OXNARD : City Council Creates Youth Commission

The Oxnard City Council on Tuesday voted to create a city Youth Commission of 21 youngsters from city schools, clubs and associations.

The commission, modeled after similar bodies in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, will provide Oxnard leaders with advice on issues affecting youth.

Among the ideas proposed for the commission are preparing a year-round calendar of youth events, honoring outstanding youngsters for their civic contributions, starting a youth newspaper and television program and creating a youth month in which youngsters “assume control of city government” and install their own mayor, police chief and department heads.

Council members say the commission’s challenge will be to ensure the fledgling politicians understand the limits of their power.

Oxnard officials in the past few months have discussed the plan with young people in city programs such as the Youth and Work Newspaper Project, the Summer Youth Corps and the Police Athletic League.

City staff members also sought opinions from El Concilio del Condado de Ventura, a Latino advocacy group; the Oxnard Union High School District and the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard.

Most youngsters supported the idea, but some adults wanted to ensure that the commission would have power and responsibilities and asked for a set of bylaws and guidelines.

“When we start making decisions that affect young people, I think they should have a say in it,” said Councilman Bedford Pinkard, who proposed the commission. “I think we need to listen to them, not have them listen to us.”

The youth commission would cost $6,500 to start up.