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Hemet council approves creation of an 11-member Youth Council for 13-to-19-year-olds
Summary
Council voted 5-0 to establish a Hemet Youth Council to gather youth input, assist at events and provide annual reports; staff recommended an 11-member body with one-year terms and minimum 2.5 GPA.
The Hemet City Council on Jan. 28 approved a resolution to create a Hemet Youth Council, an 11-member advisory body for residents aged 13 to 19 enrolled in high school or equivalent within the Hemet Unified School District boundaries.
Why it matters: The city framed the body as separate from the mayor's mentee program and said it will provide a formal channel for youth feedback on municipal policies, trend analysis of recurring survey questions, event support and an annual report to the council.
Details: Staff (substituting for the city clerk) recommended recruitment in spring, interviews and appointments at the first or second council meeting in June, with terms running July 1 to June 30. Applicants must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and submit a letter of recommendation; members may be reappointed without limit. The draft duties include conducting annual youth surveys, identifying recommendations to improve programs or policies that affect young people, assisting with city events and providing an annual report to council.
Council discussion: Members praised the proposal as long-awaited and potentially valuable both for youth experience and for council and staff insight. Several council members described prior successful youth-led projects (including a smoking-reduction research project that councilmembers said helped raise the city's American Lung Association rating) and urged active staff engagement to orient new members.
Vote: The council approved the resolution establishing the Hemet Youth Council on a 5-0 roll call. Staff will proceed with recruitment and implementation.
