Council directs staff to launch youth council recruitment process; staff to return with bylaws and modest budget

Riverbank City Council directed staff on June 10 to move forward with forming a youth council and to begin outreach and recruitment for a cohort scheduled to start in the fall. Staff proposed a pilot cohort to serve from September 2025 through May 2026 and recommended monthly meetings, an application and interview process and a membership target of six to eight high‑school‑age participants.

Key council directions - Inclusion: Council asked staff to explicitly ensure that homeschooled and private‑school students be eligible and that outreach reach all Riverbank youth. Several councilmembers and public speakers urged inclusive outreach to avoid excluding interested students. - Structure: Staff presented two options: a formal advisory body (subject to the Brown Act) or an informal ad hoc committee (not Brown Act subject). Council favored starting as an ad hoc advisory cohort to reduce administrative burdens while the program is established. - Terms and selection: Staff proposed one‑year volunteer terms with the ability for students to reapply annually; council asked that students have the opportunity to serve multiple years if they reapply. Selection would be by application review and interview, with council confirmation of finalists. - Budget and incentives: Staff proposed a modest initial budget covering meeting stipends, outreach, apparel and incidental costs. Council discussed a proposed $3,000 placeholder and one councilmember suggested $5,000 to allow travel to conferences and additional activities; staff said it will return with a recommended budget that could be approved administratively if within existing limits.

Program goals and next steps Staff said the first cohort would draft a charter and bylaws, receive mentorship from council and city departments, and present their work back to council at the end of the term. Staff will prepare final application materials, an outreach plan (including school district coordination), proposed bylaws and a recommended budget for council review and will bring those materials back for final direction and scheduling.