The commission was conceived through the San Marcos Youth Master Plan, which called for the creation of “a Youth Commission (composed of young people) to foster youth engagement and leadership in the city." That plan was approved by City Council in 2013.
The commission consists of 15 members, but Kim Porterfield, who helped initiate the creation of the commission during her time on City Council, said other "at-large, self-selected" members can join the commission to help with special projects.
"Anyone is welcome," Porterfield said. "All kids are welcome. We want a really diverse group."
The San Marcos Youth Commission held its first meeting April 19.[/caption]At the meeting, the commission’s members, representing educational institutions throughout San Marcos, broke up into groups to answer four questions:
- “What is your favorite thing about San Marcos?”
- “What would you change about San Marcos?”
- “When you think about education, what do you believe are the issues?”
- “What would you like adults to understand that you don’t think they do?”
Among the concerns raised by commissioners were the graduation rate and college attendance rate of the city’s high school students, improving litter pickup and beautification efforts throughout the city and improving relations between Texas State University and the city of San Marcos. One group cited a lack of activities and entertainment opportunities for middle school- and high school-age residents in the city.
The San Marcos Youth Commission broke up into three groups at its first meeting April 19 and determined the answers to four questions related to the city of San Marcos.[/caption]Multiple groups listed the San Marcos River and growth of San Marcos as assets to the city.
Commissioner Nick Laughlin, a junior at Texas State, said the meeting provided a good opportunity to meet his fellow commissioners. Laughlin said he hopes to focus part of his time on the commission working to foster a better relationship between the university and city.
“Since I’ve been [in San Marcos], I’ve been involved in organizations that have given me the opportunity [to be involved in the city], but I know a lot of students are here for three or four years until they finish, and they leave,” Laughlin said. “But I’m hoping to create a better community between the city and university.”
Commissioner Becca Baergen, a junior at San Marcos Academy, said she was pleased with how the meeting went. She said she hopes serving on the commission “opens her eyes to San Marcos.”
“I’ve been here so long, but I’ve never really seen it in this perspective. This will really help with that. I want to try to better San Marcos as much as I can.”
The commission will meet on a monthly basis. For more information, including future meeting agendas, click here.
