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Garner Youth Council proposal wins council support for pilot; youth-led program to begin fall 2025

5861880 · October 1, 2025

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Summary

Town staff presented a proposal, prompted by a local high school student, to form a Garner Youth Council (rising grades 8–12). Council supported adding a resolution to the consent agenda to create a pilot program running August–May with an official executive board in the 2026–27 school year.

Public information staff and a student volunteer presented a plan to establish a Garner Youth Council to provide local youth with civic engagement, volunteer opportunities and an advisory channel to town council.

Bella Soltz, the town’s public information staffer, described the proposed structure: the pilot year (fall 2025–May 2026) would be youth‑led with a maximum of 30 members (rising eighth through twelfth graders) supported by one main staff advisor; the first official year (Aug. 2026–May 2027) would include an elected executive board (president, vice president, secretary, marketing/outreach coordinator and service coordinator). The plan called for monthly meetings, three to four development opportunities per year and a year‑long service project.

Soltz credited Anish Panamatra, a Garner resident and high school student, for initiating the idea and said staff researched models from other North Carolina towns and the North Carolina State Youth Council. She recommended a pilot year without an executive board to allow the program to be tested and for bylaws and structure to be finalized.

Council members expressed strong support. Mayor Buddy Gupton and several councilors praised the grassroots origin of the idea and encouraged the town to place a resolution on the consent agenda at the council’s next regular meeting to formally create the youth council. Council asked staff to advertise applications to students, host a parent/youth interest meeting and report back with the first pilot meeting schedule.

Why it matters: the youth council is designed to give local high‑school and middle‑school students a formal avenue to learn about municipal government, advise council on youth issues and take on volunteer projects that benefit Garner.