AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
AGENDA DATE: February 16, 2016
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the establishment of a Teen Council to provide a teen perspective on programming and community issues related to the Parks and Recreation Department.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Denton Teen Council was originally formed in the summer of 1998 by the members of Adults for Youth in Denton (AFYID) organization. The Denton Teen Council started with 23 members. In 1999, the Executive Teen Council Committee was created with members elected by their peers in the Teen Council. In 2000, the oversight and supervision of the Denton Teen Council was transferred to the Denton Parks and Recreation Department due to the dissolution of AFYID. The Denton Teen Council was a very active group being involved in several community service projects (i.e., graffiti removal, bingo nights at The Vintage, etc.), creating and implementing numerous teen events (i.e., Battle of the Bands, Disco Inferno, Smart Rave, Back to School Pool Party) and implemented various fundraisers collecting over $12,000 (i.e., Brave Combo Concert & Silent Auction, Texas Motor Speedway, etc.). In addition, the Denton Teen Council would provide input to the Denton City Council on issues such as implementing a teen curfew. Due to the layoffs of several staff members and reorganization within the Denton Parks and Recreation Department in 2005, several programs, such as the Denton Teen Council, were eliminated.
In 2014, Denton Parks and Recreation staff met with over 200 teens from Denton High School, Ryan High School, Guyer High School, Harpool Middle School, Strickland Middle School, and McMath Middle School to discuss the creation of a Teen Center. Through conversations with the teens, it was apparent that there is a significant gap in services for teens in the City of Denton. Many of the teens expressed that they want to have a voice in matters related to their age group and feel that more programs and services for teens are needed. The teens expressed tremendous support for the implementation of a teen council and a teen center. Some of these meetings were attended by City Council and Park Board members.
The mission of Denton Teen Council is to develop youth leaders committed to learning about local government and the roles they can have in it, making a difference in our community and the lives of youth, recognizing their voice, and representing other youth in the City of Denton.
The goal of the Denton Teen Council aims to empower, enlighten, and inspire all young people within the Denton Community. Their mission is to provide a youth perspective to the Parks and Recreation Department on a wide variety of community and youth-related issues through research, peer discussion, and community interaction.
OPTIONS
The City Council may approve the implementation of a Teen Council, deny the request, or ask staff to make modifications.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of the implementation of a Teen Council.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE OF PROJECT
Teen Council members would be recruited during February and March of 2016. Recruitment will take place throughout the City from Denton ISD, private schools, home schools, etc., with a goal of including representation from minorities and low socioeconomic status youth. Applications will be reviewed by the City Council in April and each City Council member would appoint up to three members to the Teen Council. All other members would be selected by City staff. The Denton Teen Council will have 25 members with an Executive Council Committee comprised of members elected by their peers within the Council. The members of the Teen Council will be notified in May 2016, with the first Teen Council meeting taking place in September 2016.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW
There was no Prior Action/Review.
FISCAL INFORMATION
N/A
Related Key Focus Area: Choose an item.
Related Goal: Choose an item.
EXHIBITS
1. Teen Council Application
2. Teen Council General Information Sheet
Respectfully submitted:
Emerson Vorel, Director
Parks and Recreation Department
Prepared by:
Kathy Schaeffer, Athletics/YTS Program Area Manager
Parks and Recreation Department