Cape seeks Youth Council applicants
The city of Cape Coral wants to hear from city youth about their concerns.
To that end, the city is in the process of creating a youth council which will meet every month in council chambers to address the needs of their peers.
The group will have advisors and staff support as well as a city council liaison in Rick Williams.
There’s still time to get involved.
Williams said younger residents always complained that their issues aren’t addressed because they don’t know who to talk to or that nobody cares. Williams wants to show that the city does care and give them a channel in which to talk, and maybe even learn something.
“It will be a teaching experience for us on how to work in government, run meetings with Robert’s Rules,” Williams said. “The main purpose is to give them a pipeline into the city council, which is something they’ve never had.”
The youth council will have 14 members, seven juniors and seven seniors. There will be two representatives from each of the five area high schools, two more from Cape residents who attend North Fort Myers High School and two at-large members, which anyone can apply for.
Each member will serve a two-year term, starting as a junior. One seat per year will be made available at the end of the school year for continuity. This year’s seniors will serve an abbreviated one-year term.
Meetings will be held every other Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The city council will appoint the members shortly after the new year. It will discuss the selection process on Jan. 9 as it returns from the winter break and make selections two weeks later.
Each school got four applications, two junior and two seniors. Each candidate will have to provide two recommendations.
The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 12, which was extended to give schools time to work on it, Williams said. So far, Williams has received 17 applications, with more on the way.
“There is interest out there, and this might create a lot of interest since it’s the first time it’s been in the papers,” Williams said. “Some schools have sent in more than others. We might get more at-large applications. The time of the meetings has been a stumbling block for some of these students.”
Williams said the schools have been behind the plan from the beginning. Council hopes to not only make this a teaching experience, but also use their viewpoints to help the city make decisions.
“We want to hear about their issues, problems and the things they like about the city. We need a communication link with the youth. We never see youth at meetings stand in front of us at the lectern,” Williams said. “Let’s talk, let’s work together.”
Applications are available at the city clerk’s office. City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.