Sister City 2020/11/23
CITY OF ANAHEIM
SISTER CITY COMMISSION
MINUTES
November 23, 2020
TELECONFERENCE
(877) 594-8353 – Participant Code: 92121081
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Paul Anderson, Kevin Barrot, Taline Cole,
James Dinwiddie II, Lori Dinwiddie,
Larry L. Larsen, Germaine Neumann,
LaShé Rodriguez and Brian Stanley
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Emily Fuentes, Steven Kleine, Elizabeth Jabaz,
Anna Piercy, Brian O’Neal and Mark Roeske
STAFF PRESENT: Kimberly Kelemen, Community Services
Maggie Solorio, City Manager’s Office
GUESTS PRESENT: None
SPECIAL NOTICE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in California as a result of the
threat of COVID-19. On March 17, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20
(superseding the Brown Act-related provisions of Executive Order N-25-20 issued on March 12, 2020),
which allows a local legislative body to hold public meetings via teleconferencing and to make public
meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to
observe and to address the local legislative body. Pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20, please be advised
that the Sister City Commission members will participate in this meeting remotely.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20 and given the current health
concerns, members of the public can access the meeting live and participate telephonically by calling
(877) 594-8353 and entering Participant Code: 92121081. If you desire to address the Anaheim Sister
City Commission, please do so when called upon under Agenda Item VI. Public Comment. In addition,
members of the public can submit comments electronically for the Sister City Commission consideration
by sending them to sistercity@anaheim.net. To ensure distribution to the Sister City Commission
prior to consideration of the agenda, please submit comments prior to 12:00 p.m. the day of the
meeting. Those comments, as well as any comments received after 12:00 p.m., will be distributed to the
Sister City Commission members and will be made part of the official public record of the meeting.
Contact Maggie Solorio (msolorio@anaheim.net) with any questions.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 23, 2020
Page 2
Agenda Posting: A complete copy of the Anaheim Sister City Commission Agenda was posted
on Friday, November 20, 2020 at 9:23 a.m. at Anaheim City Hall.
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. V. Public
Comment.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Taline Cole called the meeting of the Anaheim Sister City Commission
(ASCC) to order at 4:05 p.m. on Monday, November 23, 2020.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Commissioner Larry Larsen offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 8-0; Absent:
Emily Fuentes, Steven Kleine, Elizabeth Jabaz, Anna Piercy, Brian O’Neal and
Mark Roeske; Abstained: Paul Anderson) that the Anaheim Sister City
Commission does hereby approve the minutes from the ASCC meeting held on
October 26, 2020 as presented.
III. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer James Dinwiddie presented the Treasurer’s Report dated November 19,
2020 with a balance of $15,800.36 and noted there had been no changes in the
account since February.
MOTION: Commissioner Paul Anderson offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 9-0; Absent:
Emily Fuentes, Steven Kleine, Elizabeth Jabaz, Anna Piercy, Brian O’Neal and
Mark Roeske) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does hereby approve the
Treasurer’s Report dated November 19, 2020 as presented.
IV. STANDARDS FOR CONSIDERING NEW SISTER CITIES
The Sister City Commission considered the following guidelines for new sister
cities.
Size: Ensure that cities have a similar population and amenities. That both
cities could afford equitable experiences for student exchanges.
Idea Exchanges: Ensure that cities have an infrastructure that allows for
unique idea exchanges, prioritizing those that specialize in an area we do not
specialize in and vice versa (green solutions, public transportation etc.).
However, we also want to ensure there are equitable exchanges on topics we
both specialize in as well such as tourism.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 23, 2020
Page 3
Geographical Location: Prioritize having diverse geographical locations. For
example, since we currently have Sister Cities in Europe and Asia, it would be
good to look towards cities in Central America, South America, Australia,
Africa and The Middle East.
Cultural Representation in Anaheim: Anaheim is a very diverse city with
large populations of different cultures like in Little Arabia, and our Mexican
and German roots. It would be ideal to prioritize a Sister City relationship
with cities in these countries and regions.
Human Rights: Evaluate how human rights are treated in the country. Is
there freedom of the press, freedom of religion etc.?
Student exchanges: Look for cities that have a willingness to do a student
exchange between the two cities each year. Dual language immersion
programs should also be prioritized.
Business and Trade: Look for cities that have potential for residents in both
cities to set up business and trade deals and have similar industries.
It was noted that Commissioner Emily Fuentes put the guidelines together and
that the Commission reviewed them briefly at the October 26, 2020 meeting.
Chair Cole reiterated this is not a checklist, the city being considered does not
necessarily has to have everything on the list in order to be considered. These are
just things the Commission wants to make sure they keep in mind when
considering a new sister city relationship.
Commissioner Brian Stanley questioned when the Commission looks at cities
with similar population, is the Commission going to base the population on the
size of the population like per capita, the number of people or similar population
by geographics, demographics? Chair Cole responded the population based on
the number of residents by demographics.
MOTION: Chair Taline Cole offered a Motion, seconded by Commissioner
Jim Dinwiddie AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 9-0; Absent: Emily Fuentes,
Steven Kleine, Elizabeth Jabaz, Anna Piercy, Brian O’Neal and Mark Roeske)
that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does hereby approve the guidelines for
considering a new sister city as presented at the meeting.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
VI. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Chair Taline Cole reminded the commission they are dark in December and that
the next meeting will be in January.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
November 23, 2020
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VII. STAFF COMMENTS
None.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:21 p.m. to Monday,
January 25, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.