Minutes_Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission 5 15 13Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 2013
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: City Hall — Conference Room A, 50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque
Minutes
Present: Dick Landis, Joyce Connors, Annalee Ward, Larissa Filimonenko, Betty Phillips, Jeff
Jochum, Pat McNamara, Kevin Lynch, Phyllis Lee, Louise Thurn
Excused: Sheila Castaneda
1. Receipt of Unofficial Notes for March 13, 2013.
2. Oath of Office — Betty Phillips was administered by City Clerk Kevin Firnstahl.
3. Sister Cities Relationships Updates
a) Pyatigorsk, Russia: Commissioner Jochum will draft a letter for Mayor Buol inviting a
representative to the Growing Sustainable Communities Conference, September 23 -24,
and the Iowa League of Cities Conference, September 25 -27, in Dubuque.
b) Handan, China: Chairperson Landis referenced the letter Mayor Buol received from Mayor
Hui Jian of Handan City referencing the 30th Anniversary with Hebei Province and
promoting cooperation between our two cities.
• Iowa Sister States 30th Anniversary Year: Landis provided a brief update on events
surrounding state -level activities, which we continue to hope will involve Dubuque.
4. Dornbirn, Austria
a. Recap of visit by City Manager Werner Summer: Landis, Thurn, Lee and Phillips provided a
highlights on Mr. and Mrs. Summers' visit to Dubuque, which included a short tour of the
city, attendance at the Kiwanis Club Sister City presentation, Bryant School /Dornbirn
student exchanges, a visit to Mt. Calvary Cemetery, dinners with the Sister City
Commission, City Council, and the Dubuque City Manager. Landis suggested that the slide
presentation used at the Kiwanis Club meeting be expanded for use with other groups such
as Rotary and Jaycees. I was suggested by Kiwanis member and Council Member Ric
Jones to provide a work session to the City Council on Sister Cities.
5. Development of By -Laws — Follow Up: Motion by Phillips to adopt the by -laws as drafted by
Jochum. Seconded by Ward. Motion carried 10 -0.
6. Bryant School/ Dornbirn — Thurn stated that she hopes to expand the program to other classes
and may explore the E -Pals program.
7. Library Archive and Display — Follow Up: Landis stated that the display coincided with the
Library's art exhibit and will change over to Friendship Force for June /July. The Sister City
exhibit will begin again for August /September and will exhibit information on Pyatigorsk,
Russia.
8. Items from Commission: Louise will contact Gene Tully about international contacts for the
Voices from the Warehouse exhibits. Landis asked Firnstahl to follow up the Eva Thurnher in
Dornbirn about one of their teachers requesting to study in Dubuque.
9. Items from Staff
a. Membership and Vacancies: Firnstahl reminded the Commission that there are still two
vacancies on the commission. The City Clerk's Office has received on application, which
will go before Council on June 17.
b. Recap of visit with Ann Geiger of Sister Cities International: Firnstahl provided information
and suggested provided by Ms. Geiger who stopped by on her way from Elkader. Ms.
Geiger encouraged attendance at SCI conferences that might help in planning a
conference in Dubuque, suggested exploring programs offered on the SCI web page or
other related sites such as E -Pals, Open World Program, and the US Center for Citizen
Diplomacy. Jochum suggested collaborating with Sister States first.
10. Next Meeting: July 10, 4:00 p.m., Conference Rm. A, City Hall
11.Adjournment at 5:00 p.m.: Motion by Phillips. Seconded by Thurn. Motion carried 10 -0.
Prepared and submitted by Kevin S. Firnstahl, CMC, City Clerk