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Youth council adopts minutes, advances little libraries, boating-safety appearance and festival planning
Summary
The Youth Council Task Force unanimously adopted prior minutes, directed staff to proceed with Little Free Library and shark-statue installations at selected sites, agreed to attend a May 17 boating-safety proclamation (Brandon Center, 9 a.m.) with donated life jackets, and continued planning for a youth-led festival and market in 2026.
The Youth Council Task Force voted to adopt meeting minutes from March 27 and April 3 and moved forward with multiple youth-led projects, including Little Free Library installations, a public boating-safety appearance and initial planning for a youth festival and market.
A member moved to adopt the minutes and a second was recorded; the city clerk called the roll and recorded affirmative votes from the present members. The clerk recorded affirmative responses for Member Erwin, Member Perkis, Vice Chair McCarthy, Chair Lyman, Member Kavanaugh, Member Elkind and Member Bridal. The motion to adopt the minutes passed by unanimous recorded assent.
Members then provided project updates. Students reported they had obtained books and paint for a set of new lending libraries and that maintenance operations expects the lending boxes to be ready for painting on May 21; students agreed to coordinate with city staff and bring initial book donations. Staff presented proposed installation locations for shark statues (municipal airport; North Causeway Boat Ramp; NSB Sports Complex; Municipal Golf Course) and proposed Little Free Library locations (Manatee Park; 27th Avenue Park; NSB Sports Complex; Mary Avenue Tot Lot). The council indicated there was consensus and directed staff to proceed with installations at the selected sites.
The council discussed boating-safety outreach tied to Boater Safety Week. Mr. Franek, a community presenter, said the mayor will issue a proclamation May 17 at 9 a.m. at the Brandon Center and that he has received a grant that will provide life jackets through the CITO Foundation for students to wear for a photo-op. "I just received notice of a, a grant that we put in for a couple of months ago, and I have a bunch of, life jackets coming in from the CITO Foundation," he said, offering to bring jackets if students can provide attendance numbers.
Students also discussed a youth-led festival and market for next year (tentative dates discussed in mid-May 2026 range). Topics included vendor fees and whether student vendors could be subsidized, recruiting local student-run businesses and school clubs, partnering with the county STEM bus and the Hub On Canal or Riverside Park, and using social media (Instagram handle: NSB youth council task force) and SGA channels to promote events and recruit participants. The council agreed to finalize PowerPoint slides and photos for the May 27 joint presentation to the City Commission and to meet again before that date to assign roles and confirm logistics.
Staff and students set these tentative next steps: promote and recruit participants for the May 17 proclamation attendance; paint Little Free Libraries on a May 21 date to be coordinated with maintenance; finalize presentation slides and photos for the May 27 City Commission meeting; and continue vendor/outreach planning for a youth festival in 2026.
