COMMITTEE AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: title
Discuss, Determine, and Approve Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission Project(s) for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Review and discuss proposed Youth Commission Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 27) projects; and
B. Select and approve up to three projects to recommend to the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors to place on the Youth Commission’s FY 27 work plan for implementation.
Body
SUMMARY:
On August 21, 2024, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission (Commission) decided to sunset their working groups and ad hoc committees, opting instead to adopt a project-based model. Using the project-based approach, the Commissioners now identify specific Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) topics of interest to them and submit proposed projects for consideration that will, hopefully, be achievable given available time and resources. The Youth Commission approves the projects they want to recommend to the Board of Directors to add to the work plan, and, upon the Board’s approval, implements them accordingly.
Staff developed a project proposal template, which includes project details such as learning goals, final product, audience, required resources, and timeline. The Youth Commissioners used the project proposal template to develop potential FY 27 project proposals.
The following are summaries of the project proposals that were submitted for consideration:
A. Education Outreach Project:
The project aims to expand Valley Water’s educational outreach to high school students beyond its current participating schools. Youth Commissioners will connect with high schools they attend or are familiar with to provide education on environmental awareness. They will adapt Valley Water’s existing “Managing Our Precious Resource” module for a high school audience and deliver it through interactive presentations during lunch clubs or after-school sessions. Students will receive engaging take-home materials, such as posters, goody bags, and sign-up forms, to encourage continued learning and engagement.
B. Community Cleanup and Resources Project:
The project will organize a community cleanup at a Valley Water-managed creek in May as part of National River Clean Up Day. Before the cleanup, participants will learn about litter, recycling, and how trash travels from neighborhoods into local waterways through educational presentations and activities. During the event, Youth Commissioners will lead volunteers in collecting and categorizing trash to identify common types and potential sources of pollution. The project will combine hands-on community service with public education to promote cleaner waterways and encourage responsible waste management.
C. Adopt-a-Creek Outreach Project:
The project aims to increase awareness and participation in Valley Water’s Adopt-a-Creek program among local schools, clubs, and youth-serving organizations. Youth Commissioners will create an informational presentation explaining the program, the adoption process, and how organizations can get involved. They will help interested groups identify a creek location, complete the application, and understand the next steps for participation. The project group will also present the information to at least one environmental gathering to encourage more youth organizations to adopt and care for local creeks.
D. Creekside Community Care Project:
The Creekside Community Care Project aims to support unhoused youth in Santa Clara by providing essential hygiene, personal care, food, and emergency supplies while connecting them with community resources. Youth Commissioners will conduct two fundraising and donation drives during the year, reaching out to local businesses, schools, community organizations, and residents. They will use donated supplies to assemble resource kits containing hygiene items, Mylar blankets, whistles, flashlights, and information about local water, shower, shelter, and support services. The project’s final deliverable is to assemble and deliver 500 resource kits to the Bill Wilson Center across two distribution events.
E. Water-Saving Challenge Project:
The project will engage students at one local high school in EPA WaterSense’s Fix a Leak Week to raise awareness about water conservation and household water use. Students will learn how to identify leaks in faucets, toilets, showerheads, appliances, irrigation systems, and hoses, then track their leak-detection and repair efforts during the week-long challenge. Youth Commissioners will promote and coordinate the challenge with a partner teacher or club, collect participation results, and recognize students who are actively involved. The final deliverable is a tracked school-wide leak-detection challenge, with the results presented to the Youth Commission.
The Commission will discuss, review, and vote on these project proposals, and select up to three (3) projects to recommend to the Valley Water Board of Directors for inclusion in the FY 27 work plan. The Youth Commission’s FY 27 work plan will be reviewed by the Valley Water Board of Directors for approval to proceed with implementation.
After the Commission selects its FY 27 projects, the Chair of the Youth Commission, taking into account feedback and/or expressions of interest from individual Youth Commissioners and Valley Water staff, will assign each Commissioner to work on at least one project during FY 27. The Commission’s proposed projects shall later be presented to the Valley Water Board of Directors for approval as part of the Youth Commission’s FY 27 work plan.
Background:
The Valley Water Board of Directors adopted Resolution 17-75 providing for and defining the structure and function of advisory committees to the Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors and Repealing Resolution 15-28. Resolution 17-75, Section 4.4 states:
“The Board approves and sets all Committee annual work plans and meeting agendas. Committee meeting agendas will be considered pre-approved by the Board once it has approved each of the annual Advisory Committee work plans. Modifications to meeting agendas will be considered by the Board, or Board Chair, as needed, through a review of the pre-approved work plans when it receives and considers Committee policy recommendations, comments, and requests, staff recommended modifications, and requests by members of the public. The Board may also initiate modifications to pre-approved work plans at any time.”
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no environmental justice impacts associated with this item.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Project Proposals
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Rachael Gibson, 408-630-2884