Cibolo City Council moves to empower youth voices

In a recent Cibolo City Council meeting, officials discussed the establishment of the Cibolo Youth Advisory Council (CYAC), aimed at fostering youth engagement in local government. The council, formed following an interest meeting in November, will consist of at least eight members, including six youth members and two adult advisors, with provisions for alternate members.

The primary goal of the CYAC is to educate young people about municipal governance and to provide a platform for their voices in city matters. The council will report its activities to the City Council, which can also refer issues to the CYAC for recommendations.

The selection process for council members will involve an open application system, with a three-member panel conducting interviews before presenting candidates to the City Council for final approval. Adult advisors must be over 25 and can include parents or guardians of youth members, as well as city staff. However, Councilwoman Cunningham raised concerns about limiting advisor eligibility strictly to parents or guardians, suggesting that this could restrict the pool of qualified candidates. She proposed rewording the requirement to prioritize, rather than exclude, non-parental advisors.

Meetings of the CYAC will be held monthly and will be open to the public, although they will not be subject to the Texas Open Meetings Act, as they are advisory in nature. The council plans to promote the new advisory body through the city’s website and social media channels, as well as in the upcoming Cibolo magazine.

The council is currently seeking a decision on how to proceed with the establishment of the CYAC, with further discussions anticipated regarding the proposed resolution and its implications for community engagement.