Council reviews proposal for annual volunteer awards and possible citizen spotlights

City staff presented a proposed Community Volunteer Recognition Program to honor community volunteers (distinct from city department volunteers). The staff recommendation was to begin with two annual awards — Volunteer of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year — with the nomination period open at least six weeks and nominations accepted from residents, volunteers or partner organizations. Staff proposed blind, staff-based review using a weighted rubric with criteria including community impact, leadership, innovation/problem solving, commitment and alignment with city values.

Staff suggested announcing recipients at ThorntonFest (with WinterFest as an alternative), providing commemorative plaques and photo opportunities with the mayor and council. The program is not limited to Thornton residents; eligibility would include volunteers who serve within Thornton regardless of residence so long as the volunteer hours were completed at a location in the city and did not include city-staffed volunteer hours.

Council members supported the awards and asked staff to consider expanding storytelling about volunteers through the city’s City Voice publication. One council member asked staff to return with a proposal on how a “City Voice citizen spotlight” could run alongside the awards to showcase multiple resident stories without expanding the formal award count. Staff said they would refine the recommendation and take next steps to act on the award program for the 2025 recognition cycle and return with further details on coordination with Parks & Recreation and the City Voice.