HomeMy WebLinkAboutYouth Commission Bylaws 2020BYLAWS OF THE RED WING YOUTH COMMISSION
RED WING, MINNESOTA
The following Bylaws outline elements unique to the Red Wing Youth Commission.
In areas not covered by these Bylaws, the Red Wing Youth Commission will abide by
the guidelines set forth in the City of Red Wing's Board and Commission Policy.
ARTICLE #1 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Red Wing Youth Commission (RWYC) shall be to provide Red
Wing's youth with the opportunity to participate in the City's decision-making process;
provide City Council with recommendations on a variety of issues; promote existing
positive initiatives and develop new programs, projects, and activities for the young
people of Red Wing; and promote and encourage more youth to become effective
leaders who will help shape the future of Red Wing.
ARTICLE #2 MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Representation
The Red Wing Youth Commission will be made up of a minimum of 7 members
and no more than 11 members. The total membership will also be an odd
number. The Red Wing Youth Commission will seek in its membership a diverse
representation reflecting the community.
2.2. Membership Qualifications
All members must live within the Red Wing Public Schools District boundary or
attend Red Wing Public Schools. Members must be between the grades of 8
through 12 during time on the commission. Diversity of age will be considered in
the selection of members.
2.3 Term Limits
Terms shall be for one year or until the member discontinues meeting the
qualifications in Article 2.2. Members may reapply for membership each year.
Members who graduate grade 12 early may continue serving until the end of the term.
2.3.1 Beginning
The official beginning of the commission's yearly term will be July 1. During
the month of June, incoming and outgoing commission members will attend
meetings jointly. Incoming members will observe and may participate in
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discussion, but incoming members will have no authority and no voting
power during this time period.
2.3.2 Ending
The official ending of the commission's yearly term will be June 30.
2.4 Quorum
The presence of a majority of the entire membership of the RWYC shall
constitute a quorum for a meeting of the RWYC. A quorum is necessary to
conduct official business at any meeting, including the decision to make
recommendations to the Red Wing City Council.
ARTICLE #3 APPLICATION PROCESS
Members of the Red Wing Youth Commission shall be chosen through a yearly
application process. Interested parties, both new members and those wishing to return,
shall complete an application form which will include all RWYC meeting dates for the
upcoming term.
3.1 Application Contents
The application shall ask applicants for basic information, as well as information
about prior leadership and community service experience. The yearly application
requirements and questions will be decided by the Selection Committee.
3.2 Submission Process
All applicants shall submit a completed RWYC candidate application form to the
Selection Committee through one of the following ways: by filling out the City of
Red Wing's online application form, by dropping off an application at the front
desk of City Hall, by mailing an application to City Hall, or through an email
submission to the RWYC Staff Liaison. Applications will be due on April 15 of
every year.
3.3 Selection Committee
The Selection Committee shall consist of the Mayor of Red Wing, Staff Liaison to
the Youth Commission, the City of Red Wing Community Engagement Specialist,
and students in the RWYC Executive Board Elect.
The Selection Committee will conduct interviews and complete ranked choice
voting to determine which applicants are chosen. An interview process will be
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conducted during a designated time and place determined by the Selection
Committee.
After the Selection Committee has made its final decisions, the Staff Liaison will
present the mayor with the list of names being recommended for appointment.
The mayor will review the list and bring his/her recommended appointments to
the City Council. City Council will vote to approve or deny the appointments.
3.5 Notification
Acceptances and rejections will be mailed or emailed to all applicants to the
addresses provided on their applications by May 15.
ARTICLE #4 ATTENDANCE
Attendance at regular RWYC meetings and workshops is expected from all members. If
a member cannot attend, the member shall notify the Chair and the Staff Liaison of the
RWYC in advance of the meeting and the absence will be excused. Any member who
fails to appear shall be recorded as absent. The Staff Liaison will keep an attendance
roster and monitor absences. It will be noted in the minutes if members arrive late or
depart early.
4.1 Failure to Meet Attendance Requirements
If a member is absent from a total of three meetings and/or workshops, the RWYC
Executive Board will hold a meeting with the member to discuss the absences, as
well as the consequences of continued absences. If a member is absent from a
total of five meetings and/or workshops, the RWYC Executive Board, RWYC Staff
Liaison, and the Red Wing Community Engagement Specialist will hold a meeting
with the member to discuss requirements to remain on the RWYC. At this
meeting, the RWYC Executive Board may choose to recommend to the mayor
that the member be removed, or it may choose to lay out expectations for the
member that would lead to removal if not met. If a member is absent from five
consecutive meetings and workshops, the RWYC Executive Board will
immediately recommend to the mayor that the member be removed.
4.2 Resignations
If a member must resign from the Youth Commission before the end of the term,
the student will communicate this intention to the Staff Liaison and submit a short
resignation in writing to the mayor by email or letter.
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ARTICLE #5 CODE OF CONDUCT
Discrimination, bullying, and harassment will not be tolerated as part of the RWYC. The
RWYC Staff Liaison, along with other City of Red Wing staff members or City Council
members invited, will review any accusations of these behaviors. RWYC members
found to have engaged in these behaviors will attend a meeting with RWYC Executive
Board members, RWYC Staff Liaison, and City of Red Wing staff or City Council, in
which corrective action, including the possible removal from the RWYC, will be taken.
ARTICLE #6 EXECUTIVE BOARD
6.1 Executive Board Composition
The RWYC Executive Board will consist of a Chair and Vice Chair.
6.2 Executive Board Roles
6.2.1. Chair
The Chair will schedule meetings with the Vice Chair and the Staff Liaison
to set agendas for upcoming RWYC meetings and workshops. The Chair
will preside over meetings and workshops. The Chair will serve on the
Executive Board Selection Committee.
6.2.2. Vice Chair
The Vice Chair will attend meetings with the Chair and Staff Liaison to set
agendas for upcoming RWYC meetings and workshops. In the absence of
the Chair, the Vice Chair will preside over meetings. The Vice Chair will
serve on the Executive Board Selection Committee. In the event that the
Chair is removed from the RWYC, the Vice Chair will serve as Chair for the
remainder of the term.
6.3 Executive Board Attendance Requirements
At least one Executive Board member must be present at all RWYC
meetings and workshops. The Executive Board members must not be
absent for more than three meetings. The RWYC Staff Liaison will meet and
discuss commitment with Executive Board members after they miss two
meetings. Executive Board members will be removed from the Executive
Board after missing a fourth meeting. If necessary, the RWYC Staff Liaison,
in consultation with Red Wing City staff or City Council, will appoint an
interim Vice Chair for the remainder of the term.
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6.4 Executive Board Selection
Acting members, including current Executive Board members, must declare
their intentions to run for the following year's Executive Board by March 1.
This declaration must be done via writing or through an email to the Staff
Liaison and must include the position sought. Current Executive Board
members are allowed to run for additional terms. During the regularly
scheduled March meeting, candidates for Executive Board will deliver an
address to the RWYC. The RWYC will then vote on a Chair and a Vice Chair
for the following year. These roles will thus be referred to as Chair Elect and
Vice Chair Elect until July 1. The Chair Elect and Vice Chair Elect will not
need to complete an application for RWYC and will automatically be selected
for the upcoming year. Any Executive Board members who do not seek or
win reelection must complete the application process as outlined in Article 3.
ARTICLE #7 MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS
7.1 Meetings
The RWYC will set a calendar for regular meetings based on the input of its
members and the availability of the City Hall Council Chambers. The RWYC will
also set a calendar for regular workshops. Regular meetings will take place in the
Council Chambers and will be televised. Workshops will be audio taped, and
minutes will be kept and recorded. Regular meetings and workshops will be
noticed to the public.
7.2 Annual Report
The Chair, or a designee, shall make a written and verbal report to the Red Wing
City Council regarding the activities and business of the RWYC at least once per
calendar year. The report will include, but not be limited to, recommendations the
RWYC has made and projects the RWYC has implemented or supported.
ARTICLE #8 BYLAWS AND AMENDMENTS
The bylaws of the RWYC shall be reviewed once each year. Amendments to the bylaws
may be recommended at any regular RWYC meeting, provided that two-thirds of RWYC
members approve the amendment in a roll call vote, that the amendment is part of the
meeting agenda, and that membership has been notified in writing. Amendments to the
bylaws must be recommended to the City Council. City Council makes final approval for
any changes to take effect.
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