2021-01-06 Youth Commission MinutesPage 1.1.1
Youth Commission Meeting Minutes, 1/6/2021
Commission Members Present: Staff Present:
Chair Owen Lee Casey Colley
Co -Chair Jacob Sawyer
Treasurer Sydney Pearson Laura Johnson
Secretary Brook Roberts
Grace Kamila
Finn Paynich
Brooke Rinehimer
Aaron Nateephaisan
Absent Commissioners:
Hunter DeLeon
Zane Marulitua
Audrey Lim
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Owen Lee moved to call the meeting to order at 6:00 pm over Zoom.
Brook Roberts read the land acknowledgment statement.
II. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA
Chair Owen Lee moved to approve the consent agenda, which included:
Approving November 23rd special meeting minutes
Secretary Brook Roberts seconded the motion
Motion passed unanimously
III. REVIEW OF YOUTH COMMISSION PURPOSE
Youth commission was founded a couple years ago.
Read mission statement: City of Edmonds Youth Commission is a youth -led commission whose
mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the quality of life for Edmonds youth by advising
City Council and the public on issues relating to youth policies, programs, and opportunities.
As we do things we need to keep the mission statement in mind and make sure actions are
aligned with it.
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It's important that we know we are here to represent the whole youth of Edmonds, good to
think of all sides on issues more so non -partisan.
Make sure to represent the youth, being the Youth Commission gives us unique ability to be
more forward and future thinking than other groups with the city. As we represent younger
people that typically are more progressive.
Doing polls and forums to get to know what the youth thinks about topics. They were really fun
to chat at the forums, before COVID, and talk about issues that the youth is dealing with and
their feelings around them.
IV. PRESENTATION ON ROBERTS RULE OF ORDER by Brook Roberts
A procedure on how to run the meeting. To ensure the majority rule, provide order, fairness on
decisions made, expedite meetings. Provides checks and balances in meeting. Quorum is 5
members needed to vote and take action. Motions are formal proposal to take action. Agenda is
created for the meeting. If you want to add anything to the agenda email Brook Roberts and CC
Owen.
V. ICEBREAKERS
Great way to bring in the New Year and a fun way to get to know members better.
1. Owen will give a statement, turn your video on if the statement is true to you. Turn your
video on if you have 1 or more siblings. Turn on if you were born in the fall, turn on if born in
the winter, turn on if born in the spring, turn on if born in the summer. Turn on video if your
favorite class is English. Turn on video if your favorite class is history. Turn on video if your
favorite class is a science class. Turn on video if your favorite class is math. Turn on your
video if you have a cat. Turn on your video if you have a dog. Turn on your video if you have
any non -dog or cat pets.
2. Breakout rooms —divided into 3 small groups. What you did over break? How did the first
few days of school go? What do you want to do when you grow up?
VI. 2021 ADVOCACY PRIORITIES
Great to have goals started for the year. Let's brainstorm a couple concrete goals. Do we want
to put out X amount of statements, volunteer in the community, everyone do a service
something, what can help us be more involved as the commission. Any thoughts or goals to
propose.
Jacob —continue to build the relationship with the Edmonds school district which will be good
for anything we want to have in the future. Volunteering hasn't been done since going online. It
would be good to coordinate and advertise volunteering for an event we want to support
Finn —what do you think we'd be volunteering for. Food banks and trash cleanup is common.
Jacob —whatever we do should be youth centric since we are representing the Youth
Commission. Food bank since there's so much food insecurity right now with COVID.
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Owen —that's a great idea, we should do a lot of volunteering opportunities to send members
to. People could volunteer as individuals to align with COVID precautions as a commissioner
contributing to Edmonds. Have members write reflections about experiences.
Finn —someone spoke at the meeting —Mindy Woods —donating things for homeless like warm
socks, maybe we can post a list of donations on IG or host a sock drive.
Brooke Rinehimer—maybe volunteer in pairs, wear the YC vests and spread word about
volunteering. Pairs would be nice to represent and also to get to know each other a little more.
Casey —great to create a list of what to do once things start opening, and a list of what we can
do now with COVID restrictions.
Laura Johnon—citizens don't know how government works, what the different departments are,
what the different boards & commissions are, maybe create an educational flyer informing the
public of what the government does, what are the roles. Commissioners could do short
interviews via Zoom with the roles.
Brook Roberts —what do you all think about rank choice voting?
Jacob —interested in it, in support of it.
Brook Roberts —talked with a few of you about creating committees. Divide and work on
projects in these committees.
Laura Johnson —city council will introduce items as a study item at the meeting, then it comes
back on the following meeting as an action item. That way you don't have to decide right then
but get time to think and review.
Owen —do some research on items to volunteer with, individually and as a commission. We
could place reflections about service on IG. It would be good to put together information on
how the government works. We can think more about if we want to tackle rank choice voting,
figure out our approach to mental health. I'll send out email in few says asking for thoughts.
Casey —lets come up with a few question for Mindy Woods at the next meeting.
VII. PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL
Every year we present to council what we have been doing. Typically one member presents it
and the other commissioners attend in support. Look at last year's presentation to see what last
year looked like. What do we want to highlight? Transitions to Zoom meetings, we planned a
forum, it got cancelled from COVID, and then we took a couple months off while waiting to see
how to meet with COVID, worked on recruiting and seating the majority of our commission with
new members.
Chair Owen Lee moved to add breakout rooms to the agenda before final comments
Co-chair Jacob Sawyer seconded the motion
Motion passed unanimously
VIII. MOVED BACK INTO BREAK OUT ROOMS
Split into 3 groups. What was the last movie you watched and enjoyed? How was your break?
IX. FINAL COMMENTS
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Owen —everyone keep in mind the couple things you're supposed to think about. Priorities for
the year and questions for Mindy Woods.
Casey —keep your eye on city email, keep on doing great surviving and thriving during this
pandemic.
Laura —I really appreciate these meetings and love I get to be council rep. you are inspiring and
creative, I feel honored to work with you.
Brook—congrats to council rep Laura Johnson for becoming council president Pro-Tem.
X. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Owen Lee adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm.