Prescott Valley youth advisory council asks town for more low-cost entertainment, sidewalks and jobs

Members of the Prescott Valley Youth Advisory Council said during a PV in Focus session that they want more affordable entertainment options, better sidewalk connectivity and more local entry-level jobs to help students participate in community life.

Skyler Barton, assistant to the town manager for Prescott Valley, opened the segment and introduced the student representatives and their advisor. "Welcome to PV and Focus. My name is Skyler Barton. I'm the assistant to the town manager for Prescott Valley," Barton said as the session began.

Lianne Yee, the YAC advisor and a teacher at Bradshaw Mountain High School, described the council's origin and reach. "The Youth Advisory Council of Prescott Valley is something that started in 2023," Yee said. She told listeners the council partners with Bradshaw Mountain High School's student council and that about 30 students on the council have connected outreach to the school's roughly "1,600 students" to gather broader input.

Student member Eric Chavez said he joined to gain public-service experience and to give other young people a voice. "In the future, I wanna go into public service, and so I wanna be a politician later on," Chavez said. He added that being part of YAC helped students who were initially nervous grow into advocates who now sit alongside town leaders.

YAC presented results from a schoolwide survey. Yee and Chavez said entertainment — and the cost of entertainment — was a recurring theme: students told the council they were less likely to attend activities that cost about "$30 to $40" per outing. Sidewalks and pedestrian connectivity also surfaced as priorities. "Even if you wanna go out and do entertainment, you need to get there somehow," Chavez said, noting that some students rely on bikes or sidewalks to reach activities. The council also flagged local job access as an issue; Barton and Chavez discussed a recent example in which an entry-level position at Domino's drew "probably over a 100 applications," underscoring demand for student work.

YAC members also reported that the council attended the Arizona League of Cities and Towns conference this year, the first time the town sent student representatives. Chavez described the conference as "an empowering experience," highlighting networking and leadership lessons.

Yee said YAC's near-term goals include increasing the council's visibility in the community, showing up more frequently at town council meetings and partnering with the town on several projects that are still in development. She and students offered thanks to the town, the school district and staff members — Skyler, Gilbert and Missy were named — for supporting the program.

The council did not present formal requests with specific dollar amounts or timelines during the segment; advisors said some projects are in active conversation but did not provide final proposals. Town staff and council members present heard the survey results and the students' priorities but did not record any formal action or vote during the program.

The Youth Advisory Council plans to continue outreach and to involve incoming students; advisors said some freshmen are already interested in joining. "If you don't know about us, please feel free to get to know about YAC because we're coming for Prescott Valley," Yee said in closing.