Minutes_Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission 7 15 15 Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission
DATE: Wednesday, July 15, 2015
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: City Hall — Conference Room A, 50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque
Minutes
Present: Sheila Castaneda, Joyce Connors, Robert Felderman Qoined at 4:03 p.m.), Jeffrey Jochum,
Dick Landis (via phone), Phyllis Lee, Kevin Lynch, Louise Thum, Richard Van Iten, Annalee Ward,
Bryan Zygmont
Absent: Patrick McNamara, Betty Phillips
1. Approval of Minutes from the May 20, 2015 meeting: Motion by Lee. Seconded by Ward. Motion carried
10-0.
2. Financial Report— Firnstahl reported that with the new fiscal year, the budget is $5,680. ($5,000 plus
$680 for annual Sister Cities International dues) SCI dues increased by$85 for a total of$756 and are
paid in May. Notice of the increase arrived too late to adjust the FY 2016 budget. That leaves a balance
of$4,915 for FY 2016. Chairperson Landis' expenses for Handan, China, were covered by the FY2015
budget. Council representatives Lynch and Connors will discuss the carryover unused funds from FY
2016 with the City Manager.
3. Goal Setting: Next Steps/Action Plan —Assistant City Manager Cindy Steinhauser provided guidance
and solicited ideas from the Commission for following up on the Commission's goal setting sessions. It
was agreed that a separate meeting is needed for discussion of mission statement,
accomplishments/successes, what didn't get done and why, short-term/long-term action plans, dialogue
on articulating the purpose of the commission. Firnstahl will poll the commission for potential dates in
late August.
Discussion was given to Sister City Committees as non-profit/non-governmental organizations at this
time for incorporation into the goal setting discussion. Comments included taking inventory of existing
resources, partnerships, models, and telling Dubuque's Story relevant to the mission. Information on
non-profit sister city organizations will be compiled by Steinhauser and Firnstahl for the special session.
4. Dornbirn, Austria Update: Jochum reported that the Mt. Calvary cemetery has been involved with a
restoration project that included donations from the City of Dornbirn, Austria, in recognition of the many
Dornbirn immigrants buried in the cemetery.
5. Handan, China: Update:
a. Delegation Visit -Landis provided an overview of the May delegation visit reporting on the
meetings with universities and technology schools interested in short-term exchanges with
students and/or faculty that could include the transfer of credits. A debriefing meeting was
conducted with the delegation to discuss the economic development impact and the agriculture
equipment market in China. Landis will attend a meeting in August to discuss an agreement with
regional educational institutions and also presenting on the Handan delegation to the Dubuque
Optimists' August 6 meeting. Firnstahl will forward a copy of the Handan itinerary to the
Commission.
b. Status of Photo Exhibit and Humanities Iowa Grant — Landis reported that the final report is
being drafted for submission prior to August 28. Thum will provide Landis with a list of exhibit
contacts. Discussion was given to options for continued use and/or display of the photos such
as ISU collection, Keystone AEA 1's culture kits distribution among the agency's school districts,
or other exhibit requests.
6. Pyatigorsk, Russia Update —Jochum reported on the recent Open World visit and dinner with the
Ukrainian young professionals through the Chamber of Commerce that included a presentation the
following day.
7. Pen Pal Student Exchanges—Thum reported that packages of artifacts where sent from Bryant School
to their Chinese counter parts prior to school letting out. Plans for the next school year with Handan and
Dornbirn are tentative. Firnstahl reported earlier on receiving correspondence from Eva Thurnher
regarding securing a new teacher for the next school year and that she would be contacting
Commissioner Thum with the contact information.
8. Sister City Committees as Non-Profit/Non-Governmental Organizations (covered under#3)
9. Library Archive and Display Update — Landis will check with the Library next week about a display of
items from the May delegation visit to Handan, China.
10. Next Meeting: Regular meeting on September 16. Goal setting follow up TBD in August.
11. Adjournment: Motion by Felderman to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. Seconded by Castaneda. Motion carried 11-
0.
Submitted by Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk