Program for teens is revived

FOR THE RECORD

A story in Wednesday’s paper, “Program for teens is revived,” should have quoted Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Wendy Leece as saying: “I think the solution is to keep it simple. We just need to make it educational.”

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COSTA MESA — Local teens can learn about the city’s government through a revamped city program, but it won’t take effect until next school year.

The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to have Councilwomen Wendy Leece and Katrina Foley help develop a program that would start this fall and to have some activities organized for students who intended to participate this year. The vote finally settles the issue of a youth-in-government program, which caused a spat on the council and frustration for participating students.

Council members said they were pleased that they reached an agreement. Mayor Allan Mansoor called the ordeal a learning experience, reminding the council to be attentive to what comes before it.

The original program was created by city staffers at Foley’s suggestion and launched in December 2006.

The goal was to give students a close-up look at city government and allow them to discuss issues and make recommendations to the council.

Through a procedural mix-up, it ended up in the city budget but never got considered separately by the council. That bothered Mansoor, Leece and Councilman Eric Bever, who voted in January to cancel it. They also said they wanted more input on the curriculum.

After discussing the program at three separate meetings, what was approved Tuesday appears similar to what was proposed more than a year ago.

“I’m thrilled because it’s all semantics to me,” Foley said. “I don’t think you’re saying anything different than what we were doing.”

The program will include job-shadowing opportunities for students to take part in a city staffer’s day and discussion sessions with city government workers.

“I think the solution is to keep it very simple, and we just need to make it very simple,” Leece said.

But the group will not be charged with formally advising the council — a facet of the program that hung up the issue before.

“If they wanted to come and give us their opinions now, they can do that. I don’t see that as changing,” Mansoor said. “I don’t see it as an official body that makes direct recommendations.”

Students and parents who attended the meeting were happy that the program will continue.

“I am kind of surprised,” said Estancia High School student Ryan Esfahani. “There was a really big change in all their opinions today.”

He and other students said they’re still excited about participating in the program. And although they weren’t sure why it took the council so long to reach an agreement, they learned something.

“There are a lot of rules you have to follow, and it’s hard to get anything done when people are involved,” said Meagan Kunert, an Estancia High School student.

The student program will be run by the city’s recreation department.

Other Orange County cities including Newport Beach, Santa Ana and Irvine run similar programs. Officials in those cities said this week that their programs are popular with local teens.