Newport / Costa Mesa / Irvine : COSTA MESA : Council May Invite Students to Speak

Students soon may be invited to speak at City Council meetings under a special program that will allow them to deliver three-minute updates on what’s going on at high school campuses.

“If there’s something in their craw, maybe we could let them talk about it,” said Tony Petros, a Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce education committee representative who suggested the idea to council members at Monday’s study session.

All five council members said they liked the idea of having students speak at the meetings.

The only question left unanswered was whether the students would talk before or after the oral communication time reserved for the rest of the public.

Under the proposed program, juniors or seniors from Estancia, Costa Mesa and Back Bay high schools would take turns speaking at every other council meeting, offering information on recent campus activities, including academics, sports and art.

Mayor Joe Erickson liked the idea but noted jokingly: “Three minutes is a long speech if you’re in high school.”

The City Council will vote on the proposal at its next meeting, scheduled for Monday.