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Newcastle Youth Council launches and CAC votes to recommend non‑voting youth liaison
Summary
The newly formed Newcastle Youth Council presented its membership, volunteer requirements and projects (time capsule, youth town hall). The Community Activities Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the city council reinstate a non‑voting youth liaison to the CAC.
Leaders of the new Newcastle Youth Council described the group’s structure, membership requirements and early projects and asked the Community Activities Commission for formal liaison representation.
A youth leader said the council has 18 members who meet monthly at the YMCA, have an application and attendance requirements, and must complete 25 volunteer hours in the Newcastle community (five at city events). "We're getting the youth very engaged in city government which is really important and impactful," the youth chair said. The group described active projects including a Newcastle time capsule planned for March 22 and plans for a youth town hall and a start‑of‑school event.
Commissioners discussed how a liaison role had functioned in the past (two non‑voting youth liaisons who reported during commission discussions) and whether a liaison would require rule changes. Commissioner Bennett moved that the CAC recommend that the city council consider reinstating a non‑voting youth liaison; Commissioner Fretzinger seconded the motion. The chair called for objections and recorded none. The commission will forward the recommendation to the city manager for the council’s agenda‑setting process.
Why it matters: Commissioners and youth leaders said a regular liaison would provide youth perspective during commission deliberations and create a formal channel for youth input without granting voting authority. Commissioners also encouraged the youth council to submit materials to city communications channels and the city staff offered to share youth events in the city newsletter if the council provides posts.
Next steps: the CAC’s recommendation will be discussed by the city manager with the mayor and deputy mayor during agenda setting; the youth council will continue project planning and requested a liaison who could sit in and provide a youth perspective at meetings.
The commission did not create a voting seat for youth members; the action was a recommendation to the city council.
