HUNTINGTON BEACH

Youths lectured adults for a change at the last City Council Downtown Committee meeting. Three teenagers from the city’s Youth Board attended the recent early-morning meeting to talk about how to make Main Street more attractive for adults. Many city officials and downtown merchants say adults stay away from the area because of the children congregating there. But if children are the problem, Melissa Doyle, 18, wondered, why do businesses such as clothing stores and fast-food restaurants try so hard to attract them? “We’re the biggest consumers to spend our money there, yet we’re not wanted,” she said.

Ryan Foland, 18, said the city creates much of the teen problem with its 10 p.m. curfew. The law does more harm than good, he said, because young people stay out past curfew simply out of spite. He suggested setting aside a street for teenagers that would offer them entertainment from 9 p.m. to midnight. Community Services Director Ron Hagan was intrigued by the idea, and Councilman Dave Garofalo was bowled over. “The concept of a Teen Street is absolutely sensational,” he said.

To ensure that young voices are heard as the city formulates a cure for downtown’s ills, the committee invited the youngsters to join a subcommittee studying the issue. The next Downtown Committee meeting is May 28.