Few step up for county youth commission

Yuba County teens' voices were heard earlier this year when the discussion was over banning skateboarding or establishing skate parks. But in stepping up to be part of the county's first youth commission, they've been quiet.

Very quiet.

After receiving only a couple applications for the commission, county officials said they have held off on further activity with the proposed 11-member commission this summer, saying they will push for it again when county high schools reopen in the next few weeks.

"We were unsuccessful in appealing to enough youth to move forward with an application," said Supervisor John Nicoletti, who's spearheaded the effort to form a commission, based on similar panels elsewhere, including Yuba City.

As envisioned when the board approved forming the group in February, the commission would be comprised of eighth- through 12th-graders. The commission would have regular meetings and provide comment to county officials on issues pertinent to teens.

Though the most obvious example would be parks and recreation offerings like the skate parks in Linda and Marysville — both of which drew support from teens — Nicoletti said the commission could be helpful in other ways.

As county officials work to expand economic development and employment opportunities in a beleaguered economy, many teens are frozen out of jobs they would otherwise occupy.

"Those jobs are filled by people who are seeking full-time work, and temporary or part-time is all they can find," Nicoletti said, adding high unemployment affects teens as well.

Rochelle Zuniga, a coordinator of the commission-like Reach Coalition at Friday Night Live, said there are teens out there who want to get involved, but it's a matter of reaching them.

Even then, transportation is a problem. A co mission meeting at night, she said, might be difficult for teens who use buses.

"Getting off the ground is hard," she said. "But it's got good backing."

Board Clerk Donna Stottlemeyer said the county began spreading the word about the commission in April to county schools, at a time when many students were more focused on finals and summer plans.

"I think it was just the lateness of when we started," Stottlemeyer said, adding she's hopeful approaching schools again in the fall will drum up enough interest to seat a full commission by early next year.

Nicoletti said the number of opportunities teens already have to get involved, such as in groups like 4-H or Friday Night Live, and the commission's new status make it hard to get started.

But organizers have to make it work, he said, because in tight budget times, the county can't spend time or money on something without showing results.

"We really want to see a connection to this community, and make sure their voice is heard," he said.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com.