City Council Introduces Student Commissioner Program to Engage Youth in Governance

The Sierra Madre Planning Commission meeting on July 17, 2025, kicked off with a significant announcement regarding the introduction of a new student commissioner program aimed at engaging local youth in city governance. City Clerk Laura Aguilar presented the initiative, which allows for the appointment of non-voting student commissioners aged 13 to 21 across various commissions, including the Planning Commission.

This program, recently approved by the city council, is designed to foster volunteerism among younger residents and provide them with firsthand experience in legislative processes. Each commission will be permitted to appoint up to two student commissioners who will serve one-year terms aligned with the academic calendar. Aguilar emphasized that these positions are intended to mentor students interested in fields like urban planning and architecture, offering them a glimpse into the workings of local government.

The student commissioners will not be subject to the Brown Act, meaning their absence will not affect the quorum needed for meetings, allowing the commissions to continue their business smoothly. Aguilar expressed optimism about the program, highlighting its potential to inspire youth involvement in civic matters and encourage future careers in public service.

The meeting also included routine procedural items, such as roll call and agenda approval, but the introduction of the student commissioner program stood out as a pivotal moment for community engagement and youth empowerment in Sierra Madre. The city anticipates rolling out the program in the coming months, aiming to attract interest from local students eager to participate in their community's governance.