Going Beyond Just Looking At A Situation.
City Manager Bowers stated that Christopher Taylor submitted a letter regarding creation of a Youth Advisory Committee. He provided the Council with a letter from Mr. Taylor that read as follows:
“COPY”
Christopher Taylor
May 8, 2006
Mr. Wayne Bowers
City Manager
201 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Greenville, NC 27834
Re: Youth Advisory Committee
Dear Mr. Bowers:
This communication is to provide the City Council an outline and role of a prospective Youth Advisory Committee. On last week I, Christopher Taylor, spoke with you about placing on the City Council’s May's agenda a Youth Advisory Committee. You ask (sic) me to provide you with information about my idea of a Youth Advisory Committee; whereas, you would make it a part of your comments during the City Council meeting. Attached you will find a description of what can be an effective Youth Advisory Committee.
I thank you for considering the proposed Youth Advisory Committee and look forward to your diligence and cooperation in addressing this matter.
With best regards, I am.
Sincerely,
Christopher Taylor
Youth Advocate
CT
Attachment
Proposed Youth Advisory Committee
The role of the Youth Advisory Committee will be to address the concerns of our city’s youth and advise the City Council on policies and/or programs that will be in the best interest of our youth. The Youth Advisory Committee will address such topics as community involvement, drug and alcohol prevention, the future of our youth, the current needs of our youth, and the quality of life for our youth. The Youth Advisory Committee will also be involved in the political process, as it pertains to promoting an agenda for our youth.
The Youth Advisory Committee should be comprised of adult citizens from each of our Districts, of various disciplines, who are culturally aware and sensitive to the aspirations of youth around our communities.
The Committee should meet once a month at different locations within the City in order to be familiarized with various issues that impact our communities.
The Youth Advisory Committee will:
· Encourage and empower youth to speak about their concerns and issues.
· Provide a forum for members to exchange ideas with our city’s youth and groups serving them.
· Receive advice on how to better address the needs of our youth.
· Identify emerging trends in the health and rights affecting our youth
· Ensure that rights of our youth are recognized in all development efforts
· Be actively involved in following bills and laws that will impact our youth and submit written and/or oral testimony on these bills
· Design and use a survey instrument to collect data related to a need in the community
“COPY”
Motion was made by Council Member Glover and seconded by Council Member Spell to add “Consideration of Youth Advisory Committee” on the agenda for May 11. Motion carried unanimously.
City Attorney Holec stated that at the April 13 and May 11 City Council meetings, Christopher Taylor spoke regarding a prospective Youth Advisory Committee. After Mr. Taylor’s presentation at the May 11 meeting, City Council requested that a resolution be prepared for Council’s consideration.
Motion was made by Council Member Glover and seconded by Council Member Spell to adopt the resolution acknowledging the Youth Advisory Committee and commending its efforts to address issues impacting the lives of youth. Motion carried unanimously. (Resolution No. 06- 24)
RESOLUTION NO. 06-24
RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
COMMENDING ITS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES IMPACTING
THE LIVES OF YOUTH
WHEREAS, there is a proposal to establish a Youth Advisory Committee which will address the concerns of the City of Greenville’s youth including such topics as community involvement, drug and alcohol prevention, the future of our youth, the current needs of our youth and the quality of life for our youth;
WHEREAS, the Youth Advisory Committee is a citizen created group which is to be comprised of adult citizens who are culturally aware and sensitive to aspirations of the youth of our community; and
WHEREAS, the youth of the City of Greenville are an important community asset and efforts to address in a positive manner issues of concern involving youth will improve the quality of life for the citizens of Greenville.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Greenville that it does hereby acknowledge the establishment of the citizen created Youth Advisory Committee and, further, that it does commend the efforts of the Youth Advisory Committee to address in a positive manner issues of concern impacting the lives of youth of the City of Greenville.
This the 5th day of June, 2006.
/s/Robert D. Parrott
Robert D. Parrott, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/Wanda T. Elks