CC Minutes - 04/28/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Rayor said that the question of a youth homeless shelter was a difficult one. He asked Ms. Mason if bus passes for homeless youth would be helpful. Ms. Mason said yes, adding that New Roads provided bus passes or tokens for youth who attended a certain amount of hours. Mr. Lee said the City Council had formed the Council Committee on Homelessness and Youth and the committee conducted interviews of homeless youth to determine what programs were needed. The committee developed a list of activities and a summer program offering such activities to youth. Mr. Lee said that the program had failures and successes and the committee was getting a mixed message about its continuation. He asked Ms. Mason what the City could do to make the Summer Program more successful. Ms. Mason said that the City needed to get the word out about the Summer Program. Many youth were unaware of the program. Mr. Meisner asked Mr. Lamb if youth activities should be centralized or decentralized into the neighborhoods. Mr. Lamb likened the situation to the library and its branches, saying that youth wanted activities in one location but it was sometimes difficult to get to that location. He said that in the beginning, it was better to have one location and then the programming could be decentralized. Mr. Lamb said that if youth were given something to do, they would not be doing drugs. Mr. Fart said that the City Council was dedicated to a comprehensive youth strategy that included many activities and locations. He said that the strategy was a long-term strategy. He invited the youths' assistance. Angela Thompson, age 18, grade 12, Sheldon High School, spoke on behalf of herself and Angela Martin, also age 18, grade 12. She addressed the topic of the relationship between faculty and students. It was her understanding that the Columbine High School principle in Littleton, Colorado, had been unaware of the existence of the "Trenchcoat Mafia," even though its picture appeared in the yearbook. Ms. Thompson said that Sheldon High School students had struggled to implement Unity Week and Give a Little Love Week to bring students together as a school and community. The students had faced teachers who did not know what was going on outside the classroom, and teachers who did not want to take time away from class schedules to attend assemblies promoting love and unity. Ms. Thompson said students liked teachers who showed a personal interest in who they were, and strengthening those relationships were very important in preventing tragedies such as those at Thurston and Littleton. She pointed out that often students do not ask for help, and if teachers know them better on a personal level they could detect problems and get the students needed help. Ms. Thompson said that stronger relationships between students and teachers would encourage students to succeed in school by making them feel more important to the school. Melissa Cuddeback, Churchill High School, age 17, grade 11, addressed the mayor's question regarding drug use by discussing a program at Churchill entitled ASAP (AIDS and Substance Abuse Prevention). She said that she was a junior and had never had sex education in any class. When it was scheduled to be taught, the teacher taught something else. Ms. Cuddeback said that the program was initially focused on sophomores and provided health credits through a three-day program. She described the elements of the three-day program. Ms. Cuddeback said that the program was designed to combat misinformation and prevent the transmission of AIDS and other diseases. She said that the program had spurred students to be tested for HIV. The program was now being offered to middle school students. Mr. Kelly complimented Ms. Cuddeback on the ASAP program. MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 28, 1999 Page 5 5:30 p.m.