday, October 30 called "House of Freaks and Shrieks". OTHER BUSINESS • The National League of Cities "Congress of Cities" will be held November 30- December 1. The focus this year is on youth who can attend the conference at no charge. Robin Horak moved that the City fund transportation to the conference for 5 youths. Phillip Chavez seconded and Brian Fanning amended the motion to not limit attendance to 5. Seconded by Phillip Chavez; approved unanimously (6-0). Staff will look into funding possibilities to include corporate sponsors, school district, etc.) Youth Advisory Board Ates September 1, 1999 Page 5 • The Board voted unanimously (6-0) to support the City's application for a Great Outdoors Colorado grant for Phase II restoration of City Park Lake. Janet Urban will draft a letter and forward it to City staff to include in the grant application packet. • Neighborhoods United will host a dance from 6:30-10:00 p.m. on September 25 for teens (ages 12-14). There is no fee. Music will be played by a disc jockey; supervisors are welcome to attend. It was pointed out that this event is the same night as the Splash Dance and Rocky Mountain High's homecoming dance. • The City will receive grant monies for a skateboard park. Individuals who wish to provide input on the design can contact Dave Mosnik at 416-1736. • Eero Teene will no longer be in charge of the teen website as he has gone to college. Board members can contact Dave Mosnik if they know of anyone interested in handling this function. Adjournment: The Board voted unanimously (6-0) for adjournment following a motion by Ki Shih and seconded by Brian Fanning. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. Respectfully su mitted, Janet Urban, Administrative Support Supervisor — Recreation 0 Youth Advisory Board Retreat August 3, 1999 Notes How to get input from youths: • Focus group retreat • Tap into multi -cultural retreat • Survey in connection with discussion • Phone survey • Survey in conjunction with school newspaper with results published • Ad with picture(s) of YAB members in school newspaper encouraging students to meet and talk with YAB member(s) • YAB meeting schedule in school newspaper • YAB members' e-mail addresses in school newspaper • Youth/adult forums (well -focused) Topics of interest: • Laws that affect youths • Drug issues • Coming -of -age issues • Smoking issue • Developing inter -relationships with fellow students (eliminating clique barriers) as part of student orientation