HomeMy WebLinkAboutYouth Advisory Board - Minutes - 10/16/2013YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
Regular meeting – October 16th, 2013 6:30 p.m.
Council Liaison: Mayor
Weitkunat
Staff Liaison: Megan Greer, Recreation, 224-6032
Board Chairperson: Siyu Wu
Board Members Present: Siyu Wu, Thomas Long, Megan Nibbelink, Andrew Smalley
Board Member Absent: Langston Stuckey, Pranaya Sathe, Patrice Quadrel, Sarah Pruznick
Staff Members Present: Megan Greer, Administrator – Recreation Department
Guest(s) Present: Martin Carcasson from CPD
Craig Foreman from Parks Planning and Development
Call meeting to Order:
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Siyu Wu, at 6:39 p.m.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes approved 4-0, motioned by Megan and seconded Thomas.
Introduction of new members:
None
Agenda Review:
None
Citizen Participation:
Martin Carcasson from CSU Center for Public Deliberation came to talk to YAB about the
mental health conversation and what YAB can do to help out.
Craig Foreman from Parks Planning and Development came to discuss the newly developed
Trail Master Plan and get the youth input on the topic.
Chairman’s Report:
Other Business:
1. Martin Carcasson from CPD about the National Conversation on Mental Health, which
was launched by President Obama earlier this year:
a. Mental health has a huge stigma within our community, and our goal is to help
decrease that stigma. We hope to focus on how mental health impacts the youth.
b. The website, creatingcommunitysolutions.org, shows which communities in the
US that have started conversations about mental health.
c. YAB members noticed that, in the schools, the broader topic of mental health is
not discussed, though suicide and bullying is examined. Furthermore, it appears
that teenagers don’t like being associated with the terms of mental health.
Students who have problems don’t necessarily turn to counselors or peer
counselors, they sometimes will speak with friends.
d. YAB expressed interest in working with Martin to discuss mental health and
potentially plan an event for the spring. Potential topic: How can we get the
youth to talk about mental health?
e. Martin also mentioned that CPD can also work with YAB to plan events about
different topics as well.
2. At the November 15th City Council meeting, the Trail Master Plan will be examined. Craig
Foreman came to update the members about the future of Fort Collins trail development.
a. 1.9 million total uses on the trail system, Spring Creek Trail get about 650,000
uses. 60% of helmet users, compared to national average of 25%.
b. YAB members learned about trail connectivity to streets, neighborhoods, and
businesses and how Fort Collins is working to increase home access to trails.
People have expressed concern about biker speeds, which is mitigated by wider
trials and city recommendations for bikers to “bike safely.”
c. YAB members will consider making comments to the city concerning the trail
plan. The YAB motioned to support the Trail Master Plan with a 4-0 decision.
3. November 5th, the City Council will be discussing the smoking ordinance. YAB members
agreed to attend the meeting and speak in support of the ordinance. Members should
arrive at the City Hall, 300 Laporte, by 6:30 (or whatever time Megan emails out to
members).
Ajournment:
Thomas moved to adjourn at 7:43 p.m. and Andrew seconded.
Respectfully submitted,
The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 20th at 6:30 pm at North
Aztlan Community Center, 112 E. Willow Street.