(a) 
The Forest Hill Mayor's Youth Advisory Council ("YAC") shall be composed of seven (7) student members, an adult City Council liaison member, and an adult school liaison member.
(b) 
Student members shall be active students in good standing, attending grades ten (10) through twelve (12) of a high school(s) serving the City, with preference given to currently serving members of the Student Council at high school(s) serving the City.
(c) 
The Mayor or the Mayor's designee shall serve as the City Council liaison member, which shall be a non-voting member.
(d) 
The school liaison member shall be a currently employed teaching faculty member of the high school(s) serving the City. The school liaison member shall be a non-voting member.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-08 adopted 8/20/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
The term of each student member and each liaison member shall commence on October 1 and expire on May 31 of each calendar year. Vacancies for unexpired terms shall be filled by appointments by the City Council and newly appointed members shall be installed at the first regular meeting following the appointment.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
(a) 
The City Council shall appoint the student members of the YAC by motion or resolution. Student members will be selected through an open application process, with preference given to students currently serving on the Student Council at the high school(s) serving the City. The application for student membership on the YAC shall be published on the City's website and distributed to the high school(s) serving the City no later than August 1 of each calendar year. Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation. Completed applications, along with all supporting documentation, must be received by the City no later than September 1 of each calendar year.
(b) 
The City Council shall appoint the school liaison member of the YAC by motion or resolution after having received and given preference to the nomination(s) of the principal(s) of the high school(s) serving the City.
(c) 
Student and adult liaison members may be removed by the City Council, by majority vote, without cause at the discretion and will of the City Council.
(d) 
The City Council liaison shall apprise the City Council immediately of any vacancies occurring on the YAC and the City Council shall make such appointments as necessary to fill the unexpired term of each such vacancy.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
The following officers shall be elected annually by majority vote of the YAC student members present and voting at the first meeting in October of each calendar year or as soon thereafter as practicable: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Historian, and Treasurer. The election of officers shall appear as the first agenda item on the agenda for the first meeting of each calendar year. Should a vacancy occur in any of the offices leaving an unexpired term, other than a vacancy under section 2.03.216, the vacancy shall be immediately filled for the remaining unexpired term by majority vote of the YAC student members present and voting.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
(a) 
The YAC shall meet at least monthly from October 1 to May 31 of each calendar year and more frequently as may be determined by majority vote of the YAC student members or the school liaison.
(b) 
The school liaison shall be responsible for securing meeting space and setting the meeting date(s) and time(s) for regular monthly meetings of the YAC, for securing meeting space for all special called meetings, and for setting the date(s) and time(s) of such special called meetings as the school liaison shall determine are necessary pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The school liaison shall ensure that all YAC student members and the City Council liaison are advised of all meeting dates, times, and locations at least one (1) week in advance of each meeting. In selecting the location for YAC meetings, the school liaison shall give preference to available meeting spaces located at the high school(s) serving the City.
(c) 
The YAC shall abide by the Texas Open Meetings Act, and the City Council liaison shall coordinate this compliance with the City Secretary. The YAC shall maintain duly approved minutes of its meetings, and the YAC Secretary shall transmit a copy of the duly approved minutes for each YAC meeting to the City Secretary.
(d) 
The YAC shall submit a quarterly written report to the Mayor regarding the YAC's activities and focus issues for the past quarter and the planned activities and focus issues for the upcoming quarter and the remainder of the term. The Mayor shall, at his/her discretion, present or request the YAC President or his/her designee to present the report to the City Council at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. These reports shall be retained as official City records.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-08 adopted 8/20/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
(a) 
YAC members are required to attend YAC meetings and other YAC events and activities, which include some City Council meetings, the annual statewide YAC summit meeting, and, as applicable, the applicable high school's leadership classes. Three unexcused absences from regular and/or special called meetings or other required events or activities during the term from October 1 to May 31 shall result in forfeiture of membership. Upon such forfeiture, the YAC shall declare the member's position vacant, and such vacancy shall be reported to the City Council by the City Council liaison. The City Council shall forthwith make an appointment to fill the unexpired term of the vacant position.
(b) 
Tardiness or late arrival by more than fifteen (15) minutes to a scheduled meeting or required event or activity shall be deemed an absence.
(c) 
Excused absences shall include absences resulting from illness of the member or his/her immediate family member, employment, significant family or school events, and circumstances normally defined as unavoidable and out of the control of the member. To be considered an excused absence, the member must make a reasonable attempt to provide advance notification of an absence to the City Council liaison and the school liaison.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
(a) 
The City shall provide City staff support to prepare and post the YAC agenda and minutes.
(b) 
The City shall provide the YAC with necessary copying and postage.
(c) 
The City shall provide necessary expertise and resources to the YAC for budget preparation.
(d) 
The City Council liaison shall:
(1) 
Arrange for City provision of financial planning and oversight services and support for the YAC;
(2) 
Present to the City Council in a timely manner the proposed budget and goals of the YAC;
(3) 
Serve as a two-way conduit for communication between the YAC and the City Council.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
The purposes of the YAC include:
(1) 
To advise City staff and City Council on matters relating to local government, particularly of interest to and/or affecting the youth of the City;
(2) 
To identify, study, investigate, plan, implement, and consult with the City staff and City Council regarding areas of improvement related to youth, including developing programs and services that empower, support, and inform youth, create a family-friendly community, and/or enable and encourage youth to be engaged, mindful residents of their community. City Council may approve or disapprove such programs and services at its sole discretion;
(3) 
To educate YAC members about municipal government, budgeting, marketing, networking, leadership, event planning, and program evaluation;
(4) 
To plan, organize, coordinate, and conduct drug- and alcohol-free social, cultural, recreational and other activities for youth of the community;
(5) 
To establish guidelines, rules, and procedures for participation in YAC-sponsored activities;
(6) 
To plan and implement City Council liaison-approved fund raising activities and events for the annual statewide YAC summit meeting; and
(7) 
To assist other City boards, commissions, and committees.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)
A YAC voting member shall disqualify himself or herself from voting whenever s/he finds that s/he has a unique personal or monetary interest in any project or initiative brought before the YAC or when s/he will be directly and uniquely affected by the decisions made by the YAC.
(Ordinance 2019-16, adopted 8/20/19; Ordinance 2024-07 adopted 7/2/2024; Ordinance 2024-08 adopted 8/20/2024; Ordinance 2024-12 adopted 9/3/2024)