---
date: 2025-08-19
title: Youth Council Advisory Committee Agenda Packet
source: 2025-08/2025-08-19_Youth Council Advisory Committee_Agenda Packet.pdf
pages: 1
---

STOCKBRIDGE Youth Council Advisory
YOUTH COUNCIL Committee
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting Agenda
Dr. Alfreda Renee Gourdine, Chair
August 19, 2025 6:30 PM
Ayesha Gambles, Vice-Chair
Joc’Quelyn Carter, Treasurer
Sharika Zellars, Student Liaison
Dr. Samuel Valme, Secretary
Valerie Richmond-Reese, Parliamentarian

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Tykera Goins
Dr. Elyssa Green
Candis Jones
Paige Jones III
Georgia McIntyre
Dr. Thomas Smith
STOCKBRIDGE CITY HALL

4640 NORTH HENRY BLVD.
STAFF LIAISON
Cassandra Lester STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281

Website: www.stockbridgega.org

Phone: 770-389-7900

Fax: 770-389-7912
AGENDA
YOUTH COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2025 6:30 PM

I. Call to Order
1. Invocation Followed by Pledge
2. Roll Call
3. Approve Agenda
4. Approve July 2025 Meeting Minutes
5. Approve August 2025 Special Call Meeting Minutes
6. Budget Update
II. Old Business
7. SYC FY26 Calendar
8. Meeting Police Protection for SYC/AC Meetings and Events
9. Area Beautification
III. New Business
10. Closet Organization Update - Closet Organization Items
11. SYC Retreat (New Member Orientation)
12. Mayor Pro Tem Gantt Fall Festival donation
13. Increase Funding
14. By-Laws Update
15. GMA Symposium
IV. Adjourn

The Youth Advisory Council Committee is to make recommendations to Council based on the following Terms
of Reference.
1. To identify and advise on youth issues in the City of Stockbridge.
2. To advise Council on the development of policies that are responsive to the needs of youth.
3. To consult with local youth and feedback results of consultations to Council.
4. To assist in the ongoing development and delivery of youth-targeted projects and programs.
5. To create opportunities for youth leadership development by acting as a resource for youth activities.

Note: This Committee meets monthly on selected dates.
Stockbridge Youth Council Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2025

I. Call to Order
a) Quorum was met, and the meeting was called to order at 18:36

1. Invocation led by Paige Jones III
• Pledge of Allegiance: recited in unison

2. Roll Call

Roll Call Members Absent:
Ayesha Gambles Paige Jones III Sharika Zellars
Joc’Quelyn Carter Candis Jones Dr. Renee Gourdine
Dr. Samuel Valme Georgia McIntyre
Valerie Richmond-Reese
Tykera Goins
Dr. Thomas Smith

3. Approve Agenda
a) Motion: Paige Jones III
b) Second: Valerie Richmond-Reese
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried

4. Approve 5/20/2025 SYCAC Meeting Minutes
a) Motion: Valerie Richmond-Reese
b) Second: Dr. Thomas Smith
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried

II. Old Business

Budget

Madam Vice Chair: This budget update includes expenditures through our most recent event.
The remaining budget balance is $12,942. Joc’Quelyn Carter, you may present the budget. I
apologize that you weren’t able to join us at the last meeting.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: We currently have a remaining balance of $12,942 going into the next
official session when the students return. We need to consider how we’ll utilize these funds
before the end of the calendar year.

Madam Vice Chair: Yes, we need to use the funds before year-end. However, Madam Chair
was considering whether we should request a budget adjustment.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: Unless we’re planning another student event, let’s review what’s
scheduled on the calendar.

Madam Vice Chair: I believe the fall retreat is coming up.

Paige Jones III: The fall event is typically one of our largest expenditures.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: That’s true, but now that we’re partnering with the City, our costs have
decreased. We used to host the event independently, which was more expensive. Given the
current partnership, we likely won’t spend the full $12,942 during the rest of this fiscal year.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: Can you remind me of our fiscal year dates?

Joc’Quelyn Carter: Our fiscal year runs from January through December. We’ll need to
confirm with the City if there’s a firm deadline for using the funds before the new fiscal year
begins.

Paige Jones III: Should we brainstorm additional ideas for how to spend the remaining funds?

Joc’Quelyn Carter: Funds provided by the City do not carry over from year to year. Only
funds we raise independently can roll over. In the past, we’ve hosted fundraisers, and those
contributions are still reflected in our balance.

Dr. Thomas Smith: If we don’t spend the full $21,000 this year, does that mean the City won’t
allocate the full amount again?

Joc’Quelyn Carter: They haven’t stated that directly. Typically, any unspent funds are used to
balance the City’s overall budget.

Madam Vice Chair: If we have surplus funds, perhaps we could allocate some of it to hire a
photographer for professional headshots. It would benefit students for their resumes.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: That’s a great idea. Are there any other questions?

Madam Vice Chair:
Have you verified that all listed expenses in the budget reflect actual spending?

Joc’Quelyn Carter:
Yes, all line items represent funds that have been spent.

5. Votes recorded for Back-to-School Donations to support the City's to-School
Kick-Off

Madam Vice Chair: The next item is the Back-to-School Donations to support the City’s
Back-to-School Kick-Off. For the record, we were informed that a formal vote is required to
approve the use of these funds.

Dr. Samuel Valme: I motion to approve the use of funds for the Back-to-School Donations in
support of the City’s Back-to-School Kick-Off.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: Second.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: For the record, we need to state the amount, which is $127.00.

Dr. Samuel Valme: I amend my motion to approve the use of $127.00 for the Back-to-School
Donations to support the City’s Back-to-School Kick-Off.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: Second.

a) Motion: Dr. Samuel Valme
b) Second: Joc’Quelyn Carter
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried

6. Upcoming SYC Interviews

Madam Vice Chair: The next item on the agenda is the SYC interviews scheduled for next
week from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. We plan to have the following five individuals serve on the
interview panel:

• Dr. Renee Gourdine
• Sharika Zellars
• Ayesha Gambles
• Dr. Samuel Valme
• Valerie Richmond-Reese

The student Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem will assist with greeting the students.

7. Closet Inventory and Maintenance

Madam Vice Chair: Regarding the closet inventory and maintenance, we need to decide on
potential dates and determine how much money should be allocated for organizational items.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: We need to get confirmation from Casandra that the closet is fully
designated for SYC use.

Madam Vice Chair: So, should we hold off on voting on the amount to spend until we have
that confirmation?

Paige Jones III: I think it’s unknown at this point, we need to conduct the inventory first to
assess what’s actually needed.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: Last time, I provided three dates, but with everyone’s schedules, it
didn’t work out. I think we need to come up with three possible weekends and see who is
available.

Madam Vice Chair: Let’s do that, can you suggest two to three potential dates?

Joc’Quelyn Carter: We should also consider selecting dates when the city is already open so
no one has to come in just to open City Hall for us.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: Okay, I’ll check the city calendar.

Paige Jones III: Do we know how many people are needed to complete the task?

Valerie Richmond-Reese: I think we should start with the inventory first and then proceed
with the reorganization.

Tykera Goins: I agree, we should approach this in phases. First, complete the inventory. Then,
those who conducted it can report on what organizational items are needed.

Madam Vice Chair: We need to create an inventory log, either on a clipboard or
electronically, so we can maintain a clear visual record of what’s in the room.

Paige Jones III: The room isn’t that big; I believe two motivated individuals could get it done.

Madam Vice Chair: Do we have any volunteers to take on this project?

Joc’Quelyn Carter: I’ll try to recruit some help.

8. Area Beautification -Dates and Attendance

Madam Vice Chair: Madam Chair requested that everyone commit to a date for the Area
Beautification project.

Tykera Goins and Dr. Samuel Valme committed to participating on August 9th.

Madam Vice Chair: I will send out an RSVP via GroupMe as a reminder to ensure we have
adequate coverage.

9. Discuss Expo & Senior Survey Results

Tykera Goins: I have the results from the Senior Expo event. I did my best to capture the key
takeaways. Overall, the expo went well. Some vendors suggested that booths be placed closer
together to help increase foot traffic. There was also feedback requesting more food options, such
as additional food trucks. Additionally, several participants mentioned the need for improved
marketing to draw a larger crowd. Overall, it was a positive event, and we had attendees across
various age groups.

Madam Vice Chair: When does Tasty Tuesday typically begin?

Joc’Quelyn Carter: It normally starts in May.

Madam Vice Chair: We may be able to draw more people to the expo if we schedule it on a date
that aligns with another popular event. That way, we wouldn’t face issues with food vendors, and
we could benefit from the existing foot traffic. We could also consider holding the expo later in
the year, possibly during the Fall Festival.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: We need to begin advertising our events earlier. If we know the event
will take place in March, we should start advertising by January, ideally 90 days in advance.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: I was thinking we could begin promoting as early as November. We could
send out "Save the Date" announcements so people can mark their calendars.

Tykera Goins: Unfortunately, we only received three responses from the six students who served
this year. However, of those six, one student served for two years, and two served for three years
on the Student Youth Council. I believe that’s an excellent retention rate and shows continued
engagement. Among the three who responded, two held leadership roles.

Some of the aspects they enjoyed most were connecting with the community, giving back to
fellow students, and participating in council events. A concern mentioned was the expectation that
they should drop everything to attend events. This may have been a result of miscommunication.

One suggestion was to make it a requirement for each student to lead or co-chair at least one
event. This could help with accountability and participation. Another recommendation was that if
a student has served on the council for more than a year, they should be required to lead or co-
chair an event. This would allow newer members to observe and learn how the events are
organized and executed.

III. New Business

10. Calendar FY26

Madam Vice Chair: As you can see, the Chair and I are leading the first couple of events on the
calendar. We need others to volunteer to chair or co-chair the remaining events.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: Looking at the calendar, we typically assign only one event per council
member. The reason is that the Youth Council has increasingly been used as volunteers for events
that should be supported by city staff.

Madam Vice Chair: Should we consider modifying the calendar to eliminate overlapping events,
since this is still a tentative schedule?

Paige Jones III: I’ll chair the Stockbridge Police Department Appreciation Dinner.

Valerie Richmond-Reese: We should prioritize events that add value to our students. Let’s revise
the list with a focus on events that align with our goal of better preparing our youth.

Madam Vice Chair: We know we’ll move forward with the Fall Festival and the SYC Holiday
Festival. Can we get volunteers to chair and co-chair those two events?

• Fall Festival Chair: Valerie Richmond-Reese
• SYC Holiday Festival Chair: Candis Jones
• Stockbridge Police Department Appreciation Dinner Chair: Paige Jones III

11. Meeting SPD Protection for SYC/AC Meetings and Events

Madam Vice Chair: The next item on the agenda is a recommendation from the Mayor that
SPD provide security for all SYC/AC meetings and events. Do we know the current hourly rate
for those services?

Dr. Thomas Smith: I believe it ranges from $50 to $75 per hour. I’ll confirm with the Chief.

Madam Vice Chair: Based on that estimate, from August to December, covering
approximately 10 meetings at 2 hours each, that would total around $500.

Joc’Quelyn Carter: Just to clarify, are we being asked to allocate that amount from our
existing budget to pay for SPD protection? I recommend requesting a budget increase to cover
this expense instead.

Madam Vice Chair: We will not vote on this tonight, as we still need a confirmed dollar
amount and further clarification. This item is tabled until more information is available.

12. AC Leadership Position

Madam Vice Chair: Do we have anyone interested in filling any of the open roles? We can
rotate in and out of these positions, and all roles are open for consideration.

Tykera Goins: I recommend organizing an offsite retreat for the Advisory Board. It would give
everyone a chance to meet, get to know one another, and better understand each member’s
strengths and preferences for service.

Madam Vice Chair: I believe we currently have two open positions for new members. That is
all the items we have on the agenda, do I have a motion to adjourn?

IV. Executive Session (if needed)
1. Not required

V. Adjourn
a) Motion: Paige Jones III
b) Second: Valerie Richmond-Reese
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried
g) Adjourned at 19:53

Stockbridge Youth Council Advisory Committee
Special Call Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2025

I. Call to Order
a) Quorum was met, and the meeting was called to order at 19:01pm

1. Invocation led by Dr. Thomas Smith

• Pledge of Allegiance: recited in unison

2. Roll Call

Roll Call Members Absent:
Dr. Renee Gourdine Joc’Quelyn Carter
Dr. Thomas Smith Paige Jones III
Tykera Goins Georgia McIntyre
Ayesha Gambles Dr. Samuel Valme
Sharika Zellars Valerie Richmond-
Reese
Candice Jones

3. Approve Agenda
a) Motion: Dr. Thomas Smith
b) Second: Ayesha Gambles
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried

II. New Business

4. Vote on New Stockbridge Youth Council Members

The Chair:
5 candidates were interviewed on July 22, 2025 to become members of the FY2026 Stockbridge
Youth Council. Candidates: Kaleb Acres, Alivia Duck, Selah Lewis, Marcus McCray, Aiden
Zellars. The interview panel agreed and recommend that all 5 candidates be accepted as new
members of the Stockbridge Youth Council. The board members who were in attendance at this
special call meeting voted accordingly to accept the candidates. Motion made to accept the five
candidates as new members of the Stockbridge Youth Council. The vote was as follows:

a) Motion: Tykera Goins
b) Second: Candice Jones
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried

5. Adjourn
a) Motion: Candice Jones
b) Second: Dr. Thomas Smith
c) In Favor: All present
d) Oppose: None
e) Abstain: None
f) Motion carried
g) Adjourned at 19:07
