In June, 1999, city ordinance authorized the appointment of 19 members and two alternates to the city’s first Youth Advisory Board. Acting in the same role as adult advisory boards relating to planning, zoning, library, and zoning adjustments, this board of youth advises the City on the development of public recreation as well as programs, events, ordinances, and proposals pertaining to youth within our community. Representatives from all areas of the City come from local schools, as well as charter and private schools. Interested youth must be enrolled in school, and currently be in grades 7 – 11.  Click here to view the  Annual Calendar of Activities, and Application Form.

Meeting Dates
The Mayor’s Youth Advisory meets in open public meetings. Meeting agendas are posted at City Hall, the Peoria Community Center, and the Peoria Post Office. Regular meetings are scheduled on the second Tuesday of every month beginning at 6:00 p.m., other than July when no regular meeting is scheduled. Meetings occur at Rio Vista Recreation Center; the specific location is noted on the posted agenda.

Youth Government Day
This event was co-sponsored by Arizona Public Service, Country Fare Caterers, and the Peoria Unified School District, and is one of the primary functions the Youth Advisory Board.  The Board undertakes the planning, coordination, and implementation of this exciting annual event. Each Spring, the Board invites students selected by government teachers from the local high schools to participate in the event; nearly 50 students each year experience a "day in the life of government.  Event day is designed to give students a first hand look at city operations and to learn about local government. The day includes an in-depth tour of municipal facilities, an extensive mentoring session with key city staff, remarks by notable guest speakers, a catered lunch, and an interactive mock city council session.

Congress of Cities
Several members of the Peoria Youth Advisory Board are selected each year as delegates to attend the December Congress of Cities or the March Congressional Cities Conference in Washington D.C., hosted by the National League of Cities. Local council members attend with the youth delegates to learn more about the issues cities are facing across the country or national issues facing the legislature. Roundtable discussions, workshops, and other networking opportunities allow the youth delegates to interact with both adults and peer youth delegates from cities large and small. Previous Congress of Cities Conferences that Peoria has attended have been held in Boston, Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Nashville, Tennessee.  Members will attend the Congressional Cities Conference in Washington next March.

Mini Grants
These $200 grants target projects that improve the quality of life for, or provide service for youth.  The primary targets are resident youth in the Peoria community.  The Youth Advisory Board created these grants as a means to support projects and ventures that specifically address the ever changing needs of youth.  Funding for these grants is raised solely through Board efforts; no funding for these grants comes from the City of Peoria's annual budget.  Organizations or individuals seeking a mini grant must submit a proposal, and it must be submitted by the appropriate deadline.  A subcommittee of Board members will screen proposals and within seven days, invite no more than five organizations to present their proposal to the Youth Advisory Board.  The Board, as a whole, will select the grant recipients.  Proposals are accepted throughout the year; two grants are awarded in February and two are awarded in September.  Download the Youth Advisory Board Mini Grant brochure for more specific information.