"It's never a dull moment," Commissioner Jasmine Ross said. The 17-year-old senior at Gilroy High School will say good-bye to the 13-member group after she graduates next summer, but eight of her fellow commissioners are on their way out this month, and they need replacements. Of the open seats, six have two-year terms, and two have one-year terms.

"It's something that can be out of your comfort zone and may be scary at first because it's a new experience, but the results are the best because it's super fun. I don't think there was ever a time when I wasn't laughing at our meetings," Ross said. "I got to meet new people, and half them are now my friends."

Ross also runs track and plays basketball at GHS, but the time she commits to the youth commission is "reasonable," she said. Still, Recreation Supervisor Gayle Glines - the group's adult advisor - said the two regular monthly meetings often parlay into extra time commitments, ranging from extra planning sessions for dances and setting up kids programs to decorating for the senior citizens ball and orchestrating Christmas charity events.

"It's more than just a twice-a-month commitment," Glines said. "We don't just want the kids who want to put this on their resumes. Kids are already busy because they're spread too thin with responsibilities."

To become a member of the 7-year-old commission - which serves as "the voice of the youth for the entire city," Glines said - interested youngsters aged between 13 and 19 years old need to fill out an application and turn it into the city clerk by Sept. 5. An interview follows before the city council votes on who to appoint.