Buckeye Youth Council — Buckeye, AZ
Date: 2025-10-16

CITY OF BUCKEYE
 BUCKEYE YOUTH COUNCIL
 October 15, 2025
 Minutes


City of Buckeye Blue Horizon Fire Station #707
20080 W Yuma Rd
Buckeye, AZ 85326
5:30pm


1. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance/Roll Call
Meeting called to order by Lena Erickson at 5:31 PM.

Attendees

 Present = X Name Notes (absent, tardy, excused, unexcused)
 X Alexa Mercado Garay
 X Alexis Grimaldi
 Harlow Johnson Absent
 Haylee Mosher Absent
 Isabelle James Absent
 X Ivy Brown
 Jasper Sternfield Absent
 Kylah Arceneaux Absent
 X Lamarion Buie
 X Lena Erickson
 X Natalie Eng
 Paige Black Absent
 X Paisley Brown
 X Raelynn Miller
 X Samuel Russell
 X Savannah Sanchez
 Scylee Groseth Absent
 X Thomas Duarte

2. Approval of Minutes from September 17, 2025
Natalie Eng motioned to approve the minutes from the September 17, 2025, BYC meeting, Raelynn
Miller seconded. Approved unanimously.

3. Presentation of Fire Chief Jake Rhoades

Fire Chief Jake Rhoades gave an overview of life as a firefighter: touching on daily routines,
teamwork, and challenges. He explained the hiring process, requirements, and emphasized the
department’s mission of serving others. He shared plans for adding three new fire departments,
highlighting the need for careful budgeting and planning. The presentation offered a valuable look into
both the rewards and demands of the profession, and concluded with a guided tour of the station.
4. Team Building Activity
Teams competed to build the strongest bridge using LEGO blocks, with the goal of holding the most
weight. Each team had a different number of members and a unique set of colored blocks,
encouraging diverse ideas and creative problem-solving. The variety in team size and materials led to
a range of designs, showcasing teamwork, innovation, and collaboration under pressure.

5. Meet in Committees
Civic engagement: The team is now shifting focus to the December drive, working on securing
permission to place donation boxes in schools, City Hall, and the Center on Main in Verrado. They
hope to have the boxes installed before the next meeting.

Community Outreach: Preparations are underway for the holiday-themed event before the Glow on
Monroe. The team is reaching out to local stores for potential donations, gathering materials, and
working on flyers and banners for promotion. They are also looking for volunteers to help support the
event and ensure everything runs smoothly.

6. Volunteer Events/Opportunities
Alexa Mercado Garay shared the volunteer opportunity tracking sheet with the Youth Council and
discussed upcoming events.

7. Comments from the Buckeye Youth Councilmembers
Ivy Brown delivered a strong presentation to support her request to attend the conference in DC,
highlighting her qualifications as a four-year member with a 4.0 GPA and active involvement,
including serving as State Vice President of SkillsUSA. She expressed genuine enthusiasm for the
opportunity, eager to gain valuable experience, expand her skills, and bring back knowledge that will
benefit both her personal growth and organization.

Lena Erickson went over the expectations, emphasizing the importance of attendance and reviewing
the handbook guidelines. She explained the 48-hour notice requirement for absences, as well as the
difference between excused and unexcused situations, ensuring everyone understands the policies
clearly.

8. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, Lena Erickson adjourned the meeting at 7:10 PM.


 ____________________________
 Lena Erickson, Co-Chair




ATTEST:

___________________________
Alexa Mercado Garay, Secretary


I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the Buckeye Youth
Council Meeting held on October 15, 2025. I further certify that a quorum was present.
___________________________
Alexa Mercado Garay, Secretary