Satellite Beach Youth Council hears budget overview, plans lagoon cleanups, social media outreach and drain‑art project

At the first official meeting of the Satellite Beach Youth Council on Oct. 28, 2019, city officials briefed members on municipal finances and the council began planning community projects focused on environmental stewardship and youth outreach.

Britney Jumper, support services director and comptroller for the City of Satellite Beach, gave a high‑level overview of city finances and the audit process, noting that the fiscal year runs Oct. 1–Sept. 30 and the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) is prepared after the fiscal year closes. Jumper told members the overall budget "is about $2,324,000,000" and that the general fund is "just over $13,000,000," with roughly 60% of general fund revenue coming from property taxes. She encouraged members to consult the online budget book for details and said auditors would be on site before Thanksgiving.

Youth council members then brainstormed priorities and short‑term projects. Ideas with strong support included lagoon cleanups and oyster/mangrove plantings, a social‑media outreach program (members debated Instagram versus Facebook and volunteered to run accounts), partnering with the Brevard Zoo for volunteer access to seeds and materials, and working with local schools on refillable water‑bottle stations to reduce single‑use plastics. Serena Videla, an alternate member, offered to help with poster design and suggested awareness messaging that connects everyday behavior to lagoon health.

Council members also discussed a storm‑drain mural "adopt‑a‑drain" idea—members would solicit designs, partner with the beautification and sustainability boards, and oversee an application process and maintenance arrangements. Courtney Barker, the city manager, told the council staff could help make social media posts part of the public record, offered a small startup budget for projects and said city staff would support agenda preparation and research.

Members agreed to work on mission/vision wording and bring draft ideas to the next meeting; they also discussed participating in community events such as the Ocean Reef Festival to raise awareness. No formal project approvals or budget allocations were made at this meeting; the council planned to return with concrete proposals and any required staff requests at a future meeting.