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Civic issue: a penny for their thoughts

By JON WILSON
Published February 21, 2007

Amid a pool table's clatter and a Foosball frenzy, a dozen teenagers found a quiet space to take on a major civic issue last week at the Campbell Park Recreation Center.

"Anybody know what Penny for Pinellas is?" asked Katie Byrd, 15, who was running the show. A few hands waved, a bit tentatively.

Meetings like this have been taking place at 11 city recreation centers, where teen councils are talking about the county's 1-cent sales tax, which is up for a renewal vote on March 13.

The discussions followed a Feb. 1 City Council meeting, attended by about 50 youngsters from teen councils citywide.

The councils plan and conduct community service projects, take educational trips and, when asked, provide a sounding board when adults want youthful opinions.

Meanwhile, city officials have been trying to get the word out about the penny tax, which helps pay for numerous projects, including improvements at recreation centers.

"We had been looking for ways to reach out beyond the traditional neighborhood associations ... and we had been trying to figure out a way to get the teen councils down to city hall anyway," recreation director Sherry McBee said.

"Coincidentally, the two issues lined up at the same time," she said.

Byrd, a Boca Ciega High School sophomore, worked through a list of talking points: what projects the penny pays for, how long it has been in existence and how much money it has raised, for example.

Teen supervisor Paul Jackson asked the youngsters what they would like in the way of future projects. Plenty of answers came back: New computers, a place like BayWalk for teens, a bigger gym and a bigger teen room.

Lee Metzger, city services director, said he came up with the idea while brainstorming with a city committee.

"This could be just an interesting civics lesson. Here are kids too young to vote, but they can benefit, and in a couple of years they will be old enough to vote," Metzger said.

Officials said they are not trying to use the youngsters as a campaign tool.

"We are being very cautious about telling the kids, 'This is what we want you to do,' " Metzger said.

At Campbell Park, a few indicated through another show of hands that they would talk to their parents about the penny.

They didn't say where they would come down on the issue.

[Last modified February 20, 2007, 21:05:52]