08/26/2024 Youth Commission Regular
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City of Gilroy
Youth Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 26, 2024 | 6:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Acting Chair James called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
2. FLAG SALUTE
3. ROLL CALL
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Maya Beyret, Commissioner
Sophie Gong, Commissioner
Alfred James, Commissioner
Thanmay Sarath, Commissioner
Biruh Abaneh, Commissioner
Emily Lai, Commissioner
Gianna Garcia, Commissioner
Jacob Ortega, Commissioner
Karin Sandoval Rodriguez, Commissioner
Absent Aiden Francis, Treasurer
Jaimee Nguyen, Chair
4. SECRETARY'S REPORT
The meeting agenda was posted on August 23, 2024.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5.1. May 13, 2024
Commissioner Gong motioned to approve the Monday, May 13, 2024 minutes.
Commissioner Lai seconded the motion. Motion passed with a 9-0-2 vote
(Nguyen and Francis absent).
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Sophie Gong, Commissioner
SECONDER Emily Lai, Commissioner
AYES: Commissioner Beyret, Commissioner Gong, Commissioner James,
Commissioner Sarath, Commissioner Abaneh, Commissioner Lai, Commissioner
Garcia, Commissioner Sandoval Rodriguez, Commissioner Ortega
ABSENT: Treasurer Francis, Chair Nguyen
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Regular Meeting Minutes
6. PRESENTATION
6.1. Orientation for 2024-25 Youth Commission
Staff presented an overview of the Gilroy Youth Commission’s roles and responsibilities.
The following topics were discussed:
• What is the Youth Commission? – staff provided an overview of the body,
including the qualifications to serve, staff, meeting times, etc.
• What is the Brown Act? – staff provided an overview of the Brown Act and how it
relates to the Youth Commission.
• Meetings – information on how meetings are run.
• Absences – Staff reviewed the City’s commission absence policy.
• Communication – Staff went over the various ways commissioners can
communicate with staff. Also, reviewed the dos/don’ts of using city email.
• Youth Commission Bylaws – Staff reviewed the main topics listed in the Bylaws.
• End of year presentation to City Council – a video was showed of the 2023-
2024 Youth Commission presentation.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
8.1. Elections for Chair, Vice Chair, and Treasurer for 2024-2025 Youth Commission
Henig informed commissioners about the offices that are up for election during
the 2024-25 school year. For chair, Commissioner James nominated himself.
Commissioner Abandeh nominated Commissioner Sarath, who accepted.
Commissioner Sarath nominated Gong, but she declined. James received the
most votes to serve as chair.
For Vice Chair, Commissioner Sarath nominated commissioner Beyret, who
accepted. Commissioner Abandeh nominated Lai, who accepted. Beyret
received the most votes to serve as vice chair.
For Treasurer, Commissioner Gong nominated Commissioner Abandeh, who
accepted. Commissioner James nominated Lai, who accepted. Lai received the
most votes to serve as treasurer.
Gong motioned to approve the winners of the election: James for Chair, Beyret
for Vice Chair, and Lai for Treasurer. Sarath seconded the motion. The motion
passed 9-0-2.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Sophie Gong, Commissioner
SECONDER Thanmay Sarath, Commissioner
AYES: Commissioner Beyret, Commissioner Gong, Commissioner James,
Commissioner Sarath, Commissioner Abaneh, Commissioner Lai, Commissioner
Garcia, Commissioner Sandoval Rodriguez, Commissioner Ortega
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Regular Meeting Minutes
ABSENT: Treasurer Francis, Chair Nguyen
9. OLD BUSINESS
9.1. Approve Changes to the Youth Commission Bylaws
Henig reviewed the staff report. At the previous Youth Commission meeting, the
Commission approved the proposed changes to the Youth Commission Bylaws.
For this meeting, the Commission would need to adopt them so they can go into
effect. Gong proposed to adopt the proposed changes to the current Youth
Commission Bylaws that were brought forth at the May 2024 meeting. Abandeh
seconded. The motion passed 9-0-2.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Sophie Gong, Commissioner
SECONDER Thanmay Sarath, Commissioner
AYES: Commissioner Beyret, Commissioner Gong, Commissioner James,
Commissioner Sarath, Commissioner Abaneh, Commissioner Lai, Commissioner
Garcia, Commissioner Sandoval Rodriguez, Commissioner Ortega
ABSENT: Treasurer Francis, Chair Nguyen
10. PUBLIC COMMENT – Jan Guffey of the American Association of
University Women (AAUW) requested the Commission to open up public comment, which
they did. She discussed how the AAUW would like to collaborate with the Commission on
environmental issues and making the community more sustainable. She offered her
contact information to the Commission.
11. STAFF/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
12. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7;36 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly adopted at a regular meeting of the
Youth Commission of the City of Gilroy.
/s/Adam Henig, Secretary
Secretary