HomeMy WebLinkAboutYouth Advisory Board - Minutes - 02/05/2003YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
Regular meeting — February 5, 2003
7:00 p.m.
Council Liaison: Ray Martinez I Staff Liaisons: Peggy Bowers, Recreation, 221-6357
Mera Geis, 282-0058
Board Members Present: Chance Olson, Jonathan Fanning, Abby Zier, Amy Flug, Cooper
Liska-Smith
Board Member(s) Absent: Patrick McCosh, Kaise Allen, Mera Geis
Staff Members Present: Peggy Bowers, Staff Liaison — Recreation Division
Mark Larkin, Staff Liaison — Police Department
Suzy Danford, Supervisor — Recreation Division
Dave Mosnik, Supervisor — Recreation Division
Kristie Blackmon, Coordinator — Recreation Division
Janet Urban, Admin. Support Suprv. — Recreation Division
Guest(s) Present: Brittany Rideout, Ashley Stephenson
Call Meeting to Order:
Vice chairperson Cooper Liska-Smith called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Approval of Minutes from January 8, 2003:
On a motion by Chance Olson and seconded by Abby Zier, the minutes were unanimously
approved (5-0).
Agenda Review:
No changes.
Citizen Participation:
No citizen participation.
Agenda:
DISCUSS CHANGING YAB BYLAWS
On a motion by Chance Olson and seconded by Abby Zier, the Board voted unanimously (5-0)
to recommend that all Board members go through the City application and interview process to
secure a position on the Youth Advisory Board. In the past, two Board members have been
appointed by TEAM Fort Collins and confirmed by City Council.
This recommendation will be forwarded to City Council.
Youth Advisory Board Minutes
February 5, 2003
Page 2
DISCUSS SURVEY RESULTS
The survey that was distributed to junior and senior high school students in December and
January has been tabulated, and the results were distributed to the Board.
One of the main concerns that surfaced was that adults don't trust kids. Board members
commented on the use of tracking devices that parents can use on their teens. It was also stated
that junior high kids often felt they were treated like children. Cooper Liska-Smith was inclined
to think that the responses related to mistrust by authority figures (teachers and other daily
contacts). Abby commented that if parents don't trust their kids, they probably have a reason.
Another response on the survey "too much responsibility" was felt to be almost contradictory by
Board members.
Peer pressure, according to the survey, appears to be more prevalent in junior highs than in high
schools. People in junior high care a lot more about how others see them.
Feeling safe at school. Board members commented that school administration is putting a lot of
effort into safety at school although students don't feel it's really a problem. Staff suggested that
the reason it isn't a problem is a result of efforts made by school administrators.
No adult mentor. Cooper suggested that perhaps kids feel like they don't connect with their
teachers.
Transportation (or lack of) was surprisingly high in the high school survey.
Nowhere to hang with friends received a lot of responses on the survey. Cooper is of the opinion
that no matter where you live, kids are going to say the same thing. It's a universal problem of
being a teenager. Even if there were a place, kids probably wouldn't go there because it
wouldn't be "cool".
Drugs and alcohol. Board members felt that who kids hang out with determines their
involvement in drugs and/or alcohol. High school kids have more mobility to move to whatever
group interests them and thereby avoid drugs/alcohol. It was felt by Board members that alcohol
has become more accepted so it occurs more often. Again, it was stated that alcohol/drug use is
a universal problem.
In reference to the question about how much of a voice do youths have in the community, most
in responses were in the middle. For those who felt they didn't have a voice, Board members
questioned whether they had tried and presumed that, in most cases, little effort had been made
to use their voice in the community. Most youths don't know about the Youth Advisory Board
nor have they tried to find a way to be heard.
Lincoln Junior High's responses will be added to the ones already compiled and graphs will be
modified. It's possible that a "Soapbox" editorial in the Coloradoan might be submitted to
highlight some of the major findings. Results could also be published in school newspapers.
Youth Advisory Board Minutes
February 5, 2003
Page 3
Board -written and Board -administered survey information could be valuable to many different
people. City Council will also be given the results, and Compass will most likely add the
information to their website.
YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER UPDATE/FUND-RAISING
The January participation report and the February calendar were distributed. Participation
numbers are up from last January by 36% with lots of new kids. The March newsletter will
contain a feature article on the Youth Advisory Board. The May issue will be about the
YouthFest scheduled for the end of May. The 3-on-3 basketball league began last week, the
format of which was developed by the participants.
$105,000 has been raised for the new gymnasium. The youth fund-raising team put together a
Nintendo tournament that involved 50 kids ... it was great fun for everyone!
NORTHSIDE AZTLAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Northside staff reports that they are in desperate need of tutors Monday through Thursday.
Board members are asked to help or recruit tutors. The new floor in the gymnasium is drawing
lots of play; participants think it's great.
OTHER BUSINESS
City Council added two items to the Youth Advisory Board's work plan for 2003. 1) Hold
yearly joint meeting with Loveland and Greeley Youth Councils. 2) Explore avenues to
encourage schools to provide "smoke patches" for students who want to quit smoking. These
two items were voted on by Council on February 4; results have not been forwarded to staff.
Adiournment•
With a motion by Chance Olson and seconded by Jonathan Fanning, the meeting was adjourned
by unanimous vote (5-0) at 7:50 p.m.
pectf Illy nutted, ^
J et Urban, Administrative Support Supervisor — Recreation