Commission keeps Teen Council application largely intact, moves interviews in‑person and adds outreach steps

The San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commission on Jan. 22 reviewed its Teen Council application and interview procedures and assigned commissioners to screen applications and conduct interviews this spring.

Parks staff said the Teen Council program, established in 1994, annually recruits up to 17 student members plus alternates and that the commission’s traditional role is to screen, interview and recommend candidates for city council appointment. Staff described the current process: initial staff completeness checks, three commissioners score applications with a rubric, the top applicants (historically about 39) are invited for 10‑minute interviews, and the interview panel recommends appointments to the full commission.

The commission asked staff to keep the basic process but to make several changes intended to add a stronger human element to selection and to guard against application content produced by automation. Commissioners agreed to move interviews to in‑person format (rather than virtual), to have staff tweak and rotate some application and interview questions so responses are less repetitive, and to investigate adding a short supplemental (for example, a video) for future cycles if timeline and logistics allow.

Student Commissioner Chawla and Teen Council staff member Jessica emphasized the value of seeing applicants in person and checking attendance records for current Teen Council members who reapply. Jessica offered that the Teen Council already tracks attendance and volunteer hours and that staff will provide those logs to screeners when relevant.

Commissioners also recommended additional outreach to private and parochial schools to broaden the applicant pool; staff confirmed a Team Council job fair is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, and asked for commissioner participation in mock interviews at that event.

Assignments and procedure: commissioners Levy, Lopez Lucey and Dorlick were designated as the three screeners who will review written applications; commissioners Bridal, Oslund and Caney were assigned to conduct the interviews. Staff will finalize interview dates with the panel and provide screening binders and rubrics to the assigned commissioners. The commission directed staff to return with revised questions and application materials in time for the scheduled screening and interview dates.

Why it matters: commissioners said in‑person interviews and clarified screening criteria will better reveal applicants’ communication and teamwork skills and improve selection of students who will actively contribute to the Teen Council’s programs.

Public participation: none of the public commenters on this agenda item opposed the process changes; staff and student participants spoke in support of the recommendations.

Next steps: staff will update the application packet, provide screening binders and rubrics to the designated commissioners, confirm interview dates and, if feasible, develop a pilot approach for a supplemental video component to be introduced in a future recruitment cycle.