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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—JUNE 10, 2024 7 <br /> B. Motion To Approve Ordinance 2024-004 Amending Chapter 2, Section 220, <br /> Subsections 220.04 and 220.05 of the Arden Hills City Code (Youth <br /> Commissioners and Committee Members) <br /> Councilmember Rousseau stated she would not be voting for this item. She indicated she did not <br /> believe this ordinance amendment was necessary. She explained the ordinance change may set a <br /> precedent regarding including youth commissioners/committee members that apply to be on a <br /> committee or commission through the youth application process. She noted there was currently an <br /> extra member on the Economic Development Commission that had applied through the youth <br /> process and it is because that commission was resurrected in 2023. She stated she would like to <br /> see terms that were cycled to ensure members were not moving in and out all at the same time. <br /> She went on to say that this is why they brought in a second person that had applied for the youth <br /> position in that aspect. She then said the PTRC has 13 seats and adding an additional member at <br /> the time seemed like an opportunity to fill a seat that we had trouble filling before. She <br /> recognized there needed to be a balance, but she did not believe representatives had to be <br /> appointed by their age, but rather continuity should be considered. She indicated the Council has <br /> not surveyed any of the high schoolers that have applied for a youth commission position and the <br /> Council may find the process needs to be improved or additional support may have to be offered. <br /> Councilmember Monson asked if there were more than two members on the EDC and PTRC <br /> that met the youth criteria. <br /> Councilmember Rousseau stated there were two members total, one in a youth role and one in a <br /> non-youth, regular member role for both the EDC and PTRC. <br /> Councilmember Monson reported the proposed ordinance amendment would not impact these <br /> members. <br /> Councilmember Rousseau understood the amendment would not impact the members today but <br /> noted that we do not ask for ages when we interview people and realistically, high school students <br /> could apply under the standard application process. She said it's nice to say we are making space <br /> for someone that is looking for a one-year commitment versus someone that is planning to go off <br /> to college in a couple of years. <br /> Councilmember Holden indicated the EDC has nine members, two of which were now 15 or 16 <br /> years old. She stated this meant 25% of the vote on the EDC was coming from youth members. <br /> She supported the EDC having proper representation from business owners in the community. <br /> She explained she would be supporting the proposed ordinance amendment. <br /> Councilmember Rousseau commented that the EDC does still have one open seat and one of the <br /> youth members serving on the EDC does have their own business. <br /> MOTION: Councilmember Holden moved and Councilmember Monson seconded a <br /> motion to Approve Ordinance 2024-004 Amending Chapter 2, Section 220, <br /> Subsections 220.04 and 220.05 of the Arden Hills City Code (Youth <br /> Commissioners and Committee Members). <br />