City of Rockville Youth Commission Meeting: Outreach Planning and Council Presentation Prep, September 15, 2026

On September 15, 2026, the City of Rockville Youth Commission met at Rockville City Hall for an approximately two-hour meeting. Chair Nico Di Razio (a recent graduate of Moon High School, as transcribed) presided in the absence of Chair Becca Fulton. Advisors Melinda Norton (supervisor of Curtin Creek Nature Center) and Jordan Perry (Recreation Program Supervisor for Teens and Adventure Sports) and the council liaison were present. Note: the transcript's opening line states the meeting was held "Tuesday, July 23rd," which conflicts with the recorded meeting date of September 15, 2026; this summary uses the official date. School names in the transcript ("Moon," "Wooden," "Wooton") appear as transcribed and may be phonetic renderings of Wootton High School. The meeting focused on finalizing the commission's recruitment/outreach plan, preparing the commission's presentation to the mayor and council (agenda item 64-70), and routine business.

Consent Calendar

• The prior meeting's minutes were approved unanimously after being amended to include Emily's last name, "Metangi" (as transcribed), correcting the draft.

Chair's Report

• Nico reported that the council agenda item containing the resolution that formalizes the youth commission had been approved, calling it "awesome" (transcript wording for the resolution is partially garbled).
• He added email contacts for all Rockville public schools — principals, administrators, content specialists, and RTs across middle and high schools within Rockville.
• A community contact (unnamed in the transcript) provided content, her contact information, and her assistant principal's name; Nico said he would share that information with the commission and city residents once it is provided to him.
• The youth seat on the Community Policing Advisory Board remains unfilled.

Mayor and Council Meeting Preparation (Agenda Item 64-70)

• The commission's item (agenda items 64-70) is on the city council consent agenda. Advisor Jordan Perry and the council liaison explained that pulling an item off the consent agenda allows discussion and gives commissioners an opportunity to elevate the commission, which supports recruitment; it also lets members meet the new city manager under Rockville's council-manager form of government.
• Councilmember Valerie (also rendered "Ballery" in the transcript) suggested the commission could decide whether to pull the item for discussion. The council liaison offered to tell the mayor that the commission wants to highlight its work, noting that a pulled item is usually directed back to staff when commission-related, but there is flexibility because the issue is not contentious.
• Strategy: Nico will request to pull item 64-70 when the mayor asks whether anyone wants to pull an item; the remainder of the consent agenda will then be voted on. Becca Fulton, if she can attend, will give a longer opening answer, followed by commissioners delivering assigned sections; Nico will step in if Becca cannot attend. Members will draft short remarks, with drafts due Thursday and comments by Friday.
• Meet-and-greet logistics: other boards and commissions will be present to meet the new city manager. The council meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., the youth commission's section is expected around 8:00 p.m., and a meet-and-greet window between 5:00 and 6:30 was referenced. The commission must provide the city with the names and email addresses of members who will attend by Thursday morning. Elizabeth is available for both the meet-and-greet and the evening portion.

Recruitment and Outreach Plan

• Elizabeth presented two recruitment graphics, which received positive feedback ("I think it's good"). Member Katie had not yet submitted graphics and was still brainstorming.
• The graphics can be updated from "Youth Commission '24" to the current year.
• Email eligibility language: applicants must be residents of the City of Rockville OR attend high school or middle school in the city. Because many Rockville High School students live outside city limits, the residency sentence will be removed from the public-school FGA sponsor email (as transcribed); it will remain in the private-school email.
• A participant (speaker not clearly identified in the transcript) encouraged the commission to find new ways to connect with Title One schools — two confirmed Title One elementary schools in the city, with a possible third — noting those communities are often underrepresented in engagement, and suggested attending back-to-school fairs, even at elementary schools, to reach families with older siblings.
• Members discussed school newspapers as an underused outreach channel with broad readership among students and parents, while noting uncertainty about funding and whether each paper would publish an announcement.
• Members floated approaching MCM or MoCo360 for an article on the youth commission but noted they have no contacts at those outlets; Nico said he would double-check that such outreach is permissible. Councilmember Ballery said she would discuss the process with the City Clerk's office.
• Timeline: a graphic will be posted two weeks before the application deadline and again one week before; a reminder email will be sent roughly two to two and a half weeks after Becca sends the initial message.
• Members will compile a list of organizations with personal connections so Nico or Caroline can follow up. Nico will send a group-chat blurb after the meeting inviting Katie and Becca to participate.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved unanimously as amended.
• Nico will pull agenda item 64-70 from the council consent agenda for discussion, with assigned speaking roles and a Thursday/Friday drafting schedule.
• Names and email addresses of members attending the city council meet-and-greet must be submitted to the city by Thursday morning.
• Elizabeth's two recruitment graphics were approved for use; Katie's graphics are pending.
• Recruitment emails revised so eligibility is "residents of the City of Rockville or students attending a Rockville middle/high school," with the residency sentence removed from the public-school email and retained for the private-school email.
• The youth seat on the Community Policing Advisory Board remains vacant and is a continuing recruitment priority.
• No new business was raised; the motion to adjourn passed unanimously.