City Council Meeting Date: May 16, 2023
To: City Council
City Administrator
From: Mayor Rhonda Pownell
Title
Consider Approval of Mayoral Board/Commission Youth Appointments.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves the Mayoral board/commission youth appointments as indicated below:
Arts and Culture Commission
Cecilia Barojas Velazquez - non-voting youth representative
Jade Dorantes- non-voting youth representative
Genevieve Tassava (c) - non-voting youth representative
Carsten Walter (c) - voting youth representative
Economic Development Authority
Quinn Edwards - non-voting youth representative
Xochitl Valdez (c)- non-voting youth representative
Environmental Quality Commission
Jael Conde - non-voting youth representative
Luke Pegram (c) - voting youth representative
Heritage Preservation Commission
Anna Forbord - non-voting youth representative
Cameron McMillan - voting youth representative
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Maria Hegland - non-voting youth representative
Jaden Hietala - non-voting youth representative
Human Rights Commission
Rihanna Gonzalez - non-voting youth representative
Aidyn Plasch (c) - voting youth representative
Dominic Prinzing - non-voting youth representative
Martin Rosas - non-voting youth representative
Library Board
Tara Alaniz - non-voting youth representative
Sonia Brunelle (c) - voting youth representative
Will Flannery - non-voting youth representative
Mayor’s Youth Council (all voting members)
Evie Bauer
Muriel Bengen
Ben Berglund
Aki Gupta
Josie Hauck (c)
Rylie Lager (c)
Nicholas Livingston
Noa Marohl
Savannah Mellies (c)
Clara Menssen (c)
Charles Murphy
Patricia Owusu (c)
Rebecca Perez
Jack Pribyl
Alex Salinas
Danica Sorem (c)
Grace Van Voorst (c)
Anadaly (Ana) Zamora Rosas
Northfield Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention
Samuel Boardman (c) - voting member
Dayanara Ponciano Enriquez (c) - voting member
Carter Steenblock (c) - voting member
Sydney Swedin (c) - voting member
Park and Recreation Advisory Board
Cora McBroom (c) - voting youth representative
Vladimir Simon Martinez (c)- non-voting youth representative
Planning Commission
Griffith Dahle (c)- non-voting youth representative
Steven Thorstensson - non-voting youth representative
(c) = returning member
Summary Report:
The City Council is being asked to approve the youth appointments as noted above. The MYC and youth appointees to boards and commissions act in an advisory capacity to the boards, commissions and City Council for the purposes of advising these groups on perspectives and issues important to Northfield youth in order to assure a youth voice in civic affairs, and working with community partners and other youth initiatives to help design and recommend solutions and options to address opportunities and areas of concern in the Northfield community. Youth members are appointed/reappointed annually. Applications to serve on the MYC, boards and commissions are completed and submitted to the Adult Advisor, Meleah Follen. The applications are assembled and reviewed by the Adult Advisor and current members of the Youth on Boards program (as they are able). Recommendations for appointments to fill vacant or expired positions are made to the Mayor based on the review and the desire to create a MYC, and appointees to boards and commissions, that are gender, ethnic and age diverse. Members shall thereafter be appointed by the Mayor, with the approval of the City Council.
In addition to the youth that will serve on City Boards and Commissions during the 2022-23 school year, there are currently 34 additional youth serving on further Boards or Councils within the community that are part of the Youth on Boards program. These include the District Youth Council and the Community Education Advisory Board, both part of the Northfield Public Schools system, the Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) Community Leadership Team, and nine local non-profit Boards (Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, League of Women Voters, Northfield Area Family YMCA, Northfield Arts Guild, Healthy Community Initiative, Northfield Historical Society, Northfield Shares, Northfield Youth Choirs, Rice County Area United Way and Women in Northfield Giving Support (WINGS)).
The Youth on Boards program is funded collaboratively between the City of Northfield, Youthprise and Healthy Community Initiative, with strong support from the Northfield School District.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
N/A