TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Anne McIntosh, Community Development Director
Dana Murray, Environmental Manager
SUBJECT: Title
Update on the Sustainability Youth Council (Community Development Director McIntosh).
RECEIVE AND FILE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council receive this update on the Sustainability Youth Council (SYC).
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
In the summer 2018, the City’s Sustainability Task Force (STF) recommended the City create a youth wing of the STF, named the “Sustainability Youth Council.” After City Council approval in August 2018, Sustainability Youth Council (SYC) applications were open for applications in the late summer/early fall. Composition includes 10 elementary, middle and high school students. Mayor Pro Tem Hersman, along with two STF education members and limited staff, manage the SYC.
The SYC has met five times since formation in October 2018, once a month, for one hour each meeting. The SYC has also participated in community events including the Manhattan Beach Pier lighting in November 2018 to educate residents about the plastic pollution ordinance, and to distribute reusable utensil kits.
The role and duties of SYC members are to assist the STF with programs related to a variety of environmental topics including plastic pollution reduction, climate action and renewable energy, sustainable building, smart water management, and climate adaptation and resiliency. Student participants are also expected to be ambassadors for the City’s environmental efforts in the community.
The SYC has been assisting the City in plastic pollution reduction by educating their respective community groups and schools about the policy and participating in civic engagement to share their research on plastic.
In the first four meetings on October 10, 2018, December 12, 2018, January 9, 2019, and February 13, 2019, the SYC prepared talking points about the plastic pollution policy for the November 14, 2018 Pier Lighting event, created personal speeches to share with the community and city council, and have developed plans for encouraging their schools and community groups to support sustainability initiatives in Manhattan Beach.
In the coming months, the SYC will be hosting environmental events and activities at their respective schools, such as the Mira Costa Pride Day event in March where Mira Costa students and the South Bay community will come together to clean and beautify the school, through efforts such as planting and mulching.
ATTACHMENT:
1. 2018 - MB Pier Lighting (Photographs)