Cape Coral Code of Ordinances § 2-120.49 Youth Council.
§ 2-120.49 - Youth Council.
(a) Creation and purpose. There is hereby created and established a Youth Council. In order to serve the Cape Coral City Council on matters concerning the youth of the community, the Youth Council is created to gather facts and furnish input and helpful information to the City Council to assist them in their policy making as it pertains to issues that affect the city's youth. Since the Youth Council is only delegated information-gathering and fact-finding authority and shall only conduct such activities, the Youth Council is not subject to the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law.
(b) Composition; qualifications; and terms.
(1) The Youth Council shall be composed of 14 members, appointed by the City Council on or before May 1 of each year. Youth Council members shall be residents of the City of Cape Coral and enrolled in a source identified below at all times while serving on the Youth Council. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Youth Council shall be composed of one junior and one senior student from each of the following sources:
a. Mariner High School;
b. Ida Baker High School;
c. Island Coast High School;
d. Oasis High School;
e. Cape Coral High School;
f. North Fort Myers High School; and
g. At-large from home schooling or other source, including, but not limited to, a private school, charter school, or virtual school.
(2) For the initial Youth Council, seven seniors shall serve a term beginning upon appointment by the City Council until a successor is appointed on or before May 1, 2017, and seven juniors shall serve a term beginning upon appointment by the City Council until a successor is appointed on or before May 1, 2018. On or before May 1, 2017, and each year thereafter, the City Council shall appoint seven rising juniors to the Youth Council to serve a term of two years, or until a successor is appointed, unless a member is no longer qualified hereunder or is removed pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(3) In the event that a Youth Council member shall no longer be enrolled in the school source that the member was appointed from, the member shall forfeit the member's seat and the seat shall be declared vacant, unless the member provides proof to the City that such member is enrolled in another source identified in subsection (b)(1) within fifteen (15) business days.
(4) In the event that there is no available student applicant from a class or source identified in subsection (b)(1) in any given year, the City Council may appoint a substitute student from one of the other subsection (b)(1) sources to serve that applicable term.
(5) The Mayor and City Council shall appoint a City Council member to serve as a liaison between the City Council and the Youth Council.
(6) The Mayor and City Council shall appoint an Advisor to the Youth Council. The appointed Advisor shall serve a term of two years beginning on May 1 st of the year the Advisor was appointed. If such appointment occurs after May 1 st , the length of the appointment shall be pro-rated for the remainder of the two-year term.
(7) Upon approval by the Mayor and City Council and based upon extenuating circumstances surrounding the composition of the Youth Council Membership, the number of members on Youth Council may be increased to ensure the greatest representation from the sources listed in subsection (b)(1) of this section. In accomplishing the increase to the Youth Council membership beyond the 14 members, a student may be appointed for a one-year term, provided that the student represents a source from subsection (b)(1) that is not represented by the currently appointed members. Such increase in the number of total members of the Youth Council shall only last for the term of the appointment that creates the increase.
(c) Parental consent and application. Each Youth Council member shall, as a prerequisite for serving, complete an application and parental consent form. The format of the application and parental consent form shall be provided by the city. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a prospective member that has reached the age of majority shall not be required to complete a parental consent form. The City Council shall appoint Youth Council members from the pool of candidates submitting an application and meeting the qualifications of subsection (b) above. Prospective members' participation in the Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership Program is strongly preferred but not required.
(d) Election of officers. Members of the Youth Council shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members, each of whom shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified. Elections shall be held at the first regular meeting of the Youth Council after annual appointments are made by the City Council. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings and exercise all the usual rights, duties, and prerogatives of chairperson. The vice-chairperson shall perform the duties of the chairperson in the absence or disability of the chairperson. Vacancies of either office shall be filled by an existing Youth Council member for the unexpired term by a new election of the members.
(e) Vacancies and removal.
(1) Vacancies on the Youth Council shall be filled by appointment of the City Council. In the event of vacancies on the Youth Council due to resignation, illness, death, lack of attendance, removal, or lack of qualifications, the City Council shall appoint a replacement member to serve for the remainder of that term.
(2) Youth Council members may be removed from the Youth Council by the City Council, for cause.
(f) Meetings, quorum; forfeiture of office; minutes, records; and compensation.
(1) Regular meetings of the Youth Council shall be held every month, unless there is no business to transact by three days before a regular meeting date. Special meetings may be called by the chairperson, vice-chairperson, or by five or more members of the Youth Council.
(2) The presence of a majority of the members of the Youth Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(3) Youth Council members shall be subject to the forfeiture of office provisions of § 2-58 of this article.
(4) Notice of the date, time, and location and the agenda for all meetings of the Youth Council shall be provided to the City Clerk in a timely manner prior to the meeting. The City Clerk shall keep an audio recording of all meetings of the Youth Council, and all meetings shall be open to the public.
(5) Youth Council members shall serve without compensation.
(g) Rules and regulations. Robert's Rules of Order shall be a guideline for all meetings of the Youth Council.
(h) Duties and responsibilities. The Youth Council shall have the duty and responsibility to:
(1) Review problems facing youth in the city.
(2) Facilitate neighborhood meetings with youth to discuss problems, needs, and suggested improvements for the community.
(3) Share ideas and discuss issues, concerns, and needed improvements.
(4) Present facts and information to the City Council for public projects and programs.
(5) Assist in planning youth/recreation activities.
(6) Inform the City Council on issues forwarded to the Youth Council.
(7) Participate in, organize, and attend community outreach programs, fundraising activities, projects, and events, as may be approved in advance by the City Council.
(8) Prepare reports and make presentations to the City Council and City staff on Youth Council activities.
(9) Serve as a role model to other youth.
(10) Educate other youth on municipal government.
(11) Promote public awareness of the strengths and abilities of the City's youth.
(i) Reporting. The Youth Council shall report to the City Council periodically by written memoranda, as deemed necessary. The Youth Council should make every effort to attend the meetings of the City Council where the written memoranda of the Youth Council are to be presented.
(Ord. 47-16, § 4, 9-26-2016; Ord. 59-17, § 1, 11-6-2017; Ord. 1-22, § 1, 1-19-2022; Ord. 52-23, § 3, 6-7-2023; Ord. 22-25, § 1, 5-21-2025)