Minutes - Youth Commission

Dane County

Minutes - Final Unless Amended by

Committee

Youth Commission

Consider:

Who benefits? Who is burdened?

Who does not have a voice at the table?

How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

5:30 PM

Hybrid meeting: Attend in person

in Room 354 of the City County

Building or virtually via Zoom

Interpreters must be requested in advance; please see the bottom of the agenda for more information.

Los intérpretes deben solicitarse con anticipación; consulte el final de la agenda para obtener más

información.

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The June 3, 2026 Youth Commission meeting will be conducted in hybrid fashion. Members of the public

can either attend in person or virtually via Zoom.

The public can attend in person in Room 354 of the City County Building.

The public can access the meeting virtually with the Zoom application or by telephone.

To join the meeting in Zoom, click the following link (after you fill out the form, the meeting link and

access information will be emailed to you):

https://countyofdane.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lNbcf-_ZRLWU8upz8SOk-A

This link will be active until the end of the meeting.

To join the meeting by phone, dial-in using one of the following three toll-free phone numbers:

1-833-548-0276

1-833-548-0282

1-888-788-0099

When prompted, enter the following Webinar ID: 981 8398 5459

PROCESS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT:

IN PERSON: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item

can register in person at the meeting using paper registration forms. IT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO

In person registrations to provide public comment will be accepted throughout the meeting.

VIRTUAL: Any members of the public wishing to register to speak on/support/oppose an agenda item

MUST REGISTER USING THE LINK ABOVE (even if you plan to attend using your phone). Virtual

registrations to provide public comment will be accepted until 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the

meeting.

In order to testify (provide public comment) virtually, you must be in attendance at the meeting via Zoom

or phone, you will then either be unmuted or promoted to a panelist and provided time to speak to the

body.

If you want to submit a written comment for this meeting, or send handouts for board members, please

send them to: erickson.bonnie@danecounty.gov

A. Call To Order

Staff present: Bonnie Erickson

Chair Kata called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.

6 -

Present

Absent

MEGHAN BENSON, CHELSEY TUBBS, Vice Chair EMILY MASCIOPINTO,

CHRISTINE BENEDICT, Chair VISHNU KATA, and AMY SNYDER-HEITMAN

4 - ASHLEY PLETZER, KORBY WHITE, HENRY FRIES, and DAVID PETERSON

B. Consideration of Minutes

MINUTES FROM MAY 6, 2026

2026

MIN-058

Attachments: 2026_0506_Youth Commission Minutes

A motion was made by BENSON, seconded by SNYDER-HEITMAN, that the

Minutes be approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0.

C. Action Items

1. Election of Chair

Kata called for nominations for Chair of the Youth Commission. Benedict was

nominated by Masciopinto. Kata called two more times for nominations and

there were none.

A motion was made by MASCIOPINTO, seconded by SNYDER-HEITMAN, to elect

Benedict as Chair of the Youth Commission. The motion carried by a voice vote

6-0.

Attendance Update

Pletzer and White joined the meeting at 5:37 p.m.

8 -

Present

Absent

MEGHAN BENSON, ASHLEY PLETZER, CHELSEY TUBBS, Vice Chair EMILY

MASCIOPINTO, CHRISTINE BENEDICT, Chair VISHNU KATA, KORBY WHITE,

and AMY SNYDER-HEITMAN

2 - HENRY FRIES, and DAVID PETERSON

2. Election of Vice Chair

Kata called for nominations for Vice Chair of the Youth Commission. Benson

nominated Snyder-Heitman. Kata called two more times for nominations and

there were none.

A motion was made by MASCIOPINTO, seconded by VISHNU, to elect

Snyder-Heitman as Vice Chair of the Youth Commission. The motion carried by a

voice vote 8-0.

D. Presentations

1. Required Ethics Training: https://youtu.be/PMl-hCu6754

Commission members viewed the required ethics training video.

The Youth Commission feels the current training isn’t relevant to their limited

decision-making role and suggests a shorter, tailored version.

E. Reports to Committee

None.

F. Discussion Items

1. Webinar Planning: Dane County Youth Assessment Data (Gun Access & Mental Health /

HHN Committee Content): Identify key points to share from the HHN presentation,

speakers/expertise needed, target date/month, platform/recording, and promotion needs.

The Youth Commission will host one annual event based on Youth Assessment Data;

first topic is youth-identified concerns about gun access. Event may include a data

presentation and expert panel answering pre-submitted questions.

Possibility of a county-wide livestream focused on broader youth assessment data,

plus a separate, more targeted gun-access deep dive.

Potential presenters: law enforcement, mental health, violence prevention staff, hunter

education, Dane County Parks, Focused Interruption.

Tentative event timing: second week of November; with planning meetings in August

and September.

Benedict attending Violence Prevention meeting on 6/15.

Snyder-Heitman contacting DNR for Hunter Education speakers.

Tubbs connecting with MMSD leadership about school participation.

Erickson reaching out to HHN about Youth Commission presentation expectations.

Attendance Update

Pletzer departed the meeting at 6:37 p.m.

7 -

Present

Absent

MEGHAN BENSON, CHELSEY TUBBS, Vice Chair EMILY MASCIOPINTO,

CHRISTINE BENEDICT, Chair VISHNU KATA, KORBY WHITE, and AMY

SNYDER-HEITMAN

3 - ASHLEY PLETZER, HENRY FRIES, and DAVID PETERSON

Erickson will look into county support for technology needs at the event.

Request for standing agenda item focused on the Youth Assessment, including

planning, needs, and updates.

Discussed commission membership needs & requirements.

Ely Moya, Youth Governance Program Coordinator, has been invited to speak at the

next meeting.

Attendance Update

White departed the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

6 -

Present

Absent

MEGHAN BENSON, CHELSEY TUBBS, Vice Chair EMILY MASCIOPINTO,

CHRISTINE BENEDICT, Chair VISHNU KATA, and AMY SNYDER-HEITMAN

4 - ASHLEY PLETZER, KORBY WHITE, HENRY FRIES, and DAVID PETERSON

G. Future Meeting Items and Dates

Next meeting: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

H. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda

None.

I. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law

None.

J. Adjournment

A motion was made by MASCIOPINTO, seconded by BENSON, that the Meeting

be adjourned. The motion carried by a voice vote 6-0 and the meeting adjourned

at 6:54 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Bonnie Erickson pending Commission approval.