Title
Discuss and Recommend a 2026 Youth Council Work Plan
Recommended Action
Discuss and move the recommend a 2026 Youth Council Work Plan to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee for recommendation to the full City Council for approval.
Report
Issue:
Whether to Discuss and move to recommend a 2026 Youth Council Work Plan to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee for recommendation to the full City Council for approval.
Staff Contact:
Susan Grisham, Assistant to the City Manager, Youth Council Liaison, 360.753.8244
Presenter(s):
Susan Grisham, Assistant to the City Manager, Youth Council Liaison
Background and Analysis:
Each year, the Youth Council is responsible for putting together an annual work plan which will be presented to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee for review and recommendation to the full City Council for approval. Items on the work plan should reflect the goals of the Youth Council.
The Youth Council serves as an advisory body to elevate youth perspectives in City decision-making. Consistent with the City’s equity, inclusion, and community engagement goals, the Youth Council identified topics that prioritize both policy learning and applied civic engagement.
Youth have identified barriers to engagement including complex policy language, limited awareness of city programs, and a lack of accessible spaces for participation. This work plan responds to those challenges by pairing policy briefings with tangible projects that translate learning into action.
The Youth Council identified five priority briefing topics based on youth concerns, community relevance, and alignment with City initiatives:
1. Mental Health Accessibility and Resources for Youth
Focus on understanding available services, barriers to access, and opportunities to improve youth awareness and utilization of resources.
2. Public Safety in Olympia
Briefing of public safety, including Reimagining Public Safety.
3. Olympia Sanctuary City
Education on Olympia’s sanctuary policies.
4. Youth Homelessness
Briefing on youth homelessness.
5. Olympia Climate Programs
Overview of the City’s climate initiatives.
Each briefing will include presentations from City staff or community partners, youth discussion, and the development of youth-informed summaries or recommendations.
In addition to policy briefings, the Youth Council will undertake the following projects:
1. Transit PSA
In conjunction with the City Communications Team and Intercity Transit, develop a public service announcement to encourage and educate peers about riding the bus system. This will concede with changes being implemented by Intercity Transit in the spring.
2. Youth Engagement: Communicating Public Policy to Youth
Development of youth-friendly explanations of City policies to assist with social media planning for the Youth Council.
3. Youth Summit
The Olympia Youth Council is partnering with the City of Lacey to plan a regional Youth Summit aimed at engaging young people in civic dialogue, community issues, and leadership development.
4. Social Media Presence
Continued development of a consistent Youth Council social media presence to share resources, promote engagement opportunities, and communicate with youth perspectives.
5. Creation of Third Places
Exploration of youth-defined “third places” (non-school, non-home spaces) through youth input and mapping existing spaces.
Climate Analysis:
This action does not impact climate outcomes.
Equity Analysis:
Based on data from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s “Report Card”, minority enrollment in Olympia’s schools is at 40% and approximately 20% of students are economically disadvantaged. (This data does not include students who are not in traditional schools, like home school or G.E.D programs.) One of the main goals of a Youth Council is to engage and lift up voices and perspectives of people who are often excluded from decision making and lack access to power.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Youth in Olympia have expressed an interest in participating in decision making that effects their future.
Options:
1. Discuss and move the recommend a 2026 Youth Council Work Plan to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee for recommendation to the full City Council for approval.
2. Discuss and move the recommend a 2026 Youth Council Work Plan to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee for recommendation to the full City Council for approval.
3. Discuss a 2026 Youth Council Work Plan and continue the discussion at another meeting.
Attachments:
Draft Work Plan