By a slim margin, the City Council decided Tuesday to put the city's youth advisory group on par with other advisory committees in the city.

Previously, the group's main task was to organize youth-oriented events and concerts, but political action was limited to attending an annual mayor's conference. Now the group of high school and middle school students will function like other committees, complete with public meetings, minutes taken, a quorum and a formal agenda posted according to the Brown Act.

The youth advisory group will now be called the youth advisory committee.

Council member Ronit Bryant led the move as chair of the youth services committee, which also includes council members Margaret Abe Koga and Tom Means, who supported the initiative along with Mayor Laura Macias.

Council members Nick Galiotto, Matt Pear and Jac Siegel opposed the change. The members said they were uncertain the change was necessary to gain youth input, and Pear seemed to question why a youth group was needed at all.

As a parent of two former youth advisory group members, Bryant said that "for kids wanting to make a difference, the changes might make them more interested in wanting to participate."

No youth spoke at the meeting.

The cost of the changes, up to $1,200 a year, was approved as part of this year's budget. The 15 members of the council-appointed committee would serve one-year terms for a maximum of six years. The members would meet with the council after being appointed every year.

Bryant mentioned that San Francisco "has a very strong youth group," but that one includes residents up to age 24. Mountain View's group is for high school and middle school students only.

Siegel said he was "trying to be convinced," but said the current group structure provided everything the council wanted.

Galiotto said he was in the same boat as Siegel. He said it felt like the council wanted "to do it just to do it," and he said he wasn't comfortable with the council selecting the members of the committee.

"The change is basically a change in what we expect," Bryant said. "It's been used as a teen activities planning group. Let's ask for their advice. The changes would emphasize the fact that we value your opinion."

The old group "was not a way to push for change," Bryant said. "They should organize parties and events, but I see members of this group being energized to go to parks and recreation committee meetings."

Bryant said she imagined the council could ask for input on downtown development and playing fields. The city should recognize that youth "are way more high-tech than us," she said.

Means said he saw the group as a sort of internship program for those interested in politics.

When Pear asked why schools weren't taking on the task, Abe-Koga said her experience on the San Mateo youth commission made her believe that bringing kids to city hall was important to provide an elevated sense of purpose.

"I just don't see what youth are going to get from this," Siegel said before the vote. "I'd like to see less bureaucracy, not more."

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