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San Ramon parks staff outlines teen council application and interview process; commissioners pick screening and interview panels
Summary
Staff presented the teen council application and interview process, recommended screening and interview procedures, and the commission appointed three screeners and three interviewers; staff will open applications with screening complete by March 11.
City staff reviewed the Teen Council application, screening and interview process and asked the Parks & Community Services Commission for feedback and volunteers for screening and interview panels.
Bridal Morris (division manager) described the current program: 17 teen members (grades 9–12) with two alternates and up to two nonresident positions; the selection process uses staff review of applications, a three‑commissioner screening rubric and a 10‑minute interview for finalists. "The current system for applications and interviews and appointments has worked," staff said, but recommended adjustments based on commissioner feedback, including conducting interviews over four nights instead of three, rotating interview questions year to year, and emphasizing community-volunteer information on the application.
Commissioners discussed trialing rotating questions and capturing volunteer hours and chair feedback for returning applicants. Commissioners also debated whether video resumes would help evaluation; staff said a video option was not feasible this year but could be reconsidered later: "For this year, we evaluated that option, and it would just not be doable at this time," staff said.
Staff confirmed scoring details: the application essay carries up to 25 points and the interview and other categories combine for the final score. The screening window is Feb. 10 through March 11; staff said screened application binders would be prepared for the commission. Commissioners volunteered for panels; the commission assigned Vice Chair Levy, Commissioner Dorlick and Commissioner Mitra as screeners and Commissioners Osland, Shetty and Konik as interviewers. Staff will coordinate interview dates and distribute materials to panelists.
The commission also asked staff to add a short disclaimer discouraging the use of AI for essay responses and to prepare scoring spreadsheets and materials to help streamline evaluation.
