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Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh City Code, Title One: Administrative, Article IX: Boards, Commissions, and Authorities, Chapter 178A: Youth Commission and Youth Council; by strengthening the Commission’s alignment with the City of Pittsburgh’s structure to ensure that it reflects the diversity of young people across all neighborhoods and communities thus prioritizing the lived experiences of Pittsburgh’s youth to inform the decisions of the City’s elected leadership.
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The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The City Code is hereby amended and supplemented at Title One: Administrative, Article IX: Boards, Commissions, and Authorities, Chapter 178A: Youth Commission and Youth Council as follows:
178A.01 - YOUTH COMMISSION.
The Youth Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members who are residents of the City of Pittsburgh, who are aged 19-30 years old at the time of appointment. All Youth Commission Members will be selected through an open application process and selection criteria shall be based upon proven leadership and community involvement. Youth Commission Members shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of Council. Said members shall include, but not limited to, at least two (2) University or College students, at least (2) Immigrant and Refugee youth, at least one (1) justice involved youth, at least one (1) Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh youth resident, and at least one (1) youth from an apprenticeship organization. Preference for all members shall be given to applicants who have previously served, or are currently serving, on the Youth Council, established pursuant to section 178A.05 of this Code. The Mayor, shall serve as Chair of the Youth Commission. The Youth Commission shall meet at least four (4) times a year. The Youth Commission may establish committees as it shall deem necessary to advise the Youth Commission on such issues as determined by the Youth Commission. The membership of each committee shall include no less than one (1) member of the Youth Commission and one (1) City of Pittsburgh employee between the ages of 19-30, with the membership and the chair of each committee to be appointed by the Chair of the Youth Commission. Committees established by the Youth Commission shall meet as often as necessary as determined by the respective chair of each committee.
§ 178A.02 - YOUTH COMMISSION TERMS, VACANCY.
The term of each member shall be four (4) years. A successor shall be appointed upon the expiration of the term of a member, which successor shall have a term of four (4) years. The appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
§ 178A.03 - YOUTH COMMISSION QUORUM; REGULATIONS.
(a)Nine (9) members of the Youth Commission shall constitute a quorum. (b)The Youth Commission shall make regulation for its own organization and procedure, consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth and of this Code.
§ 178A.04 - YOUTH COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES.
The Youth Commission shall have the responsibility to address the needs of Pittsburgh's children, youth and families, to identify or propose the creation of programmatic opportunities to address those needs and to inform elected and appointed officials representing the children, youth and families of the City of Pittsburgh about opportunities to help them to achieve their fullest potential in terms of mind, body and spirit, and to have a meaningful voice in the direction of the City of Pittsburgh. The Youth Commission shall report in writing quarterly to the Mayor and Council on its recommendations and suggestions.
§ 178A.05 - YOUTH COUNCIL.
The Youth Council shall consist of fifteen (15) members who are residents of the City of Pittsburgh, be the ages of 14-18 years old at the time of appointment, and shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of Council. Said members shall include (1) from each council district and (2) at large City of Pittsburgh youth. All Youth Council Members will be selected through an open application process and selection criteria shall be based upon proven leadership, community involvement and recommendations from school principals, instructors, and mentors. In addition to the above selection criteria, this ordinance acknowledges the importance of inclusivity and therefore allows for the consideration of other demographic characteristics that may be identified as relevant to achieving its goals. The inclusion of these characteristics should align with the overall purpose of fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. The Youth Council shall meet no fewer than four (4) times in each calendar year. The Youth Council may establish committees as it shall deem necessary to advise the Youth Council on such issues as determined by the Youth Council. The membership of each committee shall include no less than one (1) member of the Youth Council and one (1) City of Pittsburgh employees between the ages of 19-30, with the membership and the chair of each committee to be appointed by the Chair of the Youth Council. Committees established by the Youth Council shall meet as often as necessary as determined by the respective chair of each committee. Upon reaching the maximum age limit of the Youth Council, members are encouraged to apply for appointment to the Youth Commission, fostering continuity and leveraging their experience for continued service.
§ 178A.06 - YOUTH COUNCIL TERMS; VACANCY.
The term of each Member of the Youth Council shall be for one (1) year. Their successors shall be appointed on the expiration of their respective terms. The appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
§ 178A.07 - YOUTH COUNCIL QUORUM; REGULATIONS.
(a)A simple majority of the Members of the Youth Council shall constitute a quorum.
(b)The Youth Council shall elect from its Membership a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer for one-year terms of office.
(c)The Youth Council shall meet at least monthly at times and places it may designate.
(d)In all other respects, the Youth Council shall make regulations for its own organization and procedure consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth and of this Code.
§ 178A.08 - YOUTH COUNCIL POWERS AND DUTIES.
The Youth Council shall serve as a liaison between the City of Pittsburgh youth and the Youth Commission on issues affecting youth and to encourage the positive growth and development of youth by involving them in social, cultural, recreational and other drug and alcohol free activities. Upon request of the Mayor or Council, the Youth Council shall provide advice and assistance on matters concerning the needs of youth from the perspective of youth. In the performance of its function, the Youth Council is authorized to make recommendations to the Mayor and Council on:
(a)Policy matters affecting Pittsburgh youth;
(b)Planning, organizing, coordinating and carrying out drug and alcohol free social, cultural, recreational, and other activities for Pittsburgh youth;
(c)Establishing guidelines, rules and procedures for participation in such activities; and
(d)Entering into agreements with entertainers, concessionaires and other third parties as may be desirable by the Commission within available funds and in accordance with all applicable laws and procedures.
The Youth Council shall report in writing quarterly to the Mayor and Council on its recommendations and suggestions, describing its activities in the previous quarter and a quarterly work plan for the ensuing quarter.
§ 178A.09 - EMPLOYEES; EXPENSES.
The Youth Commission and the Youth Council shall employ persons and employees as may be necessary, whose salary, with necessary expenses, may be provided for at the discretion of Council and the Mayor by the proper appropriations and ordinances.
a. The Youth Coordinator in the Office of the Mayor shall staff the Youth Commission and Youth Council and ensure that the administrative duties are completed to continue the progress of the Commission. This individual shall have no voting powers.
b. The Coordinator will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:
i. Coordinating meetings, managing resources, and providing strategic guidance, ensuring effective operation, and facilitating the initiatives of both the Youth Commission and Youth Council.
ii. Serve as the primary liaison between the commission, council, and other community stakeholders to achieve the mission and goals set forth.
iii. Community outreach to Youth at City-sponsored events
iv. Creating draft budget proposals on behalf of the Youth Commission (with input from Commissioners
v. Tracking terms of Commissioners and filling empty seats on the Youth Commission and Youth Council