Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> service for the City of Redwood City, there is no higher calling. I hope that you <br /> will always remember that and use your position wisely. <br /> "As I leave the Council, I want to urge (you) to continue to keep youth and <br /> education a top priority as you have the past four years. So much has been <br /> accomplished to benefit young people in this community.... We have lots of <br /> kids in Redwood City... The average age of Redwood City's population is two <br /> years younger than the average in San Mateo County. We have more young <br /> families, people with young children, in this community than many of the <br /> surrounding communities.... We have to remember that their needs must be met <br /> if we are to be a successful city. Another interesting statistic is that the number <br /> of pre-school age children increased from 1980 to 1990 by 50%. We can see <br /> that now in our burgeoning school enrollment. Again, I want to emphasize <br /> there are lots of children and youth in Redwood City. <br /> "I recently attended a Redwood City 2000 meeting on how to affect change in <br /> the community. I was very pleased that there were four eighth graders from our <br /> community who attended that meeting. They were bright, young people, in fact <br /> one of them is in our audience tonight. These young people were very vocal <br /> about what they thought Redwood City needed in order to really meet the needs <br /> of young people. It was very clear that more activities of a positive nature are <br /> what they are looking for. One boy said that Red Morton Center is a great place <br /> for people who like sports. 'But I personally like other kinds of activities like <br /> theater. I wish we had a children's theater group here.' He said, 'I've been <br /> fortunate, I have been able to participate in the Children's Theater Group in <br /> another community'.... As a matter of fact he has just been accepted as a cast <br /> member for 'Oliver' which is being presented by Peninsula Center Stage at the <br /> Fox Theater in December. He said there are other kids in this community who <br /> would love to have the background in theater arts that I have, but it is not <br /> available to them in Redwood City. I would like to put my energies into <br /> helping start a Children's Theater group in Redwood City. One girl said I think <br /> that Red Morton offers wonderful activities, and I particularly like the Teen <br /> Center. But I think there should be a Teen Center in every single neighborhood <br /> in Redwood City... <br /> "I want to remind my Council colleagues that you have set so much in motion to <br /> benefit the young people of this comrnunity... Those of you being installed <br /> tonight.... I'd like to have you focus on four years from now... 2001. You will <br /> be completing your four year term. This is what you will observe in Redwood <br /> City. It is not a pipe dream, it is possible and probable. You have to stay the <br /> course. Just imagine. First of all, there are kids, hundreds of kids in Redwood <br /> City schools who have access to the finest library media centers anywhere in <br /> this area. They will be able to do research with the newest technology that will <br /> be hooked up to Redwood City libraries. They will have one of the finest <br /> collections of books. It will be a wonderful resource for young people. Then <br /> ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 NOVEMBER 14,1997 <br /> MINUTES Page No. 016 PAGE 6 <br />