Sister City 2020/03/23
CITY OF ANAHEIM
SISTER CITY COMMISSION
MINUTES
March 23, 2020
COMMISSIONERS AND PUBLIC: TELECONFERENCE
(877) 594-8353 – Participant Code: 92121081
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Paul Anderson, Kevin Barrot, Taline Cole,
James Dinwiddie II, Lori Dinwiddie, Emily Fuentes,
Elizabeth Jabaz, Steven Kleine, Germaine Neumann
LaShé Rodriguez, Mark Roeske and Brian Stanley
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Larry L. Larsen, Brian O’Neal and Anna Piercy
STAFF PRESENT: Kimberly Kelemen, Community Services
Maggie Solorio, City Manager’s Office
GUESTS PRESENT: None
Agenda Posting: A complete copy of the Anaheim Sister City Commission Agenda was posted
on Friday, March 20, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall.
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in California as a result
of the threat of COVID-19. On March 12, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-
25-20, which allows a local legislative body to hold public meetings via tel econferencing and to
make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the
public seeking to attend and to address the local legislative body. The Sister City Commission
meeting will take place on Monday, March 23, 2020 at 4:00 P.M. at the City Manager’s Office,
City Hall, 7th Floor, Anaheim, CA 92805. Pursuant to Executive Order N-25-20, please be
advised that some, or all, of the Sister City Commission members may participate in this meeting
telephonically.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
March 23, 2020
Page 2
Public Input: Chair Taline Cole explained that members of the public are invited to address the
Anaheim Sister City Commission and will be called upon under Agenda Item No. III. Public
Comment.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Taline Cole called the meeting of the Anaheim Sister City Commission
(ASCC) to order at 4:03 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2020.
II. MITO OUTBOUND STUDENT EXCHANGE
Chair Taline Cole explained the main purpose of the meeting was to get a vote
regarding the possibility of officially cancelling the Mito Student Exchange this
year in order to give clear direction to Mito and the Anaheim students who were
selected to go.
Commissioner Neumann noted some parents are asking if the students do not get
to go to Japan this year, is the Commission going to open it to those same students
for next year.
Chair Taline Cole recommended taking two separate votes, one for cancelling the
this year’s student exchange and a second to determine how they will handle the
students selected this year for next year’s exchange.
Chair Cole suggested the Commission could let the students that were selected
this year have first priority for next year, but she feels everyone should reapply to
make sure the students are still interested and that they still live in Anaheim. She
felt there could be people that move or that may no longer have interest in going.
Commissioner Paul Anderson agreed with the suggestion.
Commissioner Germaine Neumann loved the idea of giving the students a priority
and Commissioners Elizabeth Jabaz and Lori Dinwiddie agreed that was a good
idea.
MOTION: Commissioner Brian Stanley offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 12-0; Absent:
Larry L. Larsen, Brian O’Neal and Anna Piercy) that the Anaheim Sister City
Commission does hereby cancel the 2020 Outbound Student Exchange.
Chair Taline Cole suggested to agendize a discussion item for the next agenda of
how they are going handle the students selected this year for next year’s exchange
and asked the Commission if they agreed or if they wanted to discuss that now.
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie thought the Commission has plenty of time to make
a decision, as they are not going to be considering it until November of this year.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
March 23, 2020
Page 3
Commissioner Emily Fuentes agreed they have time to decide but she would like
to make sure that any payments that were turned in are returned.
Kimberly Kelemen noted they only received payment from one student and she
will need a request in writing from the Chair to reimburse it.
Commissioner Klein is going to email the students to notify them of the
cancellation of the Outbound Student Exchange and to let them know that
everyone who submitted payment will be reimbursed.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
IV. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
None.
V. STAFF COMMENTS
Kimberly Kelemen thanked the Commission for participating in the meeting by
telephone and reminded Chair Cole that she needs a formal request from her to
reimburse the student who submitted payment for the student exchange.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:14 p.m. to Monday,
April 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. at the Anaheim City Hall, City Manager’s Office
Large Conference Room.