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Emergency Preparedness Commission proposes name change and youth ex officio seat; council asks staff to finalize charter language
Summary
The Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission recommended renaming itself 'Emergency Preparedness Commission', removing 'safety' from the title, and creating a youth ex officio position (selection by youth advisory board). Council expressed support but asked staff to finalize ordinance language and to research legal issues related to youth voting on appellate matters and Form 700 disclosures.
The Emergency Preparedness and Safety Commission presented proposed charter revisions to the City Council, recommending three changes intended to focus the commission’s scope and broaden youth participation.
Captain Bill Velasco, police liaison to the commission, described the background: the city’s FY23–24 work plan called for review of commission charters, an ad-hoc council subcommittee drafted review questions, and the Emergency Preparedness Commission met and voted on recommended changes. The commission’s package included: (1) renaming the body to remove "safety," making it the Emergency Preparedness Commission to sharpen focus on disaster and emergency preparedness; (2) adding a youth ex officio position, with selection processes proposed to be run through the youth advisory board; and (3) removing the commission as the appellate body for the city’s 72-hour parking ordinance (hearing officer will be the on-duty watch commander for parking appeals instead).
Commission Chair Deborah Johnson and Vice Chair Miller described outreach and advantages of youth participation (education, civic engagement). Council members asked whether the youth position should be ex officio (nonvoting) or a full voting seat; legal and staff members raised concerns about under-18 voting on appellate matters and Form 700 (financial-disclosure) filing requirements. Council asked the commission to consult the Youth Advisory Board and work with staff to finalize a selection process; staff promised to prepare the ordinance language and return to council for adoption. Council also discussed ensuring regular representation from partners (school districts, Red Cross, County EMS), and staff agreed to work to improve liaison attendance.
No formal ordinance adoption occurred that night; council directed staff to draft the ordinance amendments and return with final language, including clarifications on appointment, term, and whether the youth seat would be voting when the commission acts in an appellate capacity.
