Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The city’s Youth Advisory Council kicked off its new year on Nov. 17 for an orientation session and to elect officers.
The YAC heard presentations on its bylaws, the city’s charter and City Council goals, City Manager Craig Martin said, and then elected officers.
Sophomore Stephanie Wodtli was elected chairwoman. Bryanna Bittner, eighth grade, was named vice chairwoman. Senior Eric Keeler was named activities coordinator, and Tracy Smith, sophomore, was named treasurer.
Laura Gourley, a freshman, also is serving on the YAC. She did not think she would be able to serve as an officer because of her school and sports schedule, Martin said.
The YAC did not select a secretary because Britney Price, a seventh-grader, attended the meeting and indicated that she had an interest in the office. The YAC voted unanimously to recommend appointing her to the YAC. The City Council was scheduled to act on the application at its Nov. 22 meeting.
Price has regularly attended council meetings for a couple of years with her father, T.R. Price. Gourley is the daughter of Councilman Jim Gourley and has attended City Council meetings over the years.
The YAC “decided to talk amongst their peer groups about issues important to youth” before deciding what issues to tackle and changing its bylaws, Martin said. The members did not want to change their bylaws till they had the chance to familiarize themselves with YAC and city procedures.
The YAC has several empty seats, but it has had enough interest to fill each seat. Those seats could not be filled because the YAC’s bylaws outline specific grade requirements for each seat. Several seats had multiple candidates, and some seats had none.
Right now, the YAC has two open seats for the sixth grade, one for home school, one for East Linn Christian Academy and one high school junior. The seventh-grade position was open as of press time, but the council was expected to act on Price’s application.