Teen 06-14-2023
APPROVED MINUTES
CUPERTINO TEEN COMMISSION
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
REGULAR TEEN COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
At 6:04 p.m. Vice Chair Halambi called the Teen Commission meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
Present:, Ding, Gupta, Halambi, Kumar, Luu, Qin, Shah,. Absent: Cheung, Kasamsetty, Tarra. Staff: Sonya Lee,
Robert Kaufman.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS & PRESENTATIONS
1. Subject: Valley Water Youth Commission
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the application process for the Youth Commission
for Valley Water from Vaibhavi Kulkarni.
Commissioners heard a presentation on the Valley Water Youth Commission which is currently taking
applications. The youth commission is an official board advisory committee that helps with public
policy and other matters impacting the youth of the county.
2. Subject: Technology, Information, and Communications Commission Cybersecurity and Scam
Awareness Competition for the Cupertino Cybersecurity Science Fair
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the cybersecurity and scam awareness competition
for the Cupertino Cybersecurity Science Fair from Technology, Information, and Communications
Commissioner Raj Soundararajan.
Commissioners received a presentation from Rajaram Soundararajan regarding the cyber security
science fair that will be held on Saturday, September 16, at 9 a.m. to noon in Community Hall. The fair
is open to community high school students to submit projects.
3. Subject: ByteBuilders Non-Profit Organization
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the non-profit organization ByteBuilders from Neel
Kansara and Amish Tyagi.
Commissioners received a presentation from ByteBuilders non-profit organization focused on
providing STEM education for both Cupertino residents and underprivileged students. The mission is
to empower the future through computer science education. The organization provides free, online
computer science classes for students grades 2 through 8.
Cupertino Teen Commission Minutes June 14, 2023
4. Subject: Parks and Recreation Summer Events
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on the Parks and Recreation Summer Events from
Robert Kaufman, Recreation Coordinator.
Received presentation on upcoming events including Teen Summer Kickoff, Summer Concert Series,
Parent’s Night Out, Cultures of the World, July 4 Celebration, Cupertino Campout, Free Shakespeare.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5. Subject: Approval of Minutes – April 12, 2023
Recommended Action: Review and approve the minutes from the Teen Commission meeting on April
12, 2023.
Commissioner Kumar motioned to approve minutes. Commissioner Luu seconded the motion.
Minutes approved.
WRITTEN/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No written or oral communications received.
OLD BUSINESS
No old business.
NEW BUSINESS
6. Subject: Presentation on Youth Led Organizations and Volunteer Opportunities
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation and provide feedback on Youth Led Organizations and
Volunteer Opportunities from Robert Kaufman, Recreation Coordinator.
Feedback received from Commissioners:
Create email lists.
• Teen Commission verifies that organization is a Youth Led Organization (YLO).
Put out the information on YLO’s on the Teen Commission website, maybe like a newsletter.
What is the definition of a YLO?
• An organization led by youth that is doing something positive in the community.
Ask YLO’s to come to city events.
Cupertino Teen Commission Minutes June 14, 2023
Service Organizations should be on an email list, send out applications for volunteer opportunities.
Send the officers what volunteer opportunities are available.
Use the Teen Commission to get information out to schools.
What is the difference between Youth Activity Board (YAB) and Teen Commission?
• YAB runs events, Teen Commission is advisory and helps to steer the kinds of event put on by
the Teen Coordinator and YAB.
Depending on workload of the Outreach Specialist first, give a structure to the application on number
of words, and format, staff would need to prepare and approve the process.
Generally, Teen Commission values and would like to see the YLO highlighted on City social media.
What are the steps for getting a post on social media?
• We would need to readdress if we start up the program to highlight YLO’s through social
media posts.
YLO’s would find value in being recognized by the City.
We may need to narrow down the definition of what constitutes a YLO in order to make the number of
applications to be highlighted more realistic.
The application may help to narrow down the number of YLO’s that apply if we ask for a lot of
information.
Monthly spotlight is a great idea, but it can be competitive.
Do not make it a competitive process to have a YLO highlighted.
Staff would need to reassess the program and see how we could structure a program with YLO’s.
The desire of the YLO with the City is to get marketing out about the organization. The organizations
get to have prestige.
Maybe have an application for higher profile newsletter spot, all other get a listing on the website.
Something like a monthly spotlight.
Being able to say that the YLO is tied to the City gives the organization recognition as a legitimate
organization.
Cupertino Teen Commission Minutes June 14, 2023
It might be many applications to review for the Teen Commission.
Recommend no newly made clubs be recognized.
Recommend two tiers of recognition.
If YLO’s present to Teen Commission, they might get a prime spot.
Have a program in place for the start of the school year.
7. Subject: Teen Commission Summer Meeting Schedule
Recommended Action: Discuss summer meeting schedule and availability of commissioners to attend
meetings.
Checked on how many Teen Commissioners would be out of town in July. We would not have a
quorum so we will cancel the July meeting.
Suggestion for the August meeting to move to McClellan Ranch for a tour and have meeting in the
Environmental Education Center.
STAFF & COMMISSION REPORTS
• Staff Updates
o Recreation Coordinator, Robert Kaufman gave a staff report.
• Commissioner Updates
o Commissioner Kumar gave an update from the Mayor’s Meeting.
COMMISSIONER ATTENDANCE AT UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
• Will wait to see if the Mayor’s Meeting is moved to 5 p.m. again to inquire if any commissioners
can attend.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING
No future agenda items were added.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:23 p.m., Vice Chair Halambi adjourned the meeting.
_______________________________
Sonya Lee, Staff Liaison