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Hutchinson HR seeks formal recognition for youth city council, proposes mental-health and homelessness partnerships
Summary
A Human Relations Commission staff liaison told the Hutchinson Youth City Council the city plans to formalize the youth council’s advisory role and asked the council to partner on events including a NAMI Walk and collaborations with unhoused-support groups.
A Human Resources staff member said the City of Hutchinson is drafting a formal method to recognize the Hutchinson Youth City Council as an advisory body and asked council members to partner on outreach events with the Human Relations Commission and local nonprofits.
"We are working on a methodology to sanction the youth city council as an advisory tier of our operations as a city government," said JK Van, identifying himself as a staff liaison for the Human Relations Commission. Van said the effort is beginning "from pen and paper" and that the city manager and mayor will be coordinated with as the process moves forward.
Van invited the youth council to help plan "common ground chats" — outreach conversations aimed at engaging populations less likely to participate in civic events — and proposed a partnership with NAMI Reno County on a fall "NAMI Walks" event to raise awareness of mental-health issues. He also described an existing local "on house coalition" that is planning an event called "Beat the Heat" before July and suggested the youth council could collaborate on that work as well.
Van said the Human Relations Commission's objectives for 2025 include engaging "siloed communities and populations" and that including youth perspectives helps the city shape policies and programs that affect future residents. The staff liaison offered to support the youth council beyond 2025 as the city formalizes the group's status.
Council members expressed support for the proposed partnerships, including NAMI and the unhoused coalition, and asked to be included in planning and logistics. Van said the NAMI Walks partnership would likely take place in the fall and that details on dates and roles will be shared as plans progress.
No formal vote was recorded on the structural recognition; the staff presentation was informational and followed by motions and votes on separate event items.
