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Surveys were printed in English and Spanish and the 782 surveys received included youth in 6th to 12th grades at local public and private middle schools and high schools, including Redwood Continuation High Schooll School-Age Mothers Program, Day top , Daybreak and Your House South programs for youth, and Hillcrest Juvenile Hall. The students reported that the survey results showed that a teen center and places where they could meet and feel safe, were the top vote getters; at the teen center they wanted dances, games, sports, music and a long list of teen activities; a central location, such as Red Morton Center, was important to minimize territorial issues; and 365 teens wanted to help plan the teen center, plan teen events, help publicize activities at school, act as a school representative or help the community in other ways. Three basic recommendations were proposed on the basis of the survey results: 1) The City Council appoint a Youth Advisory Commission or Council, with representation from local schools, to provide ongoing communication to City Council and to work on projects which could improve the lives of Redwood City youth; 2) The City provide staff support to work directly with the Youth Advisory Commission/Council; and 3) The City develop plans for the creation of a Teen Center. Mike Blondino, Redwood City Assistant Recreation Center Supervisor, reported on the activities he had staged at the Red Morton Center and the programs designed for seniors, children and teens. Mike reported that from 80% to 90% of his teen programs are filled, that decreasing attendance at dances suggested teens wanted other activities more, and therefore planned trips to water and amusement parks which were very well attended. Mike advised that this survey has been very helpful to the Park and Recreation Department as it points to the real need for a larger place for teens to come and meet, and he expressed his wish that a remodeled Red Morton Center could fill that need. In response to Council questions, the students advised that their parents and teachers were fully supportive of the concept of a teen center; agreed that teens were busier nowadays, but still needed a safe and friendly place to unwind; the downtown area did not have the kinds of shops that attract teens; discussed disparity of expectations of early teens from those of later teens, and agreed that mostly middle school students would use the teen center, as older students have more mobility, more money and therefore more options; there is a real need for a place that is safe, where young people can get to know other teens outside of their own school; the center should be free or cost very, very little; there is a desire to be better informed as to youth activities put on by city departments and private businesses; acknowledged the financial challenges of a new teen center; discussed transportation from the teen center at night to ensure safety; and discussed the possibility that existence of a teen center might reduce the need to join a gang if teens knew there was a safe and fun place to hang out with their friends. Several people sitting in the audience addressed the Council reiterating the need for a teen center and dances, described the practice of overlapping times for different age groups, elaborated on the need for providing transportation, and acknowledged that teens are a challenging age group: MINUTE BOOK NO. 51 Adjourned Regular Meeting Minutes Page No.72 May 4, 1992 Page 3