REPORT TO THE CITY OF FRESNO YOUTH COMMISSION April 22, 2020 FROM: Jose Espinoza, Program Coordinator Youth Leadership Institute BY: Marco Martinez, Senior Deputy City Clerk Office of the City Clerk SUBJECT ..Title Update, discussion and actions pertaining to the Rising Youth Award (civic engagement award) and resolution ..Body RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Youth Commission draft a resolution for City Council to recognize youth organizations at the city level. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In order to comply with California Assembly Bill 24 (AB 24), the Civic Learning Partnership (CLP) wants an award created at the city level to recognize youth-led projects. The Youth Commission's proposed City Council resolution would encourage the City Council to create the awards and to hold a space to provide the awards. BACKGROUND On October 9, 2017, the State of California approved AB 24. AB 24 establishes a "State Seal of Civic Engagement" to encourage students to engage civically at the local, state and national level. School districts that participate in the program will encourage students to participate in civic and community projects. Students who successfully carryout the program guidelines will receive a State Seal on their diploma. At the August 2, 2019 Fresno Youth Commission meeting, Program Coordinator Espinoza presented CLP's proposal to the commission. The commission created an ad-hoc committee to collaborate with CLP to create a resolution. The resolution creates a youth recognition program, administered by the City Council. Recognition of youth through the program will satisfy the State's program guidelines as established by the superintendent. The Rising Youth Award Resolution was presented to City Council on January 16, 2020, by Chair Luis Guzman, 1st Vice Chair Gabriela Martinez, and Commissioners J'Ryana Horne and Evelyn Gamble. The resolution was adopted by City Council. At the January 29, 2020 Youth Commission meeting, the commissioners discussed the award application requirements and processes. At the February 12, 2020 Youth Commission meeting, the commissioners approved extending the application deadline until April 20, 2020, with an automatic two week extension if no applications were received by that date. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a "project" and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements. LOCAL PREFERENCE City Council will determine if local preference is needed for this project. FISCAL IMPACT City Council will determine the costs and appropriations for this project.