Sister City 2014/11/24CITY OF ANAHEIM
SISTER CITY COMMISSION
MINUTES
November 24, 2014
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Anthony Al-Jamie, JamesDinwiddie, Lori Farrow,
Jackie Filbeck, Ann Gallaugher, Laurie Leonard,
Mark Lopez, Brian ,John Nguyen,
Anna Piercy, Kyndell Thorson andJeanne Tran
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Debbie Juliani
(twovacant seats)
STAFF PRESENT:
GUESTS PRESENT: David Bracey
Agenda Posting: A complete copy of the Anaheim Sister City Commission Agenda was posted
onFriday, November 21,2014at 3:30 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall.
Public Input: Chairman John Nguyen explained thatmembers of the public are invited to
address the Anaheim Sister City Commission and will be called upon under Agenda Item No. V.
Public Comment.
I.CALL TO ORDER
The meeting of the Anaheim Sister City Commission (ASCC) was called to order
at 4:15p.m. by Chairman Nguyen on Monday, November 24, 2014 at the
th Floor,
Anaheim, California.
II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Commissioner James Dinwiddie offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Jeanne Tran AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 10-0; Abstained:
Mark Lopez and Anna Piercy; Absent: Debbie Juliani; and, two vacant seats) that
the Anaheim Sister City Commission does hereby approve the minutes from the
ASCC meeting held on October 20,2014 as presented.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 24, 2014
Page 2
III.
dated November 13, 2014 was presented
at the meeting. Treasurer Laurie Leonard reported the expense shown on the
$5,130.74 is for the
plaque and clarified it does not include any costs related to the reception. The
report also includes the payment of the $700 gift check for Katie Filbeck. The
current balance is $16,000.48.
It was noted that Katie Filbeck had not received the check as of that morning and
it was further noted that there had not been any expenses accounted for
Dr.
MOTION: Commissioner Anna Piercy offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Ann Gallaugher AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 12-0; Absent:
Debbie Juliani; and, two vacant seats) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 13, 2014.
IV.AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Commissioner James Dinwiddie asked for the status on sending students to Mito
next year.
Commissioner Anthony Al-Jamie responded it is still not advisable to send
students to Mito because there are still all kinds of safety issues in the recovery
from M 2011 earthquake. There is radioactive water leaking into the ocean
and a week ago they had another earthquake in that area. Chairman Nguyen
level of comfort.
Commissioner Anna Piercy advised if there is any doubt, to wait another year
before sending students to Mito.
Commissioner Anthony Al-Jamie further explained Mito has a situation that they
Radioactive water is leaking from a
nuclear plant and
therefore he would recommend against sending students to Mito next summer.
It was noted that it has been four years since Anaheim has sent students to Mito.
Commissioner Kyndell Thorson gave an update on
relationship with Pudong. Erin Wahlen sent a note to all the Commissioners with
Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 24, 2014
Page 3
the thank you notes that were exchanged between Mayor Tait and
Pudong delegation visited Anaheim in October.
Commissioner Thorson felt that it definitely seems like things are moving in the
right direction. She knows there has been some frustration because this has been
a long time in the works. Commissioner Thorson quoted one of the lines from
Commissioner Thorson stated it
sounds like we are finally moving forward. The next step is to sign an MOU.
Pudong indicated they would like our Mayor to go to Pudong for the signing of it
and Mayor Tait is very receptive to that.
that to take place. Hopefully the MOU will be signed and then we would be able
to invite Pudong to Anaheim with their very high level officials in order to
solidify the sister city relationship.
The good news is that Pudong would be coming to Anaheim when we officially
become sister cities which will be really nice and if can do it sometime in 2015 it
would be wonderful from a Disney perspective as Disney will be celebrating its
th
60 Anniversary.
The next step is for Mayor Tait to visit Pudong to sign the MOU as early in the
year as possible. The Commission can work with Greg to get that scheduled and
then sometime within 2015 Pudong Officials would come here and in 2016 we
could send a formal delegation there.
Chairman Nguyen is going to follow up with Greg Garcia to prepare the MOU
and see if Greg can follow up with Mayor Tait to get the trip scheduled.
Commissioner Filbeck asked if there has been any feedback from the Mito
delegation that visited Anaheim in October. Commissioner Dinwiddie responded
he spoke to Mr. Wang and they were very pleased and that everything went well,
they were very happy. No complaints at all.
Chairman Nguyen added he met with the delegation the day after the Plaque
Dedication Ceremony at Angel Stadium and gave them the route to go see ARTIC
and they were extremely happy and grateful for what the Commission had put
together for them.
Commissioner Ann Gallaugher added she accompanied the delegation on the tour
of the Convention Center and interacted with some of the delegation members and
Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 24, 2014
Page 4
she agrees with Chairman Nguyen this was very meaningful and heart-felt to
them.
Chairman Nguyen thanked everyone from the Commission that was involved in
coordinating the event including putting together the gift bag. They also thanked
Erin Wahlen for coordinated the production of the plaque and all the hard work
that was put into it. The Commission also thanked Lori Dinwiddie for the flower
arrangements as they were beautiful.
th
Chairman Nguyen noted that in two years it will be the 40 Anniversary of
go to Mito to celebrate that milestone.
V.PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
VI.COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Jackie Filbeck asked when the City Council is expected to fill the
two Sister City Commission vacancies. Chairman Nguyen answered the City
Council is contemplating on the possibility of having more commissioners on the
Commission. Commissioner Jeanne Tran also added that Council Member
try to engage members from the business
community to fill those vacancies.
Chairman Nguyen stated he would follow up with Greg Garcia about the Pudong
MOU and also on where the City Council stands on the appointments.
Commissioner Filbeck asked if there was an update on the beer
crawl fundraiser. Commissioner Tran responded she and Commissioner Debbie
Juliani got a contact from the Anaheim Brewery for someone who sets up beer
tours for a living, and they are checking with him about arranging one specific to
Anaheim breweries for the Commission. This fundraiser is tentatively scheduled
for the spring.
Commissioner Dinwiddie announced that the 20th Annual Nutcracker Christmas
Tree Lighting and Holiday Shopping Village would be taking place on Saturday,
December 6 in Downtown Anaheim on Center Street Promenade from 10:00am to
7:00pm. The event will feature holiday craft activities and free photos with Santa.
The Tree Lighting is scheduled from 6pm to 7pm and that a Pancake Breakfast
would be taking place at 10 am that day. Everyone is invited to attend.
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November 24, 2014
Page 5
VII.ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m. to
Monday, January 26, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. at the Anaheim City Hall, 7th Floor, City