Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council will decide on March 9 whether to form a youth advisory council.
A youth steering committee presented its plans for the council and a proposed charter with bylaws to the council at its regular meeting on Feb. 24.
City Manager Craig Martin has been working with youth from Nancy Ellis’ civics and government class at Sweet Home High School since December to develop the advisory council.
Students in the class have gotten involved in several community issues as well, including the skate park, teen smoking and providing clothing for the needy.
The purpose of the committee is “to provide an opportunity for the youth of Sweet home to acquire greater knowledge of and appreciation for the political system through active participation in the system,” the proposed charter says. It will help the mayor, City Council and city staff solve problems and accomplish the goals of the community by working directly with the representatives of the youth.
Further, it will serve the youth of Sweet Home by informing the City of Sweet Home of the needs and wishes of local youth; planning and implementing social, educational, cultural and recreational activities for youth; providing service and leadership opportunities for youth; instilling a feeling of positive self-worth and esteem; teaching respect for the rights of property and others; and promoting community pride, eliminating potential negative influences among future community leaders.
Five students from the class have specifically gone to work to develop the advisory council. They include John Corbin, Jessica Diercks, Tiffany Hamn, Brett Hegge and Valerie Sutten.
That team has been familiarizing itself with the workings of city government so it can understand what it will be doing, Corbin told the council. The members of the team would like to help the council by taking on projects and advising the council on items of interest to the youth of Sweet Home.
“Youth really don’t think that adults have their point of view,” Hamn told the council. The youth council will help provide that to the adults.
The students worked out a structure for the council, the first issue they had to hammer out, Martin said. It was a great opportunity for them to work out an issue.
The advisory council will have 11 youths, including two from the sixth grade, and one each from the seventh through the 12th grades. It will have an additional student from the ranks of the home schooled, another from East Linn Christian Academy and one at large.
Terms will run from September to August, with new members appointed each year by the City Council in May.
That way, seniors will be able to continue and complete projects through the summer before they are no longer eligible for the advisory council, Corbin said.
The advisory council would select its own officers.
The group would meet on the first and third Thursday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.
Students who wish to participate must complete a written application. The advisory council could interview applicants prior to appointments.
The steering committee will serve initially to organize and recruit the initial advisory council. The members will serve through August.
Initially, Corbin said, this group will work on the skate park issue, making sure it moves forward. It also plans to run fund-raising events to help with projects.
The council will be busy perusing the advisory council’s charter and bylaws then return with a decision in March, Mayor Tim McQueary said.