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Hemet Youth Council presents inaugural-year projects and recommendations
Summary
The Hemet Youth Council presented its final report on June 9, summarizing work by 19 members on a youth survey, logo redesign, park rebranding and department tours; students recommended stricter attendance enforcement for ad hoc committees and smaller membership for continuity.
Members of Hemet's inaugural Youth Council presented a final report to the City Council on June 9, describing the group's first-year activities and recommendations.
Jennifer Cortez, the city's communications and events coordinator and Youth Council adviser, said the council launched in mid-2025 with 19 members to bring youth perspectives into city decision-making. Student representatives described a survey project intended to gather youth perspectives on mental health and civic engagement, a marketing ad hoc that advised on a city logo redesign, tours of city departments (police, fire, library) to better understand municipal operations, and participation in park rebranding and event planning.
Students said their survey work was impeded by funding and legal review constraints but that the project laid groundwork for future councils. They recommended stricter enforcement of attendance contracts, smaller committees to boost participation and more opportunities to apply learning through practical assignments.
Council members praised the youth presenters and encouraged reapplication by departing members to assist and mentor the next cohort. The council expressed interest in refining the Youth Council structure to preserve institutional knowledge and better link youth projects with city programs.
Why it matters: The Youth Council is an early-stage civic-engagement program intended to help the city hear youth perspectives on parks, events, branding and civic participation; students' recommendations focused on operational fixes to make the program more effective.
Next steps: Staff and council will consider adjustments to committee size and enforcement of attendance expectations ahead of appointments for the next Youth Council term.
