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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Rockville Youth Commission Meeting Summary — September 15, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 15, 2026

BodyRockville, Maryland

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, September 15, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:11:45

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

All right.

0:04

Well, welcome everybody.

0:06

It's Monday, June 10th o'clock.

0:09

Great to see all of you again.

0:14

Minutes and 30 minutes.

0:19

We'll be a through and then I don't really need to read for all the minutes.

0:23

Everyone had a chance to review all the minutes.

0:25

Yeah.

0:25

Yes, I did have a question.

0:28

So the minutes said that people from 7th to 12th grade could join the youth commission.

0:35

But in the email you sent, you mentioned saying that only juniors who were in the youth commission.

0:43

So there was a change.

0:46

So between what we talked about at the meeting and then after discussing with other staff.

0:53

And um it was decided that it made more sense for it to be to 11th grade so that they fill that one year and then 12th grade, then they're not longer.

1:05

Correct.

1:06

So they couldn't possibly apply for a second year.

1:09

So we decided that it made more sense.

1:10

So a lot of the spreading council members can apply for 12th grade.

1:14

Correct.

1:17

Yes, yes.

1:18

So we so the next update that we did with that was instead of saying two year, we just said a year to where you guys, so you're not only having to so if you would like to continue to serve on commission, let's say, for example, you're in the school when you're seventh grade.

1:32

The way the resolution was written is that you can only serve for two weeks with two years with the offering for one year.

1:37

So if you think about it, you start when you're in seventh grade, you can't serve again until um after your freshman or sophomore year of high school.

1:47

So this would allow you guys for those of them, those of the kids that were in middle school that applied for the first year got accepted the first year, and maybe didn't get accepted the second year, they can apply again when they're in high school in the year.

1:59

Instead of having to miss correct second case.

2:02

Okay, makes makes sense.

2:03

Um and the reason why we capped it in 11th grade was so that you apply, and the goal is to you guys can determine when you want the application process to start.

2:11

But the goal is to have them apply when they're 11th grade, and then the school gets starts during 12th day.

2:18

Right, and so they can't apply during 12th grade because then you'd have an extra year with nothing to do about it.

2:22

Right, that's correct.

2:23

Okay, okay.

2:24

I just think we should make that clear when when we're advertising that it's not the fact that you have to be in 11th grade to serve, but that you have to be in the 11th grade to apply.

2:34

Because if we're saying that like the cap is seven to 11th grade, then people are going to think that they can't serve in their 12th grade year.

2:45

But these are just a minute.

2:46

This is just what we talked about.

2:48

I motioned to do it for June.

2:51

I move to third minutes.

2:56

Yep, it's uh like do you have a second?

2:58

So yeah, I think those talking and then you have this inside.

3:04

Yes, yeah.

3:06

This is you guys do not apologize, guys.

3:10

Still trying to get all this political speaking.

3:15

Okay, Robert's role is not easy.

3:21

And I have it on my I really appreciate the help.

3:26

That might actually help us to our consider.

3:30

Okay, so minutes have been approved from last meeting.

3:35

Um to the chair report, um, which was as mentioned before, kind of just the the email interactions we've all been having with mayor and council about what we talked about in our last meeting.

3:51

And in the packet here is the exact email that mayor and council sent back, or that I sent to mayor council, and then their response to that.

4:06

Okay, yeah, we know that.

4:09

Um and I don't I won't read the email in its entirety.

4:13

You guys can just kind of read it there, but uh main points is that uh we mentioned all of the proposed edits um specifically with changing Montgomery College to middle school and then changes in membership age and appointment terms, and then kind of listed some of the reasons why these changes would be beneficial to the youth commission and to the city as a whole.

4:39

Um we and this kind of uh asking mayor and council to review these changes and bring it up in discussion during the new old business at the next meeting.

5:00

And um, yeah, we were kind of so far given a bit of an all-clear if it hasn't been discussed yet, it will be discussed, but no uh conference at this time with regards to the emails and the proposed changes.

5:12

So and just for the record, that will be today on Monday, June 10th at the mayor and council meeting tonight at seven.

5:20

Yeah, yes.

5:23

Okay, can I need to conclude that?

5:26

Okay, uh okay, so and then for today with all of the the older business cover, kind of the main priority of this meeting is trying to uh get the next term of the youth commission up and running and kind of brainstorming how we can spread publicity about the youth commission and really just trying to encourage um more people to apply, then um so we can kind of get like the system up in front, yeah.

6:00

And also I think maybe that's this is not a today thing, but figuring out what is in the youth commission's jurisdiction, and I'm I'm honestly a little confused about that.

6:16

Um, and how to how do we add that into advertising?

6:20

So are you referring to what the youth commission's responsibilities are?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Youth Programs█████████████████████████████████████████████49%

Public Engagement███████████████████21%

Procedural████████9%

Community Engagement████████9%

Technology and Innovation██████7%

Scheduling Meetings█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Youth Commission Meeting Summary — September 15, 2026

This working meeting of the Rockville Youth Commission, recorded as held on September 15, 2026, focused on youth commission recruitment, membership eligibility, the application process, and a social media outreach plan. Members reviewed pending items, discussed a recent email exchange with the Mayor and Council, and assigned next steps. Note: The raw transcript opens with "It's Monday, June 10th" and references a Mayor and Council meeting "tonight at seven," which conflicts with the supplied meeting date of September 15, 2026; this summary uses the supplied date but flags the discrepancy.

Discussion Items

Minutes & Eligibility Question: A member asked why the minutes said students in 7th–12th grade could join the Youth Commission, while a staff email said only juniors could. Staff explained that, after discussion with other staff, it was decided that students should apply during 11th grade so they can serve during 12th grade; therefore the eligibility range is grades 7–12, but 12th graders cannot apply. One member said outreach materials should make clear that students do not have to be in 11th grade to serve, only to apply.
Chair's Report / Mayor & Council Update: The chair reviewed an email exchange with the Mayor and Council about proposed changes to the commission. Staff reported there appeared to be no opposition to the proposal at this time, and the item was expected to be discussed at the Mayor and Council meeting referenced in the transcript (Monday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m.). Members noted the item could become a consent agenda item at a future Mayor and Council meeting rather than requiring full discussion.
Youth Member on a Board: The group discussed the packet's final two pages — an application form to serve on a local board — and the goal of having a youth member serve on a board. Members discussed determining the review period and how applicants would be considered by the City Council before appointment.
Application Form & Privacy Concerns: Members noted that the current city application requests information that should not necessarily be public, especially since applicants are minors. They flagged this to staff (Sarah) and discussed creating a streamlined, youth-friendly application that could link to the Youth Commission web page. Staff said they would ask the city clerk whether the commission can deviate from the approved application process to create a custom form for youth. Members also noted the current form has no field for grade level and suggested the form could be adjusted once to include demographic information.
Outreach & Social Media Plan: The group brainstormed recruitment strategies, including: a post calendar to space out content; one clear "you can apply" call-to-action; using free templates (such as Canva) with the city's standard information to avoid rights issues; classroom visits and morning-announcement pitches at middle and high schools; asking school-run accounts (referred to as SJA, MCR) to repost content; and reaching parents through SSL-hour notifications and email lists. Members supported a mix of informative and engaging content that is not too formal or too silly.
Timing & Scheduling: Members acknowledged that school is ending, so school-based outreach would be most effective in the fall — "we just can't do it in May." They discussed that this year's recruitment timeline (fall) differs from future years (spring). A summer meeting was proposed, possibly in early July via video, with members and staff coordinating dates with city employees. The chair agreed to email the two members who were absent to confirm availability and include them in a group chat.

Key Outcomes

Consensus to keep eligibility as grades 7–12, with students applying during 11th grade to serve during 12th grade; outreach materials will clarify this.
Staff will follow up with the city clerk about creating a youth-specific application form that protects minors' privacy.
Members will create a shared Google account and Google Drive, compile contact and outreach information, and begin drafting social media posts and graphic ideas before the next meeting.
The chair will contact absent members and work with staff to schedule a special meeting with relevant city employees, likely in early July.
No formal votes were taken; decisions were made by consensus.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Well, welcome everybody. It's Monday, June 10th o'clock. Great to see all of you again. Minutes and 30 minutes. We'll be a through and then I don't really need to read for all the minutes. Everyone had a chance to review all the minutes. Yeah. Yes, I did have a question. So the minutes said that people from 7th to 12th grade could join the youth commission. But in the email you sent, you mentioned saying that only juniors who were in the youth commission. So there was a change. So between what we talked about at the meeting and then after discussing with other staff. And um it was decided that it made more sense for it to be to 11th grade so that they fill that one year and then 12th grade, then they're not longer. Correct. So they couldn't possibly apply for a second year. So we decided that it made more sense. So a lot of the spreading council members can apply for 12th grade. Correct. Yes, yes. So we so the next update that we did with that was instead of saying two year, we just said a year to where you guys, so you're not only having to so if you would like to continue to serve on commission, let's say, for example, you're in the school when you're seventh grade. The way the resolution was written is that you can only serve for two weeks with two years with the offering for one year. So if you think about it, you start when you're in seventh grade, you can't serve again until um after your freshman or sophomore year of high school. So this would allow you guys for those of them, those of the kids that were in middle school that applied for the first year got accepted the first year, and maybe didn't get accepted the second year, they can apply again when they're in high school in the year. Instead of having to miss correct second case. Okay, makes makes sense. Um and the reason why we capped it in 11th grade was so that you apply, and the goal is to you guys can determine when you want the application process to start. But the goal is to have them apply when they're 11th grade, and then the school gets starts during 12th day. Right, and so they can't apply during 12th grade because then you'd have an extra year with nothing to do about it. Right, that's correct. Okay, okay. I just think we should make that clear when when we're advertising that it's not the fact that you have to be in 11th grade to serve, but that you have to be in the 11th grade to apply. Because if we're saying that like the cap is seven to 11th grade, then people are going to think that they can't serve in their 12th grade year. But these are just a minute. This is just what we talked about. I motioned to do it for June. I move to third minutes. Yep, it's uh like do you have a second? So yeah, I think those talking and then you have this inside. Yes, yeah. This is you guys do not apologize, guys. Still trying to get all this political speaking. Okay, Robert's role is not easy. And I have it on my I really appreciate the help. That might actually help us to our consider. Okay, so minutes have been approved from last meeting. Um to the chair report, um, which was as mentioned before, kind of just the the email interactions we've all been having with mayor and council about what we talked about in our last meeting. And in the packet here is the exact email that mayor and council sent back, or that I sent to mayor council, and then their response to that. Okay, yeah, we know that. Um and I don't I won't read the email in its entirety.

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