Agenda Full Package (PDF)

Youth Council – Regular Meeting · 2026-06-12 · agenda

[Santa Barbara Boulevard North from Pine Island Road to Tropicana Parkway] The Youth Council discussed the Adopt-a-Road program, which partners with Keep Lee County Beautiful to clean a one-mile stretch of Santa Barbara Boulevard North from Pine Island Road to Tropicana Parkway. Meetings are held on the second Saturday every other month. Volunteers meet at the William B Austin Youth Center, 315 SW 2nd Ave, Cape Coral, at 7:30 a.m. and conclude by 9:30 a.m. A Hold Harmless Agreement is required annually for participation. The next Adopt-A-Road event is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2026. [Six Cape Coral high schools] The Youth Council discussed the School Reach Out Program, a senior-led initiative where members travel to six Cape Coral high schools to give presentations on government, career opportunities, and issues facing youth. The goal is to improve understanding of local government and provide youth feedback to the City Council. The document also mentions a Junior Project involving a book drive for Golisano Children's Hospital (October 15th-November 15th) and a separate ongoing project for Blessings in a Backpack, which raises funds through raffle baskets. The Adopt-A-Road cleanup is mentioned as a community service event held on the first Saturday of the month at the intersection of Santa Barbara North and NE Pine Island Rd. until Tropicana Pkwy East. [City of Cape Coral] The Youth Council reviewed its Strategic Visioning Plan for 2025/2026. The plan outlines target demographics (10-19 years old in Cape Coral, then expanding to Lee County and broader social issues), SWOT analysis for Cape Coral (Strengths: environment, population growth, quality of life; Weaknesses: unplanned growth, lack of post K-12 education, limited healthcare and employment; Opportunities: college campus, entertainment, park renovations; Threats: weather, unplanned growth, healthcare capacity), and internal SWOT for the Youth Council (Strengths: young leaders, creativity; Weaknesses: inconsistent attendance; Opportunities: digital communications, awareness; Threats: lack of time). Core values, competencies, mission, and vision statements were also discussed. Strategic initiatives include 'People' (attendance tracking, social media, citizen input), 'Physical Assets' (Love Locks Project installation), 'Fiscal Assets' (fundraising for a drive-in movie theater, toy drive, and trip to Washington D.C.), and 'Time and Process' (carrying out Junior and Senior projects). Communication strategies (internal and external) were also detailed. The Youth Council discussed the vacancy for Communications Director and Backup Communications Director. The Communications Director role involves marketing the youth council through social media, event promotion, posters, and outreach. Applications for these positions are public records. The selection process includes interviews by the council and a majority vote for appointment. The Backup Communications Director must be a current Youth Council member. The document includes an application form for the Communications Director position. [not stated (refers to City Council meetings); case not stated (refers to previous City Council meeting actions)] The Youth Council discussed their role in attending and reporting on City Council meetings. A rotation system was established where one Youth Council member attends or views each of the twice-monthly City Council 'Regular' meetings, takes notes, and reports back to the Youth Council. This initiative aims to increase engagement in local government. A volunteer schedule is being created for these attendances. The document also references a previous City Council meeting where a construction management contract was voted down, a multi-year street sweeping contract was approved, and discussions occurred regarding JC Park concessions, rezoning requests, code updates, and a bond authorization for capital improvements that was pushed to a later date. Public comments at that City Council meeting primarily concerned spending and access to public records. The City Manager provided updates on permitting software and upcoming events like the Tropicana Park ribbon cutting and hurricane expo. [not stated (event location: German American Club, Pine Island)] The Youth Council held a debrief for the Cape Coral Hurricane Expo held on May 30, 2026. Several Youth Council members volunteered to assist at the event, distributing materials, tracking attendance, and assisting the Master of Ceremonies. The event featured booths providing hurricane preparedness information and distributing safety items.