Millbrae council adopts Youth Advisory Committee 2025 work plan

The Millbrae City Council on Feb. 25 adopted the Youth Advisory Committee’s work plan for calendar year 2025 and approved several youth programs and modest budget requests.

The committee’s chair, Zareen (Serene) Chang, outlined a full roster of members and a work plan that includes a one-week youth legislative summer camp in June, a six-week Girls Who Code program beginning in April, a youth-run food pantry project, a senior tech program, and joint trivia events connecting youth and seniors. The council approved the plan by motion; Councilmember Rinaldi moved and Vice Mayor Holaberg seconded. The motion passed 5-0.

“[T]he maximum number of participants is 20,” Zareen Chang said of the legislative camp, describing it as a three-hour-a-day program with snacks and an estimated cost of $582 to cover staff recreation time and snacks. She told the council the Girls Who Code program would have no direct cost to the city beyond regular recreation-room use and would run on Fridays for six weeks.

Nut graf: The plan formalizes the committee’s role as an advisory body to the council and funds a set of small-scale youth-led programs that the committee says will increase civic engagement, provide intergenerational activities, and offer practical skills to residents of Millbrae.

Details the council received: the summer legislative camp (June) is budgeted at approximately $582; a senior tech class planned for February–April carries an estimated cost of about $171.90 to cover a room and recreation staff time; the proposed youth food pantry is expected to rely on donations and have no direct city cost; a joint trivia/senior event carried a $70 estimate for room use and snacks; and a modest $175 estimate would purchase roughly 10 branded T-shirts for committee marketing.

Committee members told the council the committee now has a full roster of members including high-school and middle-school students and that popular programs in past years drew wait lists. Councilmembers praised the committee’s leadership and asked a few clarifying questions about program content (for example, whether artificial intelligence would be included in senior tech instruction). The committee indicated seniors would be taught how to use AI for daily tasks in a limited, practical way.

The council’s approval authorizes staff support to continue program logistics, and the committee will return to the council as needed if programs require additional funding or changes. No further formal council actions on individual programs were required at the Feb. 25 meeting.

Ending: The committee’s chair thanked staff liaison Alexa Flores Romano and Recreation Director Hannah Moran for their ongoing support. The committee’s calendar and program details are now part of the city’s official work plan for 2025.