Redondo Beach youth commission asks council to fund teen center, safer bike lanes and transit passes

The Redondo Beach Youth Commission on April 14 voted to forward a package of budget recommendations to the City Council asking for ongoing funding for the Perry Park Teen Center and related youth programming, expanded after-school recreation, protected bike lanes near schools and study of Prospect Avenue mobility, and partnership steps to enroll local students in Metro’s GoPass program.

The commission also voted to receive and file a letter from South Bay Forward, a volunteer regional coalition, and approved a separate letter with strategic-plan input for City Council.

The recommendations were the product of an extended discussion among youth commissioners and staff about what amenities and programs would make the new teen center useful and safe. Michelle (Community Services staff) summarized current resources and staffing: “currently, we have funding for 1 2 part time staff members to lead programming for teens. 1 part time staff member can work up to 1,500 hours, and then the other 1 can work up to 900 hours. So, the budget for special department supplies for any kind of anything that we purchase for the teen center is currently at $9,000.”

Youth commissioners proposed a range of furnishings and programming for the Perry Park Teen Center, including lounge seating, tables and chairs, pool and foosball tables, arcade and current video gaming systems, audio equipment for performances, 2-D and 3-D printers, pantry or vending options, a community garden on the patio, study/workstations and printing access, and security measures such as cameras and alarms. Commissioners and staff said the center will be sectioned within one large open room and the city will mark taped layouts at an upcoming open house so teens can help finalize placement of equipment and furniture.

Several commissioners urged the commission to prioritize a short list of items to allow staff to cost them for the council; staff said they would return cost estimates for council consideration. Staff also said furnishings are partially funded but will likely not fully outfit the center without additional council funding, and that the commission’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Council with staff cost notes.

Transit, bike lanes and pier amenities were prominent topics. Commissioners and public commenters from South Bay Forward asked the commission to recommend that Beach Cities Transit (BCT) pursue Metro’s GoPass enrollment so students could ride regional transit at no cost, and to fund a Prospect Avenue protected-bike-lane study. Michael Lee Chang, a District 2 resident and South Bay Forward volunteer, told commissioners the commission’s letter “was powerful,” and urged support for free student transit and protected bike lanes. Devin Hollowood, another South Bay Forward speaker, said protected bike lanes are comparatively low-cost and could quickly improve safety for riders and e-bikes.

Commission staff said they are already coordinating with Beach Cities Transit on operational complaints (missed or overcrowded buses) and will collect rider data when provided. The commission discussed better outreach to riders through social platforms such as Instagram.

Votes at a glance: the commission voted unanimously to receive and file the South Bay Forward letter; voted to forward the commission’s budget recommendations and priority items to City Council (motion by Commissioner Campisi; second not specified; outcome: approved); and voted to approve the commission’s strategic-plan input letter to the council (motion by Commissioner Chabot; second not specified; outcome: approved). A consent-calendar item (F-1) was also approved earlier in the meeting.

Next steps and context: staff said they will convert the commission’s discussion into a concise list with estimated costs for Council review and will post the South Bay Forward letter to the public record. An open-house walk-through of Perry Park Teen Center is scheduled for April 14 from 5 to 6 p.m.; staff said a full opening is likely to occur in the next school year and that the commission should prioritize a short list of items to fund first. Commissioners were reminded to reapply to the Youth Commission by the May 30 deadline if they intend to continue next year.

The commission’s recommendations focus on local youth services, pedestrian and bike safety around schools, and regional transit access for students; staff said many items would require council budget action or external agency enrollment (for example, Metro GoPass), and that cost estimates will determine what is feasible in the coming fiscal year.