Sister City 2021/09/27
CITY OF ANAHEIM
SISTER CITY COMMISSION
MINUTES
September 27, 2021 – 4:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Paul Anderson, Kevin Barrot, Taline Cole,
James Dinwiddie II, Lori Dinwiddie, Emily Fuentes,
Elizabeth Jabaz, Brian O’Neal
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Steven Kleine, Dara Maleki, Germaine Neumann
Anna Piercy, LaShe Rodriguez, Brian Stanley, (One
Vacant Seat)
STAFF PRESENT: Kimberly Kelemen, Community Services
Maggie Solorio, City Manager’s Office
Karen Harrell, City Manager’s Office
GUESTS PRESENT: None
Agenda Posting: A complete copy of the Anaheim Sister City Commission Agenda was posted
on Friday, September 24, 2021 at 12:15 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Taline Cole called the Anaheim Sister City Commission (ASCC) meeting
to order at 4:20 p.m. on Monday, September 27, 2021.
II. FLAG SALUTE
Commissioner James Dinwiddie led the flag salute.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Commissioner Paul Anderson offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Bryan O’Neal AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 8-0; Absent;
Steven Kleine, Dara Maleki, Germaine Neumann; Anna Piercy, LaShe Rodriguez,
Brian Stanley, (One Vacant Seat) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does
hereby approve the minutes from the ASCC meeting held on August 23, 2021 as
presented.
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September 27, 2021
Page 2
IV. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT
Treasurer James Dinwiddie presented the Treasurer’s Report dated September 23,
2021 with a balance of $15,800.36 and noted there had been no changes in the
account since February 2020.
MOTION: Commissioner Paul Anderson offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Brian O’Neal AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 8-0; Absent:
Steven Kleine, Dara Maleki, Germaine Neumann
Anna Piercy, LaShe Rodriguez, Brian Stanley, (One Vacant Seat)
that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does hereby approve the Treasurer’s
Report dated September 23, 2021 as presented.
V. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chair Cole put forth the motion of the following nominations. Commissioner
Kevin Barrot was nominated for both Chair and Treasurer; Voting took place,
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie received and 8-0 vote for Chair and Commissioner
Barrot received an 8-0 vote for Treasurer. Commissioner Anderson received an
8-0 vote for Vice Chair.
MOTION: Commissioner Taline Cole offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Paul Anderson AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 8-0; Absent:
Steven Kleine, Dara Maleki, Germaine Neumann; Anna Piercy, LaShe Rodriguez,
Brian Stanley, (One Vacant Seat) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does
hereby appoint Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie as the Chair of the Sister City
Commission for 2021/2022.
MOTION: Commissioner Taline Cole offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Brian O’Neal AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 8-0; Absent:
Steven Kleine, Dara Maleki, Germaine Neumann; Anna Piercy, LaShe Rodriguez,
Brian Stanley, (One Vacant Seat) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does
hereby appoint Commissioner Paul Anderson as the Vice Chair of the Sister City
Commission for 2021/2022.
MOTION: Commissioner Taline Cole offered a Motion, seconded by
Commissioner Paul Anderson AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 8-0; Absent:
Steven Kleine, Dara Maleki, Germaine Neumann; Anna Piercy, LaShe Rodriguez,
Brian Stanley, (One Vacant Seat) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does
hereby appoint Commissioner Kevin Barrot as the Treasurer of the Sister City
Commission for 2021/2022.
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September 27, 2021
Page 3
VI. MITO STUDENT EXCHANGE
Chair Taline Cole will be leaving it to Lori to talk to Mr. Wong, as to doing the
Mito Exchange in person or going virtual.
Chair Cole further noted that Mito, Japan is interested in the virtual student
exchange and they agreed it would be a good idea. Commissioner Kevin Barrot
came up with a sample schedule and they will go with that. Commissioner LaShe
Rodriguez who was not at the meeting asked Chair Cole who would be leading
the efforts this year. Chair Cole, noted they have hired different people in the past
to lead it, and once things get figured out they would be reaching out to some of
those same people to lead it.
Chair Cole, asked what the next step would be with the virtual plan now that we
have a schedule set. Chair Cole brought up reaching out to Mito to confirm if they
were good with the schedule.
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie asked what days and/or months they are looking at
to get an idea of a timeline.
Chair Cole asked how the schedule would work with both sets of students.
Would days be overlapped and what is their schedule going to look like for our
students. The Commission would reach out to Mr. Wong to see what he wants to
do. Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie suggested comparing the school calendars.
Commissioner O’Neal stated May 26 is graduation day for Anaheim High School
students. Best thing would be if they can do this at the same time.
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie suggested going virtual this summer and in person
the following year. Commissioner O’Neal and Chair Cole agreed. Commissioner
O’Neal then suggested having a teacher from Anaheim run the virtual program.
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie reported that Jennifer Sasai put in application in
and she was a past chaperone. Lori noted she would be a great addition knowing
the ins and outs.
Chair Cole, stated they should not go in person this summer and wait. Also, come
up with an application process, which will be a little different but can be a good
feeder into next year. Commissioner O’Neal brought up the number of students
that can be added with going virtual. The number will be determined at a later
date.
Chair Cole suggested getting a subcommittee together to produce the application
and what the process would look like once Mito is on board.
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September 27, 2021
Page 4
VII. VITORIA-GASTEIZ RELATIONSHIP UPDATE
There being no updates on this item, the item was continued to the October
meeting for discussion.
VIII. ETHIOPIA RELATIONSHIP REQUEST
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie and Emily Fuentes reached out and since they are
back in-person sessions, Jim suggested inviting the interested person who made
the request to come to a future meeting and get his take and if he has an idea of a
specific city.
Commissioner Fuentes mentioned there was no specific city mentioned.
Chair Lori Dinwiddie suggested giving him 15-20 min. to see what he has to say.
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie stated that he will invite him to come to a future to
a future meeting to make a presentation.
Chair Cole asked what is this gentleman’s authority to start this process?
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie said it just came through a past Commissioner
Commissioner Fuentes note that Ethiopia’s Capitol growth has developed. There
is a lot of potential, but if a city does not have X, Y, and Z then here are some
other parameters than we can consider.
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie then asks if a form with specific guidelines has
been developed to help guide the process if someone is requesting to become a
Sister City.
Chair Cole, suggested an application that can be a starting point to the process.
Commissioner Fuentes offered to draw up a potential application. Chair Cole will
review it.
Chair Cole, asked Commissioners Jim Dinwiddie and Emily Fuentes to reach out
to Ethiopia resident to see when he would like to come in.
IX. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
X. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie was glad to be back in person.
Chair Cole was appreciative that everyone made the effort to come in person and
furthermore asked if everyone was okay with continuing the meetings in person.
Everyone agreed.
Commissioner Lori Dinwiddie made the request of the commissioners to receive a
City ID and staff member Kimberly Kelemen stated that it was being looked into.
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September 27, 2021
Page 5
Furthermore, staff member Kelemen has already looked into using a room at the
Downtown Community Center for future meetings and easier access.
Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie asked about a Sister City Commission update.
Staff member Kimberly Kelemen noted that the Committee appointed by council
needs to get together and would be reaching out to some commissioners to get
their input.
XI. STAFF COMMENTS
Staff member Kimberly Kelemen stated she was going to update the group on the
question Commissioner Jim Dinwiddie posed regarding the update on the Sister
City Commission.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m. to Monday,
October 25, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.