Section I: Mission
It is the mission of the West Covina Youth Council to engage in healthy, meaningful, and powerful discussions with local government on the creation and recommendation of social, recreational, and educational opportunities for youth. 

Having created this forum, the West Covina Youth Council believes it can provide young citizens with a sense of identity and self-recognition sufficient to making youth feel part of a society which they will one day be expected to lead and direct. 

Section II: Goals and Objectives

1. The development of a mutual understanding between the young and older citizens of West Covina.
2. The establishment and exchange of communications with youth for a better understanding of the problems and issues challenging today's youth.
3. The elimination of those petty causes of friction which have resulted in the alienation of youth and the polarization of our community based upon age.
4. The encouragement of full and active participation in all phases of government by the young people of this community.

Section III: Functions and Duties
The functions and duties of the West Covina Youth Council shall be as follows: 

1. Advise, recommend, assist, create and encourage activities and programs to be undertaken for and with the youth of West Covina.
2. Keep informed about, and familiar with, the progress and development of youth projects, and report issues to the City Council and to all city commissions and special boards as appointed by the West Covina City Council or its designee(s).
3. Advise the City on the progress made by local programs and recommend whether certain aspects of those programs should be expanded, continued, revised, or phased out.
4. Make a concerted effort to include all youth in activities and help the City in the creation, promotion, and accomplishment of activities that benefit youth.
5. Represent the City of West Covina and the youth of this community when visiting other agencies and/or programs.
6. The West Covina Youth Council shall be governed by these bylaws and Roberts Rules of Order.

Section IV: Membership
The West Covina Youth Council shall: 

1. Consist of a minimum of 5 youth representatives from various schools throughout the community.
2. Include one City staff member serving as an ex-officio member and one appointed or elected city representative or employee as deemed necessary by the City Manager, the Community Services Director and the existing ex-officio member.
3. Include youth with a broad range of personal and academic interests, levels of education, and age. Youth applying for membership need not be members of or sponsored by any student body governing organization or be officers of any class student body. Representation of any official or sanctioned organization or viewpoint will not to be regarded as special qualification for membership. It is recommended that the Youth Council achieve balanced representation through recruitment to various schools (including high school and middle school) and through contact to other youth agencies.
4. Include an Executive Board of five officers, and expect all Executive Board Officers to attend all meetings and special functions.
5. Expect all regular members to attend meetings and follow through with committee assignments and/or obligations.
6. Members of the Youth Council may at times be appointed to sub-committees. The appointment of members shall be at the sole discretion of the Chairman and the ex-officio member(s).
7. Any officer elected or appointed who shall have missed more than three (3) meetings without good reason shall be considered to have voluntarily resigned from their position. It shall be the Chair's responsibility to declare that office vacant and take proper action to fill it. If that position be that of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall assume the role of Chair.

Section V: Officers
The West Covina Youth Council shall: 

1. Empower the Executive Board to administer the work of the Youth Council.
2. Select annually a Chair, Vice Chair, Recording Secretary, and two Members-at-Large.
3. All officers' terms shall last for one (1) year starting on July 1, and shall run concurrently with the city's fiscal year.
4. Direct the Chair to open any vacant positions to eligible members.
5. Select other officer titles as the need arises.
6. Require the Executive Board to conduct a semi-annual review of membership for the purpose of evaluating interests and desire to expand the Youth Council.
7. Impeach Officers who violate any provisions of the Bylaws and/or are guilty of detrimental conduct to the organization as a whole. Impeachment shall be _ majority vote of all members present at a special or general meeting of the Youth Council. Charges of Impeachment shall be brought before the accused and shall be read aloud at that time. Officers and members may be censured for improper conduct. A vote of censure shall require 2/3 of those members present at a special or regular meeting of the Youth Council.
8. Only the five (5) members of the executive board shall have the right to vote on business that comes before the Youth Council. Only in the case of censure, impeachment or the amending of these bylaws shall the general membership have a vote. All members are encouraged to take part in debate.

Section VI: Duties of an Officer

1. Chair: The Chair shall call each meeting to order, preside over all meetings, work with the recording Secretary to create agendas, work closely with the advisor(s) and Executive Board. The Chair shall be responsible for reporting the financial status of the Youth Council at a regular meeting quarterly and shall appoint with the consent of the advisor(s) members of sub-committees. The Chair shall sit as an ex-officio member of all sub-committees. The Chair shall have the authority to dissolve the Youth Council upon a _ vote of the membership and the approval of the advisor(s).
2. Vice Chair: The Vice Chair shall assume the responsibilities and duties of the Chair when the Chair is absent, resigns, or becomes incapacitated. The Vice Chair shall work closely with the Chair, advisor(s), and the Executive Board. The Vice Chair shall be responsible for all special projects. The Vice Chair shall be responsible for maintaining the Youth Council's email account and shall alert the members of the Youth Council upon direction from the Chair or the advisor(s).
3. Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for the creation of the agendas, minutes and all other activities deemed appropriate by the executive board. The Recording Secretary shall be charged with the running of elections to elect new officers. The Recording Secretary shall act as the Youth Council's Historian. The Recording Secretary shall assume the responsibility and duties of the Vice Chair when the Vice Chair is absent, resigns or becomes incapacitated.
4. Two Members-at-Large: Two Members-at-Large shall be elected and shall perform duties assigned to them by the Chair or the executive board.

Section VII: Meetings
The West Covina Youth Council shall: 

1. Meet on the first and third Monday of each month, at a designated place and time set by the Youth Council and publicized to its members at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
2. Work from an Agenda prepared in advanced by the Officers.
3. Conduct meetings in similar fashion to other Commissions and Boards by the City, which follow Roberts Rules of Order and are governed by the Brown Act.
4. At least three (3) members of the executive board shall constitute a quorum.

The Community Services Department of the City of West Covina shall render reasonable assistance to the Youth Council. The Department may make available staff support to the Youth Council in order to fulfill its functions and duties, provided such staff and clerical support is not detrimental to the functioning ability of the department. 

Section VIII: Amendments to the Bylaws

1. Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by any individual member of the Youth Council. Proposals to amend the Bylaws must be submitted in writing and submitted to all members of the Youth Council. At the earliest possible meeting, the Executive Board shall agendize the Amendment to the Bylaws.
2. Amendments to the Bylaws require a 2/3 majority vote to pass.
3. All Amendments to the Bylaws shall be filed with the Recording Secretary and the City advisor(s) to the West Covina Youth Council.

Section IX: Municipal Authority Clause

1. No section, division, or part of these bylaws shall be construed to undermine or otherwise circumvent the authority of the City Manager, Community Services Director or the city advisor(s) to the West Covina Youth Council.