Youth council pitches projects; commission approves youth showcase, voter seminar and rock garden

The New Smyrna Beach City Commission on May 12 unanimously approved three project recommendations from the Youth Council Task Force: a youth showcase scheduled for May 16, a voter‑awareness seminar for high‑school students and a commemorative rock garden proposed for Manatee Park.

Youth Council Chair Jessica Perkis presented the task force mission and summarized a recent Florida League of Cities Youth Summit that members said informed their proposals. “We review and evaluate problems facing youth in the city… and present recommended improvements with our projects at the city commission meeting,” Perkis said during the presentation.

Vice Chair Maya Erwin and other council members gave specifics: lending libraries have been installed at Riverside Park, 27th Avenue Park and Mary Avenue Tot Lot using donated books; the youth showcase will run 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and has six confirmed booths; and the rock garden proposal includes a plaque “class of 2026” with an estimated cost of around $100. The commission considered each proposal as separate motions; all were moved, seconded and passed on roll call votes.

The approvals come with staff follow‑up. Commissioners asked that community input be included where planning is still conceptual, particularly for the rock garden and any park programming. The youth council members were excused from the remainder of the meeting after public participation.

The city clerk recorded the unanimous roll‑call approvals for the youth showcase, the voter‑awareness seminar and the rock‑garden plaque purchase.