Camarillo Teens Urge Creation of Youth Panel : Recreation: About 100 tell local officials during a three-hour City Hall forum that such a commission is needed to address their needs.

Frustrated with a lack of constructive things to do while battling the temptations of drugs, sex and gangs, about 100 Camarillo teen-agers told city officials Wednesday that they would strongly support the creation of a youth commission to address the needs of young people.

The recommendation, given a favorable reception by city officials and council members, came during a three-hour City Hall forum in which the teen-agers lined up on both sides of the council chamber to express their feelings about life in Camarillo--a community described as comfortable but lacking many programs and activities that appeal to youths.

Camarillo resident Tonya Mikleby, 18, a senior at Rio Mesa High School, said establishing a commission would go a long way toward addressing the problems faced by Camarillo teen-agers.

“I think you would see a lot of support for [a commission],” Mikleby said. “Right now, if we want to do anything we have to go to Ventura or Oxnard or even Los Angeles or Santa Barbara. It seems that when people just hang around here, they tend to drink a lot more, and obviously that’s not good.”

Will Hall, a 17-year-old who attends Frontier High School, agreed with Mikleby.

“We need more activities that will appeal to people our age,” Will said. “That could mean more dances, clubs maybe, even a teen job-training program--whatever is created would be better than what we have now.”

Gracelyn Dino, 13, class president at Monte Vista Intermediate School, said she was pleasantly surprised by the city’s willingness to listen to the concerns of her peers.

“To be honest, I was kind of shocked that they would want to hear what we have to say,” Gracelyn said. “But I think it’s great that they are considering putting some kind of organization together that will address our needs.”

Throughout the meeting, the teen-age speakers often repeated the same message: They were in search of a place to call their own that offered lots of music and food and very few adult chaperons. The idea of a combined skateboard park and roller-skating rink was also very popular.

Their message did not fall on deaf ears, Camarillo Mayor Michael Morgan said.

“After seeing this turnout, I will definitely run with this,” said Morgan, who along with Councilman Ken Gose helped organize Wednesday’s forum. “I think the issues that these kids have articulated have been well thought-out and need our attention.”

Morgan said he will propose creation of a commission composed of an equal number of Camarillo adults and teen-agers. Morgan said he would like to bring the idea to his council colleagues as soon as possible.

“I was concerned that they [youths] would just give us lists of things they wanted, but clearly, they have shown a willingness to get involved and help us make this a reality,” Morgan said.

Potentially, the commission would serve as a central coordinating body that would oversee and help organize and publicize youth activities.

Gose, a retired area high school civics and government teacher, agreed, but added that if the commission is to be successful, it will take a solid commitment on the part of its young members.

“If we do this, we need the kids themselves to take a serious role in making this commission run,” Gose said.