The Lakeland City Commission recently put plans in place to start a Lakeland Youth Council for the upcoming school year. High school students that are interested can now apply by completing the application located at www.lakelandgov.net/boards. Applicants can download the application and email it back to the address on the document ([email protected]). All applications must be submitted by August 25, 2023.
Youth Council members must be residents of Lakeland, living inside the corporate limits. Members must be actively enrolled in a public or private high school, 9th through 12th grade. Members shall be appointed for two-year terms except those that enter in the 12th grade, their term will terminate upon the student’s graduation.
The Lakeland Youth Council will consist of up to 15 students who are appointed by the Mayor and City Commission. Each Commission member may nominate two students each to the Youth Council. The Mayor or any other City Commissioner may nominate a third student to establish the 15-member council. The nominees will be confirmed through a majority vote by the City Commission with Commissioner Stephanie Madden serving as the City Commission liaison.
Madden said, “The Lakeland Youth Council is an opportunity for students to represent the voices of their peers, engage with their local government, and learn valuable leadership skills. It is my hope that our Lakeland Youth Council members will inspire action that makes Lakeland shine even brighter, and that through this program we can cultivate a new generation of civic leaders.”
Many municipalities have similar youth councils that meet on a regular basis to discuss issues and community services that impact younger citizens. The Lakeland Youth Council will be set-up to make recommendations to the City Commission on issues of special interest to high-school aged community members.
Youth Council members once appointed will attend a mandatory retreat on September 9, 2023, and then they will be sworn-in at the September 18, 2023, City Commission meeting.
2023 Lakeland Youth Council Schedule
August 25 Applications Due
September 9 Retreat*
September 18 Commission Swearing In*
October 12 Meeting – City Commission Chamber
November 9 Meeting – City Commission Chamber
December 14 Meeting – City Commission Chamber
January 11 Meeting – City Commission Chamber
February 8 Meeting – City Commission Chamber
April 11 Meeting – City Commission Chamber
May 6 Presentation to City Commission
*These meetings are mandatory
Members of the Youth Council will elect a Chair to oversee the meetings and a Vice-Chair to preside in the absence of the Chair. The elections for the Chair and Vice-Chair will take place at the first official Youth Council meeting.