Minutes_Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission 10 2 13AFT
Sister City Relationships Advisory Commission
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 2013
TIME: 4:00 PM
PLACE: City Hall — Conference Room A, 50 W. 13th Street, Dubuque
Minutes
Present: Commissioners Castaneda, Connors, Felderman, Filimonenko, Jochum, Landis, Lee, Lynch,
McNamara, Phillips, Thurn
Excused: Commissioners Rhomberg and Ward
Also present: Mark Seckman of Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
1. Approval of Minutes from the August 1 and 13, 2013 meetings: Motion by Felderman.
Seconded by Thurn. Motion carried 11 -0.
2. Handan, China
a. Second Delegation Visit Planning: Landis stated that current information indicates that
as many as 8 delegates may visit Dubuque during the afternoon and evening of
Wednesday, October 23 and until midafternoon on Thursday, October 24. Two
delegates may be traveling as guests of regional companies. Landis, Lynch and
Seckman will keep the Commission apprised of new details and changes in the travel
itinerary as they correspond with lead delegate Mr. Li. Seckman will begin making
arrangements with local industry and educational outlets and drafting an itinerary.
Seckman will correspond with Mr. Li about inviting the college /university presidents or
representatives to the Wednesday morning breakfast that will include Dr. Wee of NICC.
Based on the invitation, a letter from the Commission will then be sent to the
college /university presidents. Landis will make room arrangements at the Hotel Julien.
Thurn will set up tentative dinner arrangements for the evening of October 23 and
breakfast arrangements for the morning of October 24.
Discussion was given to clarifying information on site visits based on the Mr. Li's
correspondence specific to metal parts manufacturing, grain /vegetable processing,
educational exchanges, possible dairy processing, John Deere locations and Dubuque
investment. Landis will correspond with Mr. Li for more detail on these topics.
b. Sister City International Awards Applications: Landis provided information on the SCI
award application being submitted by Handan as a joint application for the Longest
US /China Sister City Relationship and Best Individual (Landis). Firnstahl will provide
Landis with executed pages to be sent to Mr. Li for submission to SCI. The awards are
scheduled to be presented at the May SCI annual conference March 26 -28, 2014 in
Washington, D.C.
c. Iowa Sister States 30t" Anniversary: Landis reported that there may be up to 4 Sister
Cities represented at the celebration in Des Moines, October 21 -22. Chinese delegates
will visit Muscatine, Iowa, before traveling to Des Moines and then on to Dubuque.
Landis plans to attend the event.
d. Photo Exhibit: Landis reported that 103 photographs were given to Dubuque by the
Chinese delegation during the August 2013 visit. He has taken a cross section of 20
photos to be mounted for display at the Roshek Building in time for the October visit.
Landis is applying for an Iowa Humanities mini grant for mounting of the remaining
photographs. Landis will provide some text explanation to display with the photographs.
Discussion was given to how and where the photos could be display such as traveling
displays in educational facilities and local business with an interests in China. The grant
will require Council approval prior to submission.
3. Dornbirn, Austria: Firnstahl reported that a letter from Mayor Buol has been sent to Ralf
Hammerle, Public Information Director for the City of Dornbirn, Austria, congratulation their
new Mayor Andrea Kaufmann on her appointment and for receiving the Best Place to Live in
Austria award. Mr. Hammerle has indicated that they have tentative plans for a visit to
Dubuque in May 2014.
4. Pyatigorsk, Russia: Firnstahl provided information from Sister Cities International related to
Russia /LGBT relations and SCI's position.
5. Library Archive and Display — Follow Up: Jochum reported that the Library display on
Pyatigorsk, Russia, has been removed. The next Sister City display is scheduled for December
2013 /January2014.
6. Bylaws Amendment — (Postponed)
7. Adjournment: Motion by Phillips to adjourn at 5:00 p.m. Seconded by Lee. Motion carried 9 -0
(Connors having left at 4:26 p.m. and Castaneda having left at 4:58 p.m.)
Prepared and submitted by Kevin S. Firnstahl, City Clerk