Rockville Youth Commission Meeting: Survey Vote and Farmstead Visioning — September 15, 2026

The Rockville Youth Commission met on September 15, 2026, to finalize and vote on a community survey, debrief the King Farm Farmstead tour and community visioning open house, and plan outreach and upcoming leadership changes. Chair Becca presided. The council liaison report was tabled for the day. Note: the official meeting date is September 15, 2026, while the transcript states the meeting was called to order at 4:08 p.m. on Thursday, March 6th; this discrepancy is present in the source materials.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the previous meeting were approved, with members given the opportunity to make scratch edits.

Chair & Staff Reports

• Chair report: Becca had nothing to report this meeting.
• Staff liaison Steph Lee reported that spring registration opened at 8:30 a.m. that day, with the spring guide now available.
• Steph Lee announced an upcoming lock-in event from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., followed by a sleepover portion from 10:30 p.m. to 8 a.m., and encouraged members to attend, RSVP for the head count, request a table if desired, and distribute the youth commission survey there.

Survey Review and Vote

• Members reviewed the final draft of the youth commission survey; no glaring issues were raised before the vote.
• A motion to vote on the survey was made and seconded, and the survey was approved.
• Next steps: create the survey as a Google Form with a QR code for paper and electronic distribution, and have members conduct outreach so youth can say what the community needs.

King Farm Farmstead Discussion

• Members debriefed the King Farm Farmstead tour and community visioning open house. One member observed that many activities receiving green sticky dots at the open house were targeted at seniors, reflecting that the vast majority of attendees were older residents.
• Several members stressed that the survey is essential for learning what youth under 30 want, cautioning that the ideas of the seven or eight commissioners may not represent the larger youth population of Rockville.
• Members noted that Rockville currently has no space for youth to simply drop in, while there are two such centers in Gaithersburg. Possible locations discussed included King Farm Farmstead, Town Center, Twinbrook, and repurposed or underutilized city facilities.
• Members discussed equity and demographics: a council member's observation of less fortunate youth in Town Center needing somewhere to go, the many youth living in King Farm, and the large youth population in Twinbrook.
• Councilmember Valeri said the two youth center concepts do not necessarily compete because they would not be operating at the same time, and noted that not every young person needs a hangout space, but those who do will find it.
• Members proposed combining uses such as a dance studio, culinary classes, technology, and greenhouse space, noting these ideas received the most votes at the open house. One member suggested the larger single-floor barn could be a good space, noting there is not enough storage for costumes.
• One member said a dedicated space outside schools would have a different energy and a greater sense of community than a disjointed setup, while not duplicating what schools already do.
• Staff noted that the city's activities calendar is roughly 90% senior-oriented, and that older residents should not decide what youth want. Staff also said senior center regulars are happy when anyone under age 65 visits.
• Staff explained that a capital improvement project could take around 15 years, while a storefront the city rents or purchases could open in less than five years.
• Staff noted the commission could send a letter to the Mayor and Council stating its priorities, and that the farmstead is not the only possible site for a youth center.
• Staff reported that Becca's term was set to expire April 1st and that she was asked to remain chair until June 1st, when she leaves for school. After June 1st, the commission must elect a new chair and recruit additional youth commission members.

Key Outcomes

• The youth commission survey was approved; it will be distributed as a Google Form with a QR code.
• Minutes were approved.
• Outreach priority: members will prioritize distributing the youth commission survey at the lock-in and other events, while staff will use other avenues to promote the separate King Farm Farmstead survey. One member suggested attaching both surveys or placing both QR codes on a single poster.
• No formal vote was taken on farmstead recommendations; members agreed that survey data and census information should inform future input, and a letter to the Mayor and Council remains a possible next step.
• The commission faces a leadership transition after June 1st, with a new chair election and member recruitment planned.