Lynnwood launches youth council recruitment; council requests outreach and funding clarity

Parks and Recreation Superintendent Kelly Shooty briefed the Lynnwood City Council on May 23 about launch activities for the city's new youth council, which the council established by ordinance in August 2025 and placed under Parks and Recreation in September.

Shooty said the youth council's mission is to empower local youth ages 14 to 19 to engage in civic leadership, and that the city is working through a three-phase rollout. Phase 1 (recruitment) has yielded 21 submitted applications and about 25 additional saved applications; outreach has reached students at Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Meadowdale, Edmonds-Woodway and Scriber Lake high schools. Staff plan interviews in May (Phase 2) and to announce members in June, with a youth summit planned for August and bylaws development in the fall.

Council members suggested staggered terms to maintain continuity (recruit some seniors for one-year terms), noted the need for snacks and transportation support to encourage participation, and urged multilingual outreach; Vice President Escamilla said staff had received a Spanish-language flyer request and planned translations. Shooty said initial use of an earmarked $10,000 in the 2024 budget has funded outreach materials (postcards, marketing) and that staff will track hours and staff time dedicated to the pilot.

Council asked for clarity on how the earmarked $10,000 would be used; staff said some funds already purchased postcards and that staff time will also be applied while the program scales. Council members volunteered to help outreach at schools and community sites.

What's next: staff will continue recruitment, report back on final membership in June, and provide additional budget details and translation materials as requested by council.