Riverton council creates youth council, names Pearson Lewis liaison

The Riverton City Council on May 6 adopted Resolution 15-23 to establish a Riverton Youth Council composed of five to nine members aged 15 to 18, and appointed Councilwoman Rebecca Pearson Lewis as the council’s liaison.

City Administrator Kyle Butterfield told the council the resolution implements goals in Resolution 15-19 and directs staff to prepare an application process. “It outlines that the youth council will consist of 5 to 9 members, of youth ages 15 to 18, which would be appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the city council,” Butterfield said.

Supporters said the youth council will draft bylaws, set a regular meeting schedule and begin work during the 2025–26 school year. Butterfield told the council the Fremont County School District will distribute applications beginning May 23, and school resumes Aug. 19. Council members debated whether staff time for application processing should wait until after the city finishes its budget work; several members volunteered to prepare or review the application to “strike while the iron is hot.”

The council voted to adopt the resolution and then voted to appoint Councilwoman Rebecca Pearson Lewis as the council liaison. Council members said the appointed liaison will work with staff while the youth council establishes bylaws and a selection process that the council could later formalize.

The city clerk will file the youth council bylaws once the group drafts them and the council retains discretion to modify the appointment process in future action.