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North Miami Youth Council proposes non‑voting youth alternates on city boards
Summary
The North Miami Youth Council proposed the mayor and council create one non‑voting youth alternate member position on select city boards to provide advisory youth perspectives; councilmembers praised the initiative and directed staff and the city attorney to study implementation and whether any boards could allow voting status.
Priscia Liberty, Youth Councilwoman for District 4, proposed that the City of North Miami establish a single non‑voting youth alternate member position on selected city boards and commissions to give young residents an advisory role and serve as ambassadors for civic engagement.
Liberty told the council the youth alternates would attend regular meetings of designated boards, participate in discussion when recognized and provide feedback from a youth perspective. "Many of you have said it yourself. The youth are the future of this city," Liberty said, urging the council to create a formal avenue for youth input.
The proposal, provided as a discussion item, lists eligibility and appointment conditions: alternates must be active members of the North Miami Youth Council, maintain satisfactory academic standing and be appointed subject to approval by the mayor and council. Liberty emphasized the positions would be strictly advisory: alternates would not vote, would not count toward quorum, would not exercise the legal authority of appointed members and would not replace any current voting board members.
Library Director Paul Basil, who serves as youth council liaison, framed the presentation and described the current youth council cohort: "Going into my second year, this was a very special year. Six of the eight members are graduating high school. I'm definitely going to miss you guys," he said, praising the members’ civic engagement.
Possible boards listed in the presentation included the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Parks and Recreation Commission and the Library Board. During council discussion, members asked staff to also consider the North Miami Commission for Women, the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and affordable housing bodies when determining placements for youth alternates.
Councilmembers applauded the youth for bringing a formal item forward. The council directed the city manager and city attorney to review how to implement the proposal and to advise which boards—if any—could legally permit youth alternates to exercise voting authority, noting some boards are chartered and may be restricted.
Staff responded on the record about applications and timelines but gave conflicting dates during the meeting: an initial statement named June 30 as a deadline, then staff corrected that to June 1 and said applications opened May 1 and will be reviewed; if the city does not have enough members it will consider reopening the application period through July 31.
The presentation concluded with a token of appreciation to Councilwoman Mary Esté Irving for her support. The council did not vote on an ordinance or resolution during this meeting; instead they gave direction to staff to draft implementing language and return with recommendations.
A motion to adjourn followed and was seconded; the clerk recorded the meeting as adjourned and the time as 6:54 p.m., though the transcript’s recorded tally for the adjournment vote was not specified clearly in the record.
