Youth Commission Goodyear Recreation Campus 420 S. Estrella Parkway Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner and chair Maddelynn Smith called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.
Commissioner and chair Maddelynn Smith called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Commissioner Aleksander Piatek; Commissioner Aariya Singh; Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger; Commissioner Graham Holmes; Commissioner Leylanie Manley; Commissioner Maddelyn Smith; Commissioner Mykah Atkinson; Commissioner Isabella Franco; Commissioner Mercedes Martinez; Commissioner Mason McEldowney; Commissioner Ania Piatek; Commissioner Rachel Barnes; Commissioner Juliette Bourne; Commissioner Ella Brinker; Commissioner Lianna Castro; Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin; Commissioner Jason Drunasky; Commissioner Braxton Elliott; Commissioner Catalina Hernandez; Commissioner Erica Ivatury; Commissioner Ryan McEldowney; Commissioner Hayden Puetz; Commissioner Alliyah Rafael; Commissioner Elias Rangel; Commissioner Vivaan Sharma; Commissioner John Von Reeden III; Commissioner Harrison Zehtab
- Absent:
- Commissioner Aleena Torres; Commissioner Jacob Murphy; Commissioner Katelyn Heuseveldt; Commissioner Aida Hudson; Commissioner Logan McGee; Commissioner Tae Anderson; Commissioner Riley Bynum; Commissioner Kyndall Datcher; Commissioner Malak Abdul Gawad; Commissioner Shivansh Jasrotia; Commissioner Maddie Kowanetz; Commissioner Alexa Loeffelholz
- Staff Present:
- Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck; Administrative Assistant Heather Ernst-Torres; Water Conservation Supervisor Andrew Pirrone
- Attendees:
- Jeremy Hartshorn, Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center
MOTION BY Commissioner Aariya Singh, SECONDED BY Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger to EXCUSE the following Commissioners:Katelyn Heuseveldt. Aida Hudson, Shivansh Jasrotia, Jacob Murphy, Alexa Loeffelholz, Kyndal Datcher, and Aleena Torres. The motion carried by the following vote:
- AYE:
- Commissioner Aleksander Piatek, Commissioner Aariya Singh, Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger, Commissioner Graham Holmes, Commissioner Leylanie Manley, Commissioner Maddelyn Smith, Commissioner Mykah Atkinson, Commissioner Isabella Franco, Commissioner Mercedes Martinez, Commissioner Mason McEldowney, Commissioner Ania Piatek, Commissioner Rachel Barnes, Commissioner Juliette Bourne, Commissioner Ella Brinker, Commissioner Lianna Castro, Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin, Commissioner Jason Drunasky, Commissioner Braxton Elliott, Commissioner Catalina Hernandez, Commissioner Erica Ivatury, Commissioner Ryan McEldowney, Commissioner Hayden Puetz, Commissioner Alliyah Rafael, Commissioner Elias Rangel, Commissioner Vivaan Sharma, Commissioner John Von Reeden III, Commissioner Harrison Zehtab
Passed - Unanimously
MOTION BY Commissioner Graham Holmes, SECONDED BY Commissioner Aariya Singh to RECORD the unexcused absence of Commissioners. The motion carried by the following vote:
- AYE:
- Commissioner Aleksander Piatek, Commissioner Aariya Singh, Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger, Commissioner Graham Holmes, Commissioner Leylanie Manley, Commissioner Maddelyn Smith, Commissioner Mykah Atkinson, Commissioner Isabella Franco, Commissioner Mercedes Martinez, Commissioner Mason McEldowney, Commissioner Ania Piatek, Commissioner Rachel Barnes, Commissioner Juliette Bourne, Commissioner Ella Brinker, Commissioner Lianna Castro, Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin, Commissioner Jason Drunasky, Commissioner Braxton Elliott, Commissioner Catalina Hernandez, Commissioner Erica Ivatury, Commissioner Ryan McEldowney, Commissioner Hayden Puetz, Commissioner Alliyah Rafael, Commissioner Elias Rangel, Commissioner Vivaan Sharma, Commissioner John Von Reeden III, Commissioner Harrison Zehtab
Passed - Unanimously
| PUBLIC COMMENTS |
Jeremy Hartshorn from Alice Cooper Solid Rock Teen Center, spoke to the commissioners about the upcoming "Proof is in the Pudding" Music Competition. The contest features 300+ performers ages 12 to 25 of all genres from all over the country to compete at five live music venues in September, October, and November. The two winning acts (solo, duo/band) will not only win cash prizes, but also open for Alice Cooper and his rock star friends at Solid Rock Teen Centers’ Annual Fundraising Holiday Variety Show, "Christmas Pudding," hosted at the iconic Celebrity Theatre with over 2,500 guests. Jeremy also gave out flyers to pass out at the youth schools.
| BUSINESS |
1.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION BY Commissioner Isabella Franco, SECONDED BY Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger to APPROVE the draft minutes from the August 15, 2026, Youth Commission Retreat. The motion carried by the following vote:
- AYE:
- Commissioner Aleksander Piatek, Commissioner Aariya Singh, Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger, Commissioner Graham Holmes, Commissioner Leylanie Manley, Commissioner Maddelyn Smith, Commissioner Mykah Atkinson, Commissioner Isabella Franco, Commissioner Mercedes Martinez, Commissioner Mason McEldowney, Commissioner Ania Piatek, Commissioner Rachel Barnes, Commissioner Juliette Bourne, Commissioner Ella Brinker, Commissioner Lianna Castro, Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin, Commissioner Jason Drunasky, Commissioner Braxton Elliott, Commissioner Catalina Hernandez, Commissioner Erica Ivatury, Commissioner Ryan McEldowney, Commissioner Hayden Puetz, Commissioner Alliyah Rafael, Commissioner Elias Rangel, Commissioner Vivaan Sharma, Commissioner John Von Reeden III, Commissioner Harrison Zehtab
Passed
2.
LEAGUE OF ARIZONA CITIES AND TOWNS REVIEW (CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
Commissioners Maddelynn Smith, Graham Holmes, Mason McEldowney, and Mykah Atkinson provided a high-level overview of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Conference (LACT). They highlighted the keynote presentation by Tomas Stanton, a poet of human systems, and described their participation in an interactive workshop focused on identifying the personal values that shape authentic leadership and effective decision-making.
They also engaged in networking sessions designed to encourage on-the-spot collaboration with teen and youth councils as participants worked together to navigate complex community issues. Lastly, they took part in a poster-board networking scavenger hunt, which allowed attendees to explore various youth advisory boards, interact with displays and peers, and discover new ideas, initiatives, and connections throughout the conference.
They also engaged in networking sessions designed to encourage on-the-spot collaboration with teen and youth councils as participants worked together to navigate complex community issues. Lastly, they took part in a poster-board networking scavenger hunt, which allowed attendees to explore various youth advisory boards, interact with displays and peers, and discover new ideas, initiatives, and connections throughout the conference.
3.
BYLAWS DISCUSSION AND COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER
Neighborhood Services Manager, Jeremy Dyck, revisited the suggested Bylaw changes from the youth commission retreat. They are as followed:
Mission & Purpose – Commission members liked the current mission, but would like more face time with the city council on certain matters to give a youth's perspective.
Membership – Possible membership cap of 30–35 commissioners, discuss implementing a full application process for returning members, and maintain 2-year terms.
Officers & Leadership (section 6) — Require at least 1 year of service before becoming an officer, and limit officers to serving 1 year per position.
Attendance (section 7) – Change to allow only 3 absences regardless of whether excused/unexcused, and require an advanced 24-hour notice.
Volunteer Hours – 10 hours of required volunteer service for any program/project and required attendance for at least 2 Goodyear Youth Commission sponsored events annually.
Mission & Purpose – Commission members liked the current mission, but would like more face time with the city council on certain matters to give a youth's perspective.
Membership – Possible membership cap of 30–35 commissioners, discuss implementing a full application process for returning members, and maintain 2-year terms.
Officers & Leadership (section 6) — Require at least 1 year of service before becoming an officer, and limit officers to serving 1 year per position.
Attendance (section 7) – Change to allow only 3 absences regardless of whether excused/unexcused, and require an advanced 24-hour notice.
Volunteer Hours – 10 hours of required volunteer service for any program/project and required attendance for at least 2 Goodyear Youth Commission sponsored events annually.
4.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION ON WEST VALLEY YOUTH COUNCIL SUMMIT (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER
Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck informed the commissioners that the West Valley Youth Council Summit would be hosted by Avondale on December 12, 2026. He asked for volunteers to assist with hosting the summit and would be available for the planning meetings leading up to the event.
5.
FALL FESTIVAL PLANNING (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER & HEATHER ERNST, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck asked the commissioners which theme they would like for our annual Fall Festival booth. They agreed on carnival clowns and suggested decorating ideas. Administrative assistant Heather Ernst informed the commissioners about our upcoming GoodyearConnects Resource Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2026. She asked for volunteers to assist with the check-in, Fill-A-Need table, and a few other tasks throughout the fair. A sign-up sheet will be sent out to the youth via email.
6.
ANNUAL PROJECTS AND GROUP BREAKOUT
The commissioners broke out into groups and worked on their projects, which are:
- April InFocus edition
- 2nd annual Need4Speed safe driving event
- Environmental Sustainability Workgroup
| INFORMATION ITEMS |
There were no information items.
| FUTURE MEETINGS |
Future meetings are tentatively scheduled as follows:
| Sept. 23, 2026 | Youth Commission Meeting Goodyear Library Community Room 1900 N. Civic Square Goodyear, AZ 85395 |
5:00 p.m. |
| ADJOURNMENT |
There being no further business to discuss, Chairman Smith adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Respectfully Submitted by:
__________________________ Jeremy Dyck, Board Secretary |
Date:___________________ Approved at Youth Commission Meeting held on __________, 2026. |