Committee to study adding second student representative; staff asked to return options

During the Public Engagement Committee meeting on April 26, committee members requested staff return with a plan to consider adding a second student representative and expanding the student leadership program.

Members noted the student election process is underway and suggested taking the top two finishers in the election as a possible model, but several participants flagged funding and logistics as constraints. "There are funding implications and the budget because they're paid," one member said, urging staff to include cost estimates in any proposal. Members also discussed geographic representation and selection methodology and said the clerk's office and staff should produce options before the next meeting.

The committee did not adopt any change at the meeting but directed staff to research alternatives and the budget impact and to bring back recommendations to a future Public Engagement Committee meeting.