Youth Commission Goodyear Recreation Campus 420 S. Estrella Parkway Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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CALL TO ORDER
Commissioner and vice-chair Alexa Loeffelholz called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m.
Commissioner and vice-chair Alexa Loeffelholz called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Commissioner Aariya Singh; Commissioner Aleena Torres; Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger; Commissioner Graham Holmes; Commissioner Leylanie Manley; Commissioner Jacob Murphy; Commissioner Mykah Atkinson; Commissioner Isabella Franco; Commissioner Mercedes Martinez; Commissioner Mason McEldowney; Commissioner Logan McGee; Commissioner Tae Anderson; Commissioner Rachel Barnes; Commissioner Ella Brinker; Commissioner Riley Bynum; Commissioner Lianna Castro; Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin; Commissioner Kyndall Datcher; Commissioner Braxton Elliott; Commissioner Catalina Hernandez; Commissioner Erica Ivatury; Commissioner Shivansh Jasrotia; Commissioner Alexa Loeffelholz; Commissioner Ryan McEldowney; Commissioner Hayden Puetz; Commissioner Alliyah Rafael; Commissioner Elias Rangel; Commissioner Vivaan Sharma; Commissioner John Von Reeden III
- Absent:
- Commissioner Aleksander Piatek; Commissioner Maddelyn Smith; Commissioner Katelyn Heuseveldt; Commissioner Aida Hudson; Commissioner Ania Piatek; Commissioner Juliette Bourne; Commissioner Jason Drunasky; Commissioner Malak Abdul Gawad; Commissioner Maddie Kowanetz; Commissioner Harrison Zehtab
- Staff Present:
- Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck; Administrative Assistant Heather Ernst-Torres
MOTION BY Commissioner Aariya Singh, SECONDED BY Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger to EXCUSE the following Commissioners: Katelyn Heuseveldt, Aida Hudson, Maddie Kowanetz, Jason Drunasky, and Maddelynn Smith. The motion carried by the following vote:
- AYE:
- Commissioner Aariya Singh, Commissioner Aleena Torres, Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger, Commissioner Graham Holmes, Commissioner Leylanie Manley, Commissioner Jacob Murphy, Commissioner Mykah Atkinson, Commissioner Isabella Franco, Commissioner Mercedes Martinez, Commissioner Mason McEldowney, Commissioner Logan McGee, Commissioner Tae Anderson, Commissioner Rachel Barnes, Commissioner Ella Brinker, Commissioner Riley Bynum, Commissioner Lianna Castro, Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin, Commissioner Kyndall Datcher, Commissioner Braxton Elliott, Commissioner Catalina Hernandez, Commissioner Erica Ivatury, Commissioner Shivansh Jasrotia, Commissioner Alexa Loeffelholz, Commissioner Ryan McEldowney, Commissioner Hayden Puetz, Commissioner Alliyah Rafael, Commissioner Elias Rangel, Commissioner Vivaan Sharma, Commissioner John Von Reeden III
Passed
MOTION BY Commissioner Isabella Franco, SECONDED BY Commissioner Shivansh Jasrotia to RECORD the unexcused absence of Commissioners. The motion carried by the following vote:
- AYE:
- Commissioner Aariya Singh, Commissioner Aleena Torres, Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger, Commissioner Graham Holmes, Commissioner Leylanie Manley, Commissioner Jacob Murphy, Commissioner Mykah Atkinson, Commissioner Isabella Franco, Commissioner Mercedes Martinez, Commissioner Mason McEldowney, Commissioner Logan McGee, Commissioner Tae Anderson, Commissioner Rachel Barnes, Commissioner Ella Brinker, Commissioner Riley Bynum, Commissioner Lianna Castro, Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin, Commissioner Kyndall Datcher, Commissioner Braxton Elliott, Commissioner Catalina Hernandez, Commissioner Erica Ivatury, Commissioner Shivansh Jasrotia, Commissioner Alexa Loeffelholz, Commissioner Ryan McEldowney, Commissioner Hayden Puetz, Commissioner Alliyah Rafael, Commissioner Elias Rangel, Commissioner Vivaan Sharma, Commissioner John Von Reeden III
Passed - Unanimously
| PUBLIC COMMENTS |
| BUSINESS |
1.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the draft minutes from the Youth Commission Meeting held on August 26, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the draft minutes from the Youth Commission Meeting held on August 26, 2026.
MOTION BY Commissioner Graham Holmes, SECONDED BY Commissioner Aariya Singh to APPROVE the draft minutes from the August 26, 2026, Youth Commission meeting. The motion carried by the following vote:
- AYE:
- Commissioner Aariya Singh, Commissioner Aleena Torres, Commissioner Wyatt Arnsbarger, Commissioner Graham Holmes, Commissioner Leylanie Manley, Commissioner Jacob Murphy, Commissioner Mykah Atkinson, Commissioner Isabella Franco, Commissioner Mercedes Martinez, Commissioner Mason McEldowney, Commissioner Logan McGee, Commissioner Tae Anderson, Commissioner Rachel Barnes, Commissioner Ella Brinker, Commissioner Riley Bynum, Commissioner Lianna Castro, Commissioner Jaylyn Colvin, Commissioner Kyndall Datcher, Commissioner Braxton Elliott, Commissioner Catalina Hernandez, Commissioner Erica Ivatury, Commissioner Shivansh Jasrotia, Commissioner Alexa Loeffelholz, Commissioner Ryan McEldowney, Commissioner Hayden Puetz, Commissioner Alliyah Rafael, Commissioner Elias Rangel, Commissioner Vivaan Sharma, Commissioner John Von Reeden III
Passed
2.
REVIEW THE FINALIZED BYLAWS PRESENTATION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL. (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER)
Neighborhood Services Manager, Jeremy Dyck, shared the finalized presentation of the Youth Commission Bylaws that will be presented to the Boards and Commissions Subcommittee on October 26, 2026. 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.
Neighborhood Services Manager, Jeremy Dyck, shared the finalized presentation of the Youth Commission Bylaws that will be presented to the Boards and Commissions Subcommittee on October 26, 2026. 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.
3.
REVIEW FALL FESTIVAL DETAILS (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER)
Administrative assistant Heather Ernst and Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck shared the details about the upcoming Fall Festival and showed the youth commissioners the new decorations to add to the booth this year.
Administrative assistant Heather Ernst and Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck shared the details about the upcoming Fall Festival and showed the youth commissioners the new decorations to add to the booth this year.
4.
REVIEW MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY DETAILS (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER)
Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck informed the youth commissioners that we do not have a specific project that we will be working on yet, but encouraged the youth commissioners to sign up. Therefore, we have a total headcount of volunteers.
Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck informed the youth commissioners that we do not have a specific project that we will be working on yet, but encouraged the youth commissioners to sign up. Therefore, we have a total headcount of volunteers.
5.
REVIEW OCTOBER'S GOODYEARCONNECTS RESOURCE FAIR VOLUNTEER LIST AND ASSIGN TASKS. (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER & HEATHER ERNST, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT)
Administrative assistant Heather Ernst informed the commissioners about our upcoming GoodyearConnects Resource Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2026. She had the youth commissioners sign up to volunteer for specific job duties: check-in, Fill-A-Need table, Kid play area, and a few other tasks throughout the fair.
Administrative assistant Heather Ernst informed the commissioners about our upcoming GoodyearConnects Resource Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2026. She had the youth commissioners sign up to volunteer for specific job duties: check-in, Fill-A-Need table, Kid play area, and a few other tasks throughout the fair.
6.
POSSIBLE DISCUSSION REGARDING FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS (JEREMY DYCK, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER)
Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck asked the youth commissioners if they would be interested in fundraising for the Special Olympics. He informed them that Luke Parker, our Parks and Recreation Adaptive Coordinator, would come elaborate more on the details at the next meeting.
Neighborhood Services Manager Jeremy Dyck asked the youth commissioners if they would be interested in fundraising for the Special Olympics. He informed them that Luke Parker, our Parks and Recreation Adaptive Coordinator, would come elaborate more on the details at the next meeting.
7.
ANNUAL PROJECTS AND GROUP BREAKOUTS
The commissioners broke out into groups and worked on their projects, which are:
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:
| October 28, 2026 | Youth Commission Meeting Goodyear Recreation Campus 420 S. Estrella Parkway Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
5:00 p.m. |
| ADJOURNMENT |
There being no further business to discuss, Chairman Loeffelholz adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Respectfully Submitted by:
__________________________ Jeremy Dyck, Board Secretary |
Date:___________________ Approved at Youth Commission Meeting held on __________, 2026. |