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Oklahoma City Council names 2025–26 youth council and approves Riversport event permits
Summary
The council appointed the 2025–26 youth council, heard short bios from appointees across city wards and unanimously approved the slate. Separately, council approved five revocable permits for Riversport events, including the Regatta and a youth rowing league, citing public attendance and safety plans.
The Oklahoma City Council on Aug. 1 formally appointed its 2025–26 youth council, introducing appointees from across city wards and approving the appointments unanimously.
Mayor and council members introduced each youth council member, highlighting extracurricular achievements and priorities such as mental health support, education access and youth mentorship. Debbie Martin, chief of staff to the council, reintroduced program co-chairs Kim Garrett Funk and Spencer Brown, who run the annual program.
The council also heard a Riversport presentation covering five revocable permits: an annual fireworks permit, the Holiday River Parade, the Oklahoma Regatta Festival, the Tri OKC Riversport Challenge and a youth rowing league. Riversport staff described each event’s scope, safety precautions and expected attendance — the festival draws participants from multiple states and the youth rowing league will include roughly 250 student-athletes from about 14–16 schools. Council members asked operational questions and then voted on each permit individually; each measure passed unanimously.
“The next item on the agenda is the holiday river parade… we get over 10,000 people at that event,” Riversport staff said during the presentation.
The appointments and event permits move forward as scheduled; the youth council will begin work during the 2025–26 academic year and the Riversport events will proceed under the approved revocable permits.
