Brighton Youth Commission Honors Graduates for Community Leadership Efforts

The Brighton City Council meeting on July 15, 2025, commenced with a heartfelt recognition of the Brighton Youth Commission graduates, highlighting their contributions to the community and their future aspirations. City Manager Tanya Martinez introduced the graduates, emphasizing their dedication to civic engagement and leadership despite balancing busy schedules with school and extracurricular activities. Each graduate shared their name, school, and future plans, showcasing a diverse range of pursuits from mechanical engineering to forensic science.

Following the youth recognition, the meeting transitioned to the Performance and Leadership Academy graduation. City Manager Martinez provided an overview of the academy, which aims to enhance employee skills through a five-module course focused on team building, continuous improvement, and customer service. The academy has reportedly generated significant savings for the city, with 59 completed projects.

Four graduates from the academy presented their innovative solutions to identified challenges within their departments. Joe Hostetler, a procurement specialist, created a customized checklist to streamline the proposal submission process. Jasmine Malpica, a tax auditor, developed a tracking form to improve the consistency of delinquency notices, potentially increasing sales tax revenue. Gray Shipman, a planner, automated parts of the land use review process to enhance efficiency. Lastly, Rodney Nodle, a customer service specialist, implemented a five-year waiver policy to simplify the recreation center pass application process.

The meeting concluded with a call for a group photo of the graduates, celebrating their achievements and contributions to the city. The council expressed gratitude for their service and encouraged them to continue making a difference in their future endeavors.