Number
040220
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. DAVIS, BAUMAN, BOHL, HAMILTON, HINES, MCGEE, MURPHY, PUENTE, WADE, WITKOWIAK AND WITKOWSKI
Title
An ordinance establishing a city youth council.
Sections
320-45 cr
Analysis
This ordinance establishes a youth council for city youth to serve and advance the interests of city youth as a representative body in city government through a working partnership with the common council and the mayor. Members shall represent different aldermanic districts in the city of Milwaukee. This ordinance also establishes a selection committee, consisting of 2 youth and one adult appointed by the common council president and one youth and one adult appointed by the mayor, to establish application guidelines and provide to the common council the names of candidates for appointment to the youth council.
Body
The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:
Part 1. Section 320-45 of the code is created to read:
320-45. Youth Council.
1. CREATION. There is created a city youth council, which is attached to the office of the city clerk, to serve and advance the interests of city youth as a representative body in city government through a working partnership with the common council and the mayor.
2. COMPOSITION. a. The youth council shall be comprised of 15 youth council members, who shall be of ages 18 and under upon appointment. Each youth council member shall:
a-1. Be a resident from a different aldermanic district of the city of Milwaukee.
a-2. Have achieved high school status.
a-3. Currently attend high school or alternative school, or demonstrate the intent to attend a high school or alternative school.
a-4. Have met other qualification criteria of the selection committee established under sub. 6.
a-5. Be committed to improving the lives of all young people of Milwaukee.
b. To support and build upon the city's diversity, the youth council shall:
b-1. Nominate, for common council appointment to the youth council, one youth representative from each aldermanic district.
b-2. Encourage participation by young women and men from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
3. CONFIRMATION AND TERM OF OFFICE. a. All members of the youth council shall be confirmed by the common council and take and file an oath of office before beginning their term.
b. Members shall serve one-year terms, from July 1 to June 30. The initial members of the youth council shall serve from the time of their appointment and qualification until June 30, 2006.
c. A member shall serve until his or her successor is confirmed.
d. A vacancy may be filled for an unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
4. OFFICERS AND RULES. a. The youth council shall elect a president and vice-president for one-year terms and may select such other officers as it provides by rule.
b. The youth council may adopt rules to assist the council in carrying out its responsibilities. All rules are subject to approval by the common council.
c. The president may appoint youth council members and other interested parties to serve on committees.
d. In the absence of a youth council rule to the contrary, the provisions of Robert's rules of order, latest edition, shall govern the proceedings of the council.
5. DUTIES AND POWERS. a. The youth council shall:
a-1. Participate in the operation of programs as specifically authorized or directed by the common council, including such programs as may be financed in whole or in part by city financial contributions used to carry out a particular youth council program or accomplish a particular youth council goal.
a-2. Assess and evaluate community needs and resources relative to the protection and promotion of city youth and communicate those assessments and evaluations to the common council and mayor.
a-3. Encourage and assist in studies designed to evaluate and recommend changes in laws, policies, procedures and practices for the purpose of improving community conditions and promoting wholesome youth development.
a-4. Receive program proposals from youth groups within the city.
a-5. Report activities to the common council and the mayor as prescribed in this section.
a-6. Recommend funding allocations for the execution of program proposals authorized by the common council.
b. The president may designate representatives to attend community forums and meetings and provide the youth council with a periodic briefing.
6. SELECTION COMMITTEE. a. To carry out the duty of creating the youth council, the common council president shall appoint one youth and 2 adults and the mayor shall appoint one youth and one adult to serve on an initial selection committee. The council president shall designate one of his or her appointees as committee chair. The committee shall be staffed by the city clerk's office.
b. The selection committee shall establish, subject to approval by the common council, and shall file with the city clerk's office the guidelines for applicants, including reasonable application periods, time periods and deadlines for submission of applications and correction of deficiencies in applications, and criteria for application review and approval. The committee may include criteria to ensure that the youth council reflects the cultural and geographic diversity of the city.
c. The committee shall forward for common council approval an initial set of rules for the youth council and recommendations for initial youth council appointments.
b. Upon establishment of a full youth council, and subject to common council approval, the youth council shall nominate from within its ranks, 5 members to replace the first selection committee and assume all duties and powers as selection committee members. The youth council president, subject to common council approval, may make temporary appointments to the committee as necessary.
7. APPLICATION. A candidate for the youth council shall request an application from a location approved by the selection committee and submit the completed application to the city clerk's office where it shall be retained until requested by the selection committee. Application forms shall be made available on the city website.
8. STAFFING. a. The office of the city clerk shall provide staff assistance to the youth council and maintain the records of the council.
b. All city departments and agencies shall cooperate with the youth council and assist the youth council to achieve its objectives.
9. REPORTS. The youth council shall annually provide a written report of its activities to the common council and the mayor and shall report more frequently as the youth council, the common council or the mayor may find proper.
10. FUNDING. Ten percent of annual city Community Development Block Grant reprogramming dollars shall be allocated to support the recommendations for Youth Service activities and objectives by the Youth Council. The city shall create, administer, and audit all revenue and expenditure accounts related to the youth council according to city budget and accounting standards and procedures.
11. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. a. A 7-member advisory committee, staffed by the city clerk's office, shall assist the youth council in its work. The committee shall be composed of:
a-1. One youth, age 18 to 25, appointed by the common council president.
a-2. Two adults appointed by the common council president, one designated to serve as chair.
a-3. Two adults appointed by the mayor.
a-4. One youth, age 18 or under, and one adult appointed by the youth council president, subject to youth council approval.
b. All advisor appointments shall be for 2-year terms.
c. Removal of an advisor from the committee requires a three-quarter vote by the youth council and common council approval.
d. The advisory committee shall:
d-1. Assist in coordinating all training for the youth council.
d-2. Attend meetings of the youth council and its committees.
d-3. Have no voting privileges and serve only in an advisory capacity.
12. OVERSIGHT. The common council shall review all programs and contracts proposed for funding by the youth council and may reject any youth council decision by a majority vote.
LRB
APPROVED AS TO FORM
_________________________
Legislative Reference Bureau
Date:_____________________
Attorney
IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE ORDINANCE
IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE
________________________
Office of the City Attorney
Date:____________________
Requestor
Drafter
LRB04158-2
EJS
6/07/04