Council keeps youth commission at nine members after commission recommendation; debate highlights mentorship, access

The Encinitas City Council on Oct. 15 voted to accept the Youth Commission’s recommendation that the advisory body remain a nine‑member commission and not add alternates for the 2025–26 year.

Vice Chair Lola Hubbell told council the Youth Commission voted unanimously (one abstention) on Sept. 3 to recommend no change, noting the commission had not faced an overwhelming number of applicants in recent years. “We believe that alternates would be more necessary if we had an overwhelming amount of applications,” Hubbell said.

Several youth commissioners described their paths to appointment and said the commission is working to expand outreach and civic engagement in schools. Commissioner Dylan Yarbrough, who said he applied multiple years before being appointed as a senior, described the commission as “a platform to learn, to listen, and to lead.” Commissioner Quade Kelly said alternates could be a mentorship pathway but also emphasized that the current board had only recently consolidated its goals and structures.

Council debate divided. Councilmember O’Hara proposed discarding the commission’s recommendation and adding alternates; that motion failed on a 3–2 roll call (Schaeffer, Lyons and Mayor Ehlers voting no). The council then voted to accept the Youth Commission recommendation, 3–2 (Schaeffer, Lyons and Ehlers in favor; San Antonio and O’Hara opposed). Councilmembers who supported retaining nine seats said they respected the commission’s judgment and the need to avoid adding administrative complexity while the commission rebuilds.

Councilmembers who supported alternates emphasized mentorship and recruitment: “The mentorship portion of this is a big deal,” Councilmember San Antonio said, describing how an alternate program could bring younger students into the role and accelerate outreach.

Under the city’s municipal code the commission is appointed by city council and changes to composition require amending the municipal code; staff said any amendment would return to council with a formal ordinance and public notice if council wished to change the rules in future years.