FORT PIERCE YOUTH COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
MEETING MINUTES
Fort Pierce Youth Council - Thursday, October 17, 2024 - 4:00 p.m.City Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Room, 100 North U.S. #1, Fort Pierce, Florida
1.
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Audria Moore called the meeting to order at 4:09 PM.
2.
ROLL CALL
3.
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
4.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to no more than five (5) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Youth Advisory Committee will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
Any person who wishes to comment on any subject on this Agenda may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to no more than five (5) minutes, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The Youth Advisory Committee will not be able to take any official action under “Comments from the Public” section.
5.
NEW BUSINESS
a.
Welcome - Commissioner Arnold Gaines
Commissioner Arnold Gaines opened the meeting with a welcome address, expressing his enthusiasm for the Youth Council and pledging his support for their future initiatives. He emphasized the importance of active participation and encouraged members to bring forward their ideas for community improvement.
b.
Introductions by Audria Moore, Special Projects Coordinator
Following the Commissioner's remarks, staff and council members introduced themselves. Audria Moore introduced herself as the Special Projects Coordinator and council staff liaison, while Jennifer Robinson introduced herself as the Executive Assistant in the City Manager's Office. Council members shared their motivations for joining, with Janessa Diaz expressing her desire to improve the community, Naomi Hypolite citing inspiration from her sister's community impact, and Elizabeth "Liz" Outten sharing her interest in becoming more involved in community service.
c.
Overview of YOCO
Ms. Moore provided an overview of the Youth Council's role as an advisory body to the City Commission. She explained that members' terms would extend through February 20, 2026, and outlined the process for making recommendations to the City Commission. She also announced plans for monthly presentations from department heads to help members better understand city government operations.
d.
Roberts Rules of Order
The Council reviewed administrative procedures, beginning with an explanation of Robert's Rules of Order for meeting management. Ms. Moore provided an overview of Florida's Sunshine Law requirements, emphasizing the importance of public access to meetings, proper notice requirements, and the prohibition on private discussions of Council business outside of meetings.
e.
Sunshine Law Overview
f.
Election of Officers
In the election of officers, Janessa Diaz was unanimously elected as Chair. Reese Adams was elected as Vice Chair, with duties including running meetings in the Chairperson's absence. Naomi Hypolite was elected as Second Vice Chair, a position created to ensure meeting continuity when both Chair and Vice Chair are absent.
g.
YOCO Attire
The Council discussed administrative matters, including the distribution of polo shirts to members. Ms. Moore informed the Council about their affiliation with the Florida League of Cities Municipal Youth Councils and described the upcoming Youth Council Legislative Action Days in Tallahassee. The two-day program features capital tours, meetings with legislative delegates, and training on advocacy and leadership. She noted the Council's previous achievements, including winning the Community Service Award at a past Florida League of Cities event. Staff will provide necessary documentation to schools for the March 24th event and informed members about scholarship opportunities for seniors.
h.
Florida League of Cities
- Youth Council Legislative Action Days Program The 2025 Youth Council Legislative Action Days Program will be held on March 25-26, 2025 in Tallahassee.
- Community Service Contest Starting in January, this contest invites youth councils to submit current projects addressing a local need.
- Video Competition Starting each August, the Youth Council Video Competition provides a way for Florida’s youth councils to showcase their ideas, creativity, and commitment to their communities.
- Council2College Scholarship This essay contest assists Florida municipal youth council leaders who are pursuing post-high school education. The councils also must be active in the League’s youth council programs.
During the final portion of the meeting, the Council discussed youth engagement initiatives. A member proposed creating a public service registry system for coordinating volunteer opportunities. The Chair noted the need for proper record maintenance and accessibility to comply with public records law. Another member suggested using a school-based survey approach to gather student input, similar to the school board's system. The Chair emphasized that any campus distributions would require proper authorization and encouraged members to gauge peer interest in the public service database concept.
6.
COMMITTEE AND STAFF COMMENTS
7.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn at 5:00 PM was made by Vice Chair Reese Adams and seconded by 2nd Vice Chair Naomi Hypolite. The Chair reminded members to be proactive in seconding motions during future meetings. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM on October 17, 2024.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons with disabilities needing special accommodation to participate in this meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (772) 467-3065 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.