In addition, the group has established the "Youthline," a telephone number kids can call each afternoon. Callers can speak to a council member about problems and concerns, or to find out about activities going on in the city.

This April the group will be holding its second annual Mayor's Youth Summit, a day-long meeting bringing together more than 1,500 city school children to listen to speakers, participate in workshops and learn about activities in the Boston area.

While students are encouraged to bring their own opinions to the meetings, as representatives, they are also responsible for gauging the feelings of peers in their neighborhoods and voicing those concerns as well.

Most Boston neighborhoods are represented by two students on the council. Each delegation plans small community meetings, allowing their constituents to be heard.

And last Tuesday in City Hall, many of the youth representatives reported the feedback they got from peers at local sessions.

The ideas ranged from an under-18 dance club and a skate boarding rink to basketball leagues and animal-rights discussion groups.

And while city-wide initiatives do not necessarily come out each of these ideas, McMahon says, it is good for the mayor's office to know that they are issues on the minds of city youth.

But the mayor seems to have gotten more than a new perspective from the council.

In fact, to some it may seem like he has 36 new grandchildren.

Menino has taken the kids under his wing and made a serious effort to establish personal relations with the group.

"Even if he's got 200 people in the room he'll sit there with these kids and chit-chat with them," McMahon said.

Earlier this winter, when the New England Patriots beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC championship game, Menino held the victory barbecue that was promised to him by Jacksonville's mayor.

The mayor seized the opportunity and had a feast with the Youth Council.

Last week, the group was still comparing notes on bread sticks the mayor gave them at another recent banquet.

Although members of the council have a very high-profile extra-curricular life, they're still a bunch of high school kids.

At the last meeting, when McMahon asked Tolentino to tell the group about her experience on a panel with President Clinton, the youngster was curt.

"What do you want me to say, I sat at the round-table with President Clinton," she said.

And for Tolentino, the biggest problem seems to be that fellow council members are now calling her "Miss I-Met-The-President.