HomeMy WebLinkAboutYouth Advisory Board - Minutes - 05/01/2002YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
Regular meeting — May 1, 2002
6:00 p.m.
Council Liaison: Ray Martinez Staff Liaisons: Peggy Bowers, Recreation, 221-6357
Mark Larkin, Police, 221-6853
Board Chairperson: Ana Rocca,226-2681
Board Members Present: Mera Geis, Ana Rocca, Kaise Allen, Amy Flug, Mandy
Hoffer, Cooper Liska-Smith, Patrick McCosh, Robbie
Weisser
Board Member(s) Absent: None
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: Carrie Visintainer; Loveland Youth Board and one adult
supervisor
Call Meeting to Order: After pizza and idea -sharing with the Loveland board, the
regular meeting of the Youth Advisory Board was called to order by Chairperson Ana
Rocca at 7:05 p.m.
Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Mera Geis and seconded by Robbie Weisser, the
minutes from April 3, 2002 were unanimously approved (8-0).
Agenda Review: No changes.
Citizen Participation: None
Agenda:
GANG ACTIVITY IN FORT COLLINS
Police officer Scott Gammon presented information on gang activity. The Police
Department created a gang unit in 1993-94 when gang influence was first noticed, and
activity has decreased slowly, from 500 gang -related activities in 1994 to 60-70 now.
Even though the numbers are down, the kids who are in gangs are pretty hardcore. Gang
officers try to target leaders and deal with them. If gang activity is known, it should be
reported to teachers, SROs, or someone in authority. The first step is intervention by the
Youth Advisory Board Minutes
May 1, 2002
Page 2
gang unit who then works with parents, teachers, counselors. The major local focus is to
intercept gang involvement from out of town.
FOLLOW-UP ON JUNIOR HIGH VISITS
Ana Rocca visited Lesher Student Council and shared Java Jive information. The 9`h
graders expressed a dislike with splash dances and thought they were geared more toward
younger kids. They do, however, enjoy the new skate park.
Robbie Weisser visited Ridgeview. Students there said they want a dance club with
techno music.
YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER UPDATE
Staff distributed the April participation report and the May schedule. Staff feels some
participation has been lost to track and soccer. The last Java Jive for the season will be
held on May 17 with Out of Your Element performing. Free lattes will be served. The
summer Recreator was distributed, and YAB members were encouraged to check out the
teen section.
NORTHSIDE AZTLAN COMMUNITY CENTER UPDATE
Cinco de Mayo festivities will be held this coming weekend with events being held
downtown on Saturday and at NACC on Sunday. The summer youth basketball league
will begin soon; contact Frank Martinez if you have a team or want to coach a team.
OTHER BUSINESS:
• The Museum of Contemporary Art is doing a mural project this summer. Kristie
Blackmon distributed information, and ideas can be submitted (forms are available at
the YAC).
• A check for $350 from the Poudre High School National Honor Society was
presented to Brownie McGraw for the gymnasium at the YAC.
• Mandy Hoffer reported that Youth Service Day involved 120 students, which was
twice the number as last year. Their efforts included painting a mural for the YAC, a
conducting a clothing drive, making hygiene packets for the Open Door Mission,
pulling weeds at Horsetooth Reservoir, digging an irrigation ditch at the community
garden on Vine Drive, volunteering at Gardening Angels.
• The CSU Unity Day sale of Krispy Kremes and washing cars netted $560 for the
YAC gym.
• 145 young people out of 195 applicants were interviewed for about 50 summer youth
employment positions.
• Cooper Liska-Smith will meet on May 8 with Jep Enck and TEAM Fort Collins
regarding the smoking ordinance.
• Applications for the Youth Policy Academy closed this week. The Laramie River
Valley Rendezvous will be held in July in the Rawah Wilderness for kids from single
parent families.
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May 1, 2002
Page 3
• Mayor Martinez suggested that a petition in support of the smoking ordinance would
be powerful and effective if presented to City Council during the public input portion
of Council meeting.
Mayor Martinez asked if the YAB had taken a position on City Park Pool and
suggested that staff forward a copy to YAB of the current memo regarding City Park
Pool.
The Board was encouraged by the Mayor to have one member on the Cinco de Mayo
committee next year (January through May).
It was also suggested by Mayor Martinez that perhaps school student councils should
be invited to YAB meetings to discuss items of interest to both groups. He also
stated that perhaps Council can sponsor food for these meetings.
• The Board members and staff bid farewell to Robbie Weisser and Ana Rocca and
wished them good luck as they leave the Board to go to college.
Adiournment:
On a motion by Robbie and seconded by Cooper, the Board voted unanimously (8-0) to
adjourn at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Urban, Administrative Support Supervisor — Recreation
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