Roosevelt City Council approves Youth City Council pilot, allocates start-up funds

A student presenter proposed a Youth City Council for Roosevelt and the City Council voted on the spot to move forward with forming the group and funding its first year.

The proposal described eligibility for grades 9–12 with a 2.5 GPA requirement, one-term membership, a peer-elected mayor, executive roles (mayor pro-tem, historian, service and activities chairs), twice-monthly Wednesday meetings and committee work. The student presented a budget estimate that put committee stipends at $250 per committee per month and annual operating costs at roughly $9,800.

Why it matters: Council members said the program would give high school students hands-on civic experience and help plan service and activities that serve younger residents. Council discussed coordination with Union High School and advised involving school administrators and the student-government class to align schedules and possible busing supports.

Council action and funding: Speaker 3 moved to "go forward and support the youth city council and have mister Bake and brought mister Arnold work with Hunter and the school district or Union High School to facilitate getting this started," and to approve the $5,000 that had been earmarked to start the program. Speaker 4 seconded the motion. The council voted by voice, the motion carried, and council members offered supportive comments; Speaker 5 said, "Motion is unanimous. Good job, Hunter." The council directed staff to present final formation documents and, if appropriate, a resolution to formalize the Youth City Council.

Next steps: Staff was directed to coordinate with Union High School, prepare application materials and a one-term schedule beginning in January, and return to council with either a budget or formal resolution for ratification as needed.