December 10, 2025, Destin Youth Council Meeting (2025-12-10)

MINUTES DESTIN YOUTH COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2025 CITY HALL BOARD ROOM 4: 45 PM I. CALL TO ORDER The Youth Councill Chair called the meeting to order at 4:45 PM. 2. ROLL CALL Members Present: Deacon Martin Estella Scoma Sophia Eason Annalyn King Adelyn Merrell Zoe Aslin Aspen Baker Alyssia Gentile David Cowles Briana Demeter Chloe Majors Luci Frankfurt Members Absent: Benjamin Hustin Elleanorah Remm City Staff Present: Rey Bailey, City Clerk Visitor: Mayor Bobby Wagner 3. CURRENT BUSINESS A) American Legion National Oratory Program The meeting featured a presentation on American Legion—sponsored youth programs, including a constitutional oratory competition and Boys State and Girls State civic leadership

programs. Mr. Jim Wood of the American Legion explained the structure of the oratory program, which requires students to prepare and deliver one longer constitution-based speech and several shorter memorized speeches on constitutional amendments, all judged on content and delivery. Opportunities for advancement, judging procedures, timelines, and scholarship prizes were outlined, along with encouragement for students to build confidence through participation. Mr. Wood also described Boys State and Girls State as intensive, weeklong programs in Tallahassee where students role- play government positions, run mock governments, and gain hands- on civic experience, noting application deadlines and interview requirements. B) Destin Youth Council Workplan Following the presentation, the meeting shifted to Youth Council business, focusing primarily on a proposed youth labor project. Youth Council members discussed the two-part initiative that was recently approved by the Destin City Council aimed at helping students better prepare for employment while also encouraging safer, more educational work environments for minors. The proposal included outreach at local schools, collaboration with existing career fairs, and the creation of a" youth- safe employer" certification to educate businesses on labor laws and connect them with prepared student workers. Discussion centered on funding constraints, reliance on volunteers and in-kind support, and the importance of making the program mutually beneficial for both students and employers by emphasizing skill-building and learning opportunities beyond paycheck. Next, questions were raised about sustainability, governance, and compliance with Florida' s Sunshine Law, emphasizing that projects should be structured to continue beyond the involvement of current members. The group discussed forming a subcommittee to further develop the youth labor project and other projects this group wants to undertake. The City Clerk explained that appointed members of a standing committee may not form a subcommittee composed of two or more Youth Council members because doing so would effectively create a new decision- making body that has not been formally authorized. Standing committees and their membership are established by the appointing authority, along with defined scopes, powers, and procedural requirements. Allowing committee members to self-organize into subcommittees without explicit authorization could violate the Sunshine Law. Any subcommittee that includes multiple members of the standing committee must therefore be expressly created and approved by the same authority that established the standing committee, ensuring accountability, proper notice, and adherence to applicable governance rules. The meeting concluded with encouragement for members to bring forward additional project ideas, collaborate thoughtfully, and use the flexibility of the Youth Council to pursue initiatives that provide lasting value to the community.

4) PUBLIC COMMENTS: None ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 5: 55 PM. APPROVED THIS 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026a ' j`'' i fit ' 11.4 Estella Scoma, Chair Rey ailey, City Clerk 111V"14,,,, 1*+ O'