A youth advisory liaison soon will have a seat on the dais after the City Council on Dec. 6 adopted a resolution to create the new position.
Sacramento is believed to be the first city in the nation to establish a youth position who will inform Council decisions. This person will attend all scheduled Council meetings apart from closed session and quasi-judicial proceedings but will not have a vote.
“Sacramento has taken a step in the right direction, and we’ve made history,” said Councilmember Jay Schenirer, who proposed the resolution. “Youth voice matters and our future decisions will be better for it.”
The position will be held by an individual who is between the ages of 16-24 at the time of appointment and have experience with at least one of the following criteria:
- Participating in a youth leadership program sponsored by the City of Sacramento, the County of Sacramento or a Joint Powers Authority located within the County of Sacramento;
- Participating in a leadership skill-building program, through a multi-session curriculum, presented by a community-based organization located within the City of Sacramento; or
- Attending and making public comment at a minimum of three Sacramento Youth Commission (SYC) or three Sacramento City Council meetings, within the 12 months prior to appointment.
The goal of the position is to help Council better understand how proposed policies impact young people and the future adult citizens of the city.
The youth advisory liaison is in addition to the Sacramento Youth Commission, whose members advise the City Council and the public on issues relating to youth policies, programs and opportunities.
City staff have been directed to develop an implementation plan and timeline for the new position in collaboration with the SYC by February 2023.