City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 20, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to amend and reordain Chapter 10 (CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION) of Title 12 (EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance to revise qualifications for certain positions on the board and removal of several subcommittees of the commission.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council introduce the ordinance, pass the ordinance on first reading, and hold a public hearing on the ordinance on December 12, 2020, and after public hearing, adopt the ordinance on December 12, 2020.
DISCUSSION: The Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission (the “Commission”) brings together community advocates to identify priorities of focus, initiates to elevate, or otherwise comment on the systems and projects led by others within the City of Alexandria that have any impact on the city’s children, youth, and/or families. Title 12, Chapter 10 of the Alexandria City Code outlines the composition of the commission, the minimum meeting and quorum requirements, and the functions and duties of the committee.
Section 12-10-2 identifies the composition of the commission’s membership, including two young adult residents between the age of 18-21 and three high school students approved by the youth council. The same section also requires seven committees to conduct the business of the commission including an executive committee, an advocacy and policy committee, a finance and grants committee, an outreach and membership committee, a research and data committee, an implementation and monitoring committee, and a youth council. Finally, Section 12-10-3 requires the commission to meet nine to ten times annually while working committees are required to meet no fewer than six times per year.
The Commission has reviewed how the body functions and believes changes to the City Code are necessary to better reflect the Commission’s priorities and functions. The proposed amendments to Title 12, Chapter 10 will (1) change the age qualifications for the two young adult resident members to 18-25; (2) remove the requirement that the three high school student members be approved by the youth council; (3) replaces references to “chairman” with the gender neutral “chair”; (4) removes the requirement that there be seven committees, deleting the advocacy and policy committee, the finance and grants committee, the outreach and membership committee, the research and data committee, the implementation and monitoring committee, and the youth council; and (5) removes the requirement that working committees meet no fewer than six time per year, allowing them to meet as needed.
The City Council is empowered, pursuant to Section 3.04(g) of the Alexandria City Charter, to amend this section of the city code governing the composition of the commission and constituent subcommittees.
FISCAL IMPACT: There would be no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance change.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance Cover Sheet
2. Proposed Ordinance
3. Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission - Commission Structure Plan
4. Children, Youth and Families Collaborative Commission - Snapshot: Operational Guidelines
STAFF:
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
David Lanier, Assistant City Attorney
Noraine Buttar, Youth Development Team Leader, Department of Community and Human Services