2007-2008 Members

YAC Executive Board

Chair - Katie Kenny	Vice Chair - Jacob Miller
Historian -	Treasurer - Christine Garcia
PR Rep -	Secretary-Attendance - Amanda Thain
Secretary-Minutes -

The Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) is designed to advise the Baytown City Council on issues affecting the youth within the City of Baytown.  The YAC will consist of 25 youth ages 14 – 18 who are interested in representing the teen population of Baytown who are enrolled in a public school or a private or parochial school, including a home school, within the boundaries of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District and maintaining good standing at the school in which they are enrolled.  The members will be selected through an application process and the Baytown City Council will make the final appointments to the Commission.

Mission Statement:  The Youth Advisory Commission (YAC) will serve as the “voice” of the Baytown teen community.  The YAC will serve as a link between the City Council and the youth of Baytown to identify issues, communicate concerns and suggest possible City Council action pertaining to Baytown’s youth.  The City Council envisions a better tomorrow by viewing today’s teenagers as a valuable resource.  Therefore, the YAC will take a direct role by working with the City Council to recommend action items for the Council agenda, proposing city programs, activities, ordinances, amendments, and presenting youth interests.  The Commission will seek a diverse group of applicants in order to best represent the youth of the community.

Primary Goals

• Foster involvement of the youth in City government.
• Conduct surveys and determine the concerns and interest of the youth of Baytown.
• Encourage youth leadership and responsibility through volunteerism and community involvement.
• Create opportunities for public discussion of youth issues through meetings, workshops and conferences.
• Explore and identify issues and concerns of special importance to the youth and communicate those issues to the City Council.
• Look for ways to promote mutual understanding, respect and community involvement amongst youth groups of all cultures and backgrounds.
• Assist in the planning, recommendation and implementation of youth activities.

Membership Requirements

Potential YAC members must live within the boundaries of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District ages 14 – 18.  Submit an application, which consists of a one-page essay to the YAC Coordinator and be willing to commit time and energy to the Commission. 

All Baytown youth who meet the criteria and wish to “make a difference” in the community are encouraged to apply.

Commission  Members

The Youth Advisory Commission Coordinator will receive applications and submit 25 students to City Council to confirm their appointment to the Commission.  The appointed members will then elect their own Executive Committee (Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, etc.) at the first meeting of the Commission.

Terms

• The term for each member will be one year, not to exceed three consecutive terms.
• Vacancies will be filled in accordance with the appointment process.
• When a vacancy occurs before the expiration of the term, the appointment will be made for the remainder of the term.
• Any member may be removed from office upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the Commission, and such action shall be final and not subject to review.

Compensation

There will be no compensation for serving on this Commission.

Meetings

The Commission will meet the 1^st and 3^rd Monday of every month during the regular school year at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center, 2407 Market Street, in the Mockingbird Room.

The Commission will keep public records of its resolutions, findings and determinations, and adopt bylaws pertaining to its meetings and the transactions of its business. 

Mike Flinn will serve as the YAC Coordinator. 

All mail for the Commission members will be received at City Hall, Attn:  Baytown Youth Advisory Commission, 2407 Market Street, Baytown, TX  77520.  

Youth Advisory Commission Information

• By-Laws