Apply to Serve on 1st City of Salinas Youth Council

Published on June 19, 2025

Calling all high school students in Salinas! The City of Salinas is recruiting for Youth Councilmembers for the first ever City of Salinas Youth Council! Why should you apply?

The City of Salinas Youth Council serves as an opportunity for high school students to be civically engaged with the Salinas City Council and local leadership in a meaningful way and create pathways into public service through experience and education. As representatives for the youth voice in Salinas, the City will provide you with tools and development opportunities to effectively provide input on projects, programs and initiatives that come before the Salinas City Council and elevate opportunities and considerations. 

The Youth Council will help build a stronger connection between the City and the next generation of local leaders.

Your Role as a Youth Councilmember

• Informed participation with the City Council
• Serve as a liaison between the City and the School District Board, School District, school sites, and youth
• Engage youth and promote youth civic engagement
• Organize at least one community service project per year

Positions

The Youth Councilmembers will have the opportunity to select a Chair, Vice Chair, Clerk, Communications Officer, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer. An overview of the responsibilities for each of these roles and these nominations/selections will be made annually during the Youth Council Retreat in July.

While there is some flexibility for scheduling conflicts, the success of the Youth Council and the experience is contingent on participation, collaboration, and open communication. If selected as a Youth Councilmember, you can expect:

Time Commitment

• An average of 2 youth Council meetings per month, but some months may have less or more than 2 meetings; regular meetings of the Youth Council will be either hybrid or Zoom.
• On a rotating schedule, each Youth Councilmember will be required to attend in-person meetings of the City Council and/or Salinas Union High School District Board; the Youth Council will adopt this schedule on an annual basis at the Council Retreat. 
• Attend the all day in-person Youth Council Retreat in July of each year.
• Represent the Youth Council at community meetings and events, as available.

Youth Councilmember Terms

For the inaugural year of the City of Salinas Youth Council:

• One Youth Councilmember from each school site will serve a 1-year term from July 2025 - June 2026.
• One Youth Councilmember from each school site will serve 2-year terms from July 2025 - June 2027.
• Starting in July 2026, all new Youth Councilmembers will serve 2-year terms, unless they are filling a vacancy in the middle of a term.

In addition to civic engagement, leadership, and skill development, you may be eligible for volunteer hours for your service on the Youth Council contingent on approval by your respective school site, and you will be eligible to apply for the California Seal of Civic Engagement. 

Program Eligibility

Participation in the Youth Council is open to high school students in Salinas. Eligibility is determined by one of the 2 following scenarios:

OR

Important Dates 

• Apply by Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM
• In-person Youth Council Retreat on July 23, 2025, from 9AM - 4PM
• Regular Youth Council meetings will begin in August 2025

Questions?

Contact Sophia Rome, Community Relations Manager at sophiar@ci.salinas.ca.us or 831-758-7407.