Youth Commission forms subcommittee to draft strategic-plan input letter to City Council

At the meeting, the Youth Commission approved a motion to form a temporary subcommittee tasked with drafting a letter for the City Council’s upcoming strategic-plan discussion. The subcommittee must complete the draft before the council’s strategic-plan review; staff said the subcommittee will be dissolved at the Commission’s next meeting after the letter is submitted.

Commissioners discussed several candidate priorities for the letter. Multiple commissioners advocated for public art and beautification of pier-area properties and vacant lots near the King Harbor/boardwalk area, suggesting murals and displays highlighting local species for educational benefit. Several commissioners proposed researching and polling community views on ebike safety and how to integrate ebiking equitably into city streets and transit. Commissioners also recommended supporting strategic-plan goal 2.2 on mental-health services for youth and suggested community-involvement ideas tied to LA 2028, such as student design contests for Olympic memorabilia and activities that could showcase Redondo Beach to visitors.

Public commenters at the item (Chloe Choy and Celeste) asked how the strategic plan is developed and urged continued community participation; staff explained the plan combines City Council priorities with community and commission input. The commission approved the subcommittee and the set of topics to include in the letter: mental-health priorities, ebike safety/research, beautification/public art, and Olympic/tourism-related opportunities. Staff set an internal timeline to have the letter ready with a proposed target date before the council’s strategic-plan review on March 31.

The commission authorized the creation of a subcommittee and named members during the meeting; staff advised the subcommittee cannot exceed seven members and recommended completing its work by March 23 to allow a margin for staff review before the council meeting.

Next step: the subcommittee will draft the letter, circulate it among members and staff for refinement, and staff will submit the Commission’s input to the City Council ahead of the strategic-plan discussion.