The Manteca City Council may change how members of the youth commission as well as the senior center commission are selected.

Last week, the council directed staff to bring back changes that would make the two commissions more aligned with how the planning as well as the park and recreation commission have been modified in terms of how appointment are made.

The appointment process changes reflects the council switch to area elections that started with the 2022 balloting.

The city has been divided into four areas of similar population with each areas assigned one council seat.

Council members must reside within the area they represent. Those voting for the council members must reside within the same area as well.

The city has changed ordinances governing the planning as well as the parks and recreation commission to give each council member the authority to appoint one commission member from their area. The mayor appoints the fifth member of the planning commission and two additional members to the parks and recreation commission,

The parks panel has seven members as one representative is appointed by the Manteca Unified School District board. Such a provision reflects an agreement the city and school district have to share facilities for community recreation and school sports where and when it is feasible.

Mayor Gary Singh said the goal is make sure all commissions have memberships that reflect all parts of the community given specific areas and neighborhoods may have different needs and concerns.

Right before the city went to area council elections, three of the five councilmembers lived within the Woodward Park neighborhood south of the 120 Bypass.

Singh noted that often times the youth commission has lopsided representation from teens in the same general area of the community that attend the same high school.

He pointed out each the three comprehensive high schools in Manteca are located within three difference council areas.

The mayor said it may take some effort on he part of council members to find candidates from within  their area.

That said, Singh believes it will result in commissions that have a strong community mix that can also help keep Manteca growing together.

The staff will also look at other aspects of the ordinances governing the youth and senior commissions to see if there are other changes the council might like to consider.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecdabulletin.com