BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Approve the Fiscal Year 2027 Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission Work Plan Including the October 21, 2026, Youth Commission’s Project Recommendations.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
Consider and approve the Fiscal Year 2027 Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission Work Plan with recommendations resulting from the October 21, 2026 Youth Commission meeting:
A. Community Cleanup and Resources Project;
B. Education Outreach Project; and
C. Creekside Community Care Project.
Body
SUMMARY:
On October 21, 2026, the Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission (Commission) discussed, reviewed and voted on the submitted project proposals. A total of three (3) project proposals were selected by the Commission to recommend to the Board for inclusion in the FY27 Work Plan. The selected projects are the following:
• Community Cleanup and Resources Project:
o This project aims to 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.
• Education Outreach Project:
o This 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.
• Creekside Community Care Project:
o This 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.
Upon the Board’s approval of the FY27 Work Plan, which includes the three projects listed above, the Youth Commission will work with staff to refine the project details to ensure they are achievable within FY27, are aligned with the Valley Water mission, and then implement the projects.
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.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item. The FY27 Work Plan activities are budgeted in the Education and Volunteerism Project, Project No. 60171002.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: FY27 Work Plan
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Rachael Gibson, 408-630-2884