Willow Glen Resident

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City youth commission may gain more influence thanks to Chirco and Cortese

By Stephen Baxter

Teens on San Jose's Youth Commission are reaching for greater power in city council decisions that affect young people.

On July 23, the youth commission voted 5-0 to explore expanding its powers and holding advisory votes on San Jose City Council matters. The commission's vote comes a month after Vice Mayor Dave Cortese and Councilwoman Judy Chirco offered the commissioners more direct interaction with the city council.

"The youth commission represents the future leaders of our city," Cortese said. "It makes sense to give them real-life experience of service alongside elected officials and inviting them to speak out."

Council staff members offered the commissioners private meetings with council members and the ability to submit comments to the council on topics such as library hours and police conduct. Many other commissions have already submitted comments.

The youth commission is expected to consider expanding its powers at its Aug. 27 or Sept. 24 meeting. The change also would have to be approved by San Jose's rules committee and the city council.

The commission's current role is to study problems, activities and concerns of the city's youth population and make recommendations on such issues to the council and the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department. Commissioners have worked with the parks department to sponsor band nights and dances at local community centers to create drug- and alcohol-free environments for teens on the weekends.

There are 11 youth commissioners, one for each district and one commissioner at large. The council is responsible for appointing members to fill the commission's three-year terms.

Youth commission chairman Kevin Liao, 16, said he would like to see city staff reports issued after council votes on matters that impact young people. In the proposed plan, youth commissioners also would attend city council meetings on a rotating basis to better understand city government.

The commissioners' new roles would add about 10 hours of work a month to youth commissioners' schedules. Diana Miller, a liaison to City Councilwoman Judy Chirco, said it might be difficult for commissioners to juggle their expanded roles with school and youth advisory committee commitments. Youth advisory committees in each city district inform commissioners about young people's concerns.

The youth commissioners said they want to wait to vote on whether to expand their roles until they have a full commission. There are now four vacancies. Seats are empty in districts 1, 5, 7 and 9, and the commission's staff is sending application notices to youth groups across San Jose.

James Hill, youth commissioner for District 2, said staff reports on youth-related city council decisions would help the commission.

"That would make it more tangible," Hill said.

Pardis Khosravi, youth commissioner for District 10, indicated support for more meetings with city council members.

"I think it would be a lot easier to get our suggestions through," Khosravi said.

For more information on the youth commission or to apply for it, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/ CommissionBoard/Youth.asp.