STAFF REPORT

Operations Committee, August 7, 2008

Merging Teen Advisory Committee and Teen Council Executive Board (PR09-06)
Consideration of merging Teen Advisory Committee with Teen Council Executive Board

Speaker:  Mr. Dwayne Jones

From:  Mary G. Henderson, Director, PRCR
Prepared by:  Dwayne Jones, Recreation Manager
Approved by:  William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by:  Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager

In 2003, a Teen Advisory Committee was established through the Board and Committee appointment process. The Teen Advisory Committee’s purpose is to advise Town Council through the PRCR Advisory Board on teen issues.  In 2005, the Committee was restructured at the request of the Advisory Board to accommodate more youth participation.  The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board requested staff merge the responsibilities of the Teen Advisory Committee with the Teen Council Executive Board to avoid duplication of responsibilities.

Background of Cary Teen Council and Teen Advisory Committee

The Teen Council was established in 1989 with a focus on promoting teen programming and volunteerism in the community.  In addition, the Teen Council was chartered as a North Carolina State Youth Council under the office of the Governor.  Teen Council membership included only 17 participants in 1996, and currently, has grown to over 300.  Initiatives and milestones of the Teen Council and Teen Advisory Committee are outlined below.

1997      PRCR staff work team was developed to jointly plan and implement teen programs.  The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board appointed board member Dr. Tim Swank to serve as a liaison for teen programs and services.

1999      Creating Assets Reaching Youth, a Cary based nonprofit organization was established.  C.A.R.Y. focus was based on The Search Institute research on characteristics young people need to grow up healthy, caring and responsible.  This initiative was funded through the Duke Endowment.  The Town supported C.A.R.Y. through staff involvement and program partnerships (Jamfest).  C.A.R.Y. assisted with fundraising efforts for Sk8-Cary.

2000      The subcommittee appointed by PRCR Advisory Board to discuss teen programming.  Teens begin serving on Advisory Board and Committees as well as the Sister Cities Commission.

2001      Teen Scene developed as icon for teen programs and services.

2002      Developed and implemented marketing strategies to include supplemental program brochure for teen programs and services.

2003      Appointment of the first Teen Advisory Committee consisting of 5 adults and 5 youth from Teen Council.  The purpose of the Committee was to advise staff and Council, continue efforts of C.A.R.Y. (which dissolved due to lack of funding), provide program direction and support, develop teen involvement and recognition in the community, empower teens in the decision-making process. 

2004      The first Cary Teen Forum was held which received the Innovative Program Award via North Carolina Recreation and Park Association.  The Teen Advisory Committee developed a mission statement:

The Mission of the Cary Teen Advisory Committee is to provide feedback to the Town Council through the PRCR Advisory Board on quality of life issues for teens in Cary, by increasing youth voice and involvement in the community, fostering youth and adult partnerships, building character traits within youth, and supporting programs established by Teen Council and Teen Scene.

2005      Teen Advisory Committee restructured to include 4 adults and 11 youth from Teen Council.  Council approved the PRCR Committee Structure Policy #148 that gave voting rights to teens on PRCR Committees.

2006      The Teen Advisory Committee adds Town Government presentations to the agenda in order to get feedback on current Town issues.  Topics include Water Conservation, Gang Awareness, CTRAN, Town Services in general, and Aquatics.

Since the Teen Advisory Committee was established in 2003, the primary focus has been planning and implementation of the annual Teen Forum.  The event centers on addressing teen issues in the community and is planned for teens by teens.  Another positive outcome of the Committee has been the continued effort to provide a teen voice via committee appointments, volunteerism, and program development.

For many, the difference between Teen Council and the Teen Advisory Committee has been difficult to distinguish.  This is very understandable as the groups share corresponding purposes as identified in the statements below.

Teen Council Purpose:  (Per current by-laws)

To provide recreation and service oriented activities for Cary youth and teen residents.  This service is offered to students of Middle School and High School age.  The organizing and supervising of the programs and projects will be done by the students for the students with advice and guidance from their adult advisors.

To promote the development of leadership and teamwork skills, community awareness, service, education, fundraising, recruitment, social and recreational opportunities, for the members involved in the organization.   

To serve as advisor to the Cary Town Council on issues concerning the Middle School and High School students of Cary.

Teen Advisory Committee Purpose:  (Per current by-laws)

Develop programs and events that build strong character traits and skills from teen life into adulthood.

Develop and maintain continuing dialog with all teens including private schooled and home schooled students.

Encourage continuing feedback from all teens.

Keep all information avenues up-to-date.

Partnership with existing and on-going teen programs, events and the Teen Council.

There are several issues that challenge the Committee structure in its current configuration.  The first is the lack of adult interest in serving on the Committee.  Outside of the PRCR Advisory Board involvement, adult participation has been minimal.  The Committee does not receive enough applications to fill vacant positions.  Typically, half of the adult positions go unfilled with the current Committee consisting of only two adults.  In addition, the formal meeting process does not provide an atmosphere for teens to openly discuss their ideas and opinions.  As Teen Council has grown, they have developed into a dynamic organization that has led to a duplication of effort with the Teen Advisory Committee.  Since the Teen Advisory Committee was established in 2003, Teen Council has grown from 158 to over 300.

Moving Forward

The current structure of the Teen Council Executive Board provides the necessary conduit for teens to communicate to Town Council.  The Teen Advisory Committee could be eliminated from the current Boards and Commissions structure.  The Executive Board would continue meeting the purpose of the Teen Advisory Committee through advising staff and Council through Teen Council; appointment and participation in PRCR Advisory Board/Committee meetings; providing program direction and support via Teen Council; developing teen involvement and recognition in the community via Teen Council; empowering teens in the decision-making process by appointments to PRCR Advisory Board, PRCR Committees, Sister Cities Commission, and Public Arts Advisory Board; and allocating Teen Forum responsibilities of the Program sub-committee of Teen Council.

PRCR would continue to provide a staff liaison to Teen Council.  PRCR Advisory Board would appoint one adult as Teen Council liaison.  Teen Council President would attend PRCR Advisory Board meetings.  Cary Police would maintain a School Resource Officer liaison via Cary Police Department.  Opportunities for input into Town projects and initiatives can be presented to full Teen Council.

The Teen Advisory Committee unanimously voted to merge the two groups at its July 2008 meeting.  The PRCR Advisory Board will make a final recommendation on this matter at the August 4, 2008 meeting and staff will report that recommendation at the Operations Committee meeting.

Fiscal Impact:  None

Staff Recommendation:  Staff recommends that the responsibilities of the Teen Advisory Committee be merged into the duties of Teen Council Executive Board and that staff be directed to proceed with the process of removing the Teen Advisory Committee language from the Town Code and related Policy Statements.