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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2007 1107 CC REG ITEM 10M ITEM 10• M. City Counci9 Meath . Of 7 e?0o�___._._ ACTION: MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT BY: TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Mary K. Lindley, Parks, Recreation, & Community Services Director` / DATE: October 24, 2007 (Meeting of November 7, 2007) SUBJECT: Consider Conejo Valley YMCA Request to Use the Apricot Room for Youth and Government Event DISCUSSION The City received a written request from the Conejo Valley YMCA for the use of the Apricot Room to host their Youth and Government Bill Hearing Event on November 29, 2007, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. In addition to using the room, the YMCA is asking that the Council waive the City's facility rental fees. The Youth and Government delegation participating in the Event will be comprised of 52 young adult Moorpark residents; all but one attends high school in Moorpark. This event will serve as preparation for a similar event in Sacramento. Historically, the City has only waived facility fees for Moorpark non-profit groups. Since the Conejo YMCA does not meet this criteria, but is providing an educational experience involving Moorpark students, staff proposes that the City co-sponsor the event. With the City's involvement, no facility rental fees would be charged. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve the co-sponsorship of the Conejo Valley YMCA Youth and Government Bill Hearing Event on November 29, 2007. Attachment: Letter dated October 4, 2007 Conejo Valley YMCA ATTACHMENT 4031 N. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks,CA 9136o _ 805-523-7613 CITY CLERKS OMSION October 4, 2007 CITY OF MOORPARK Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Moorpark 799 Moorpark Avenue Moorpark, CA,93021 Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council: The Southeast Ventura County YMCA Association is proud to be made up of four branches who service our wonderful community. Three of our branches are able to service and support the teens in our area in a fantastic program known as Youth and Government. The California YMCA Model Legislature&Court is a statewide youth educational program involving more than 2,000 high school sophomores,juniors, and seniors, in a nine-month "hands on"experience. Since its inception 60 years ago,the program has used a variety of activities to build, encourage, and strengthen those life assets and character traits that will help high school youth become involved, responsible adults who are decent and respected citizens. The tool used is a high quality experimental and educational simulation based upon California's State government. The program is very comprehensive, and its impact on the youth participants is dramatic. The Model Legislature& Court teaches the values of democracy by creating citizen leaders from a cross- section of the State's high school population, providing them with the opportunity to experience government first hand and to learn how to solve community problems through the democratic process. The program also helps develop within these youth an attitude of self-help and self-confidence for their personal futures. The program begins in September when 2,000 young people and 300 volunteers at approximately 80 locations throughout the State, meet as individual delegations to discuss issues facing California, as well as ways to implement their solutions through the legislative and judicial processes. During a nine-month period, the teen delegates write bills, prepare briefs, select governmental positions to role-play, attend statewide training conferences,and run for various elected offices. The program reaches its peak in Sacramento at the State Capitol with the convening of the five day Model Legislature& Court each February. There, the "real"government moves over and the teen delegates"take over", using the historic halls, chambers, and offices of our State Capitol, Supreme Court, and Governor's Office. The Conejo Valley YMCA Youth and Government delegation will be holding an event called Bill Hearing Night. The Bill hearing Night is the time when the delegate's work is put to its first test. In the weeks prior, the delegates break up into groups to formulate ideas and write bills on topics that they are passionate about. After researching and writing their bills,the delegation comes together to present the bills to a panel of community leaders. Each group sponsors their own bill and the whole delegation debates it in full parliamentary procedure. The panel then chooses their favorite bills and those chosen are submitted to the Youth and Government office to be added to the docket and debated in Sacramento. v x a YMCA i F•. We build strong kids, o o" 1.6 strong families, strong communities. Conejo Valley YMCA 4031 N. Moorpark Road Thousand Oaks,CA 9136o 805-523-7613 The Conejo Valley YMCA's Youth and Government delegation is composed of high school students from the city of Moorpark. Our delegation would be honored if the City of Moorpark would participate in our Bill Hearing Event. We would like to request the use of the Apricot Room on Thursday,November 29th from 6:00pm- 8:30pm. Being a non-profit organization we fundraise year round to help support participants who otherwise would not be able to be a part of the programs that our YMCA has to offer. If possible we would be extremely grateful if the City of Moorpark would be willing to waive the fees associated with reserving the room for our event. Our delegates are working very hard to prepare for the Bill Hearing Night which is a large step in the preparation for Sacramento. We would like to invite members of the City Council to be a part of the evening by either sitting on the Bill Hearing Panel or by attending the event to learn about the Youth and Government program. Anyone who may be interested in participating in this event please let us know. We would be thrilled to have your support and expertise! Thank you for helping us serve and educate the youth in your community. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Alexis Burger Erin Pierik Lead Advisor Volunteer Conejo Valley YMCA Delegation Conejo Valley YMCA Delegation aburgerka simiymca.org epierik,2aol.com 805-583-5338 805-501-9091 v YMCA We build strong kids, strong families,strong communities.