02/12/1024 Youth Commission Regular
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City of Gilroy
Youth Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 12, 2024 | 6:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Chair Nguyen.
2. FLAG SALUTE
The flag salute was led by Chair Nguyen.
3. ROLL CALL
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Maya Beyret, Commissioner
Alfred James, Commissioner
Saed Mustafa, Commissioner
Thanmay Sarath, Commissioner
Melanie Reynolds, Vice Chair
Jaimee Nguyen, Chair
Biruh Abaneh, Commissioner
Gianna Garcia, Commissioner
Emily Lai, Commissioner
Absent Sophie Gong, Commissioner
Aiden Francis, Treasurer
4. SECRETARY'S REPORT
The meeting agenda was posted on February 9, 2024.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5.1. Monday, January 8, 2024
Commissioner Mustafa motioned to approve the Monday, January 8, 2025 minutes.
Commissioner James seconded the motion. Motion passed with a 9-0-2 vote.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Saed Mustafa, Commissioner
SECONDER Alfred James, Commissioner
AYES: Commissioner Beyret, Commissioner James, Commissioner Mustafa,
Commissioner Sarath, Vice Chair Reynolds, Chair Nguyen, Voting Member Abaneh, Voting
Member Garcia, Voting Member Lai
ABSENT: Commissioner Gong, Treasurer Francis
6. INTRODUCTIONS
Commissioners Abaneh, Lai, and Garcia introduced themselves. They were recently
appointed and this was their first meeting with the Youth Commission.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
No public comment.
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Regular Meeting Minutes
8. PRESENTATION
8.1. City of Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley
Mayor Blankley welcomed the commissioners and invited them to the annual State of the
City address on April 29, 2024 at 6pm in the City Council Chambers.
9. OLD BUSINESS
9.1. Review FY2024 Youth Commission Work Plan
The Commission focused their discussion on the upcoming OpportuniTEEN
Fair, which is scheduled for March 23. Staff informed the Commission that they
were nine vendors short of their goal of securing 25 vendors for the event. Staff
recommended that the Commission review the current list of vendors and
determine whether they were likely to commit. Staff also recommended that all
commissioners be involved in securing vendors, not just those serving on the
vendor committee.
In addition to updating the list of current vendors, the following prospective
vendors were added to the list:
• Oakwood School Summer Camp (Garcia)
• Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp (Beyret)
• Gilroy Movie Theater (Sarath)
• National Honor Society (Mustafa)
• Camp Campbell (Nguyen)
• Walden West (Nguyen)
• Downtown Live/Gilroy Downtown Business Association (James)
• Harvard University Board (Nguyen)
• Fifth Street Coffee (Reynolds)
• Poki Bowl (Nguyen)
• Interact Club (Lai)
• Sea Cadet (James)
• Gilroy Bowling (Mustafa)
• Saved By Nature (Beyret)
• SCC Parks (Mustafa, Reynolds)
Staff recommended commissioners contact the vendor in-person, if possible.
Also, staff will resend the template letter for commissioners to use to solicit
prospective vendors.
Lastly, because of the lack of vendors committed, staff recommended the
Commission select one of the two following options to ensure the event has a
sufficient number of vendors present:
1. Delay the event date to April, which would give the Commission more
time to plan and secure vendors and donations.
2. Keep the current event date, but host a special meeting in two weeks to
report on their progress.
Commissioner Mustafa motioned for Option 2, to keep the current date for the
OpportuniTEEN Fair to March 23, but hold a special meeting in two weeks—
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Regular Meeting Minutes
Monday, February 26. Vice Chair Reynolds seconded the motion. Motion
passed with a 9-0-2 vote.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Saed Mustafa, Commissioner
SECONDER Melanie Reynolds, Vice Chair
AYES: Commissioner Beyret, Commissioner James, Commissioner Mustafa,
Commissioner Sarath, Vice Chair Reynolds, Chair Nguyen, Voting Member
Abaneh, Voting Member Garcia, Voting Member Lai
ABSENT: Commissioner Gong, Treasurer Francis
10. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Reynolds recommended that the Commission work on an itinerary that can be shared with
the vendors so they’re aware of what to expect when they arrive to the OpportuniTEEN
Fair.
11. STAFF/COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
11.1. 2024 Youth Advisory Council/Commission Conference on Saturday, March 9,
2024, in Burlingame
The following commissioners confirmed they’ll be able to attend the 2024 Youth Advisory
Council/Commission conference in Burlingame on March 9: Mustafa, Garcia, Sarath,
Abaneh, Nguyen, James, Lai, Francis (confirmed by email)
12. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Nguyen adjourned the meeting at 7:05 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