02/15/2005
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SISTER CITY ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
February 15. 2005
Present:
Linda Damsky
Carlen Petersen
C.E. Snedeker
Richard Wisemiller
Chair
Councilmember
Board Member
Board Member
Also Present:
Margo Walbolt
Marsha Beall
Division Manager, Cultural Affairs
Staff Assistant, Cultural Affairs
Absent:
Robert Freedman
Vice Chair
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:30pm at MSB.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in
that order.
ITEM #2 - Approval of Minutes of Sister City Board Meeting of January 25. 2005 - Member Snedeker
moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 25, 2005 as submitted~ The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
ITEM #3 - Correspondence - Mayor Hibbard and Ms. Chrystia Sonevytsky - Members received copies
of attached letters referencing the following topics:
a) Mayor Hibbard sent an official letter to Mr. Washizawa, Mayor of Nagano City. Mayor Hibbard
extended an invitation to Mr. Washizawa, his wife, the City Council members, the Superintendent
of the Board of Education and citizens of Nagano to visit Clearwater.
Secondly, Mayor Hibbard sent a letter of congratulations to Mr. Washizawa on the recent
expansion of Nagano City. Nagano increased its population by 20,000 and area expansion of 1.8
times following a merger with Toyono Town, Togakushi Village, Kinasa Village and Ooka
Village.
b) Ms. Chrystia Sonevytsky - Ms. Walbolt received a thank you letter from Ms. Sonevytsky of
Ukraine. Ms. Sonevytsky is interested in developing a potential sister-city relationship between
the Berdyansk, Ukraine and Clearwater. Berdyansk is registered on the Sister City International
web site. Members discussed this opportunity. Ms. Damsky's heritage originated in Ukraine.
The country is becoming more bilingual and has economic potential. Ms. Damskymentioned
that S1. Petersburg has a growing Ukrainian population and there is a church near Gandy Blvd.
and 4th Street. Ms. Walbolt advised any communication from the Ukraine remains unofficial at
this time.
ITEM #4 - Old Business -
a) Report on Nagano High School Student Visit Feb. 2-9 - The visit went very well. Sister City
members, City Officials and Homestay families greeted visitors at the airport with banners and
fanfare. The Nagano students spent the week attending classes at Countryside High School and
enjoying various venues, including Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, City Hall,
and Disney. The Sayonara Party was held February 8 at Moccasin Lake Nature Park from 6-
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7:30pm. The evening consisted of sitting around a campfire and enjoying pizza, salads and
deserts furnished by the City and Homestay families.
b) April 26-29 Nagano Delegation Planning - Two schedules were disbursed: Nagano's 45th
anniversary trip itinerary to the United States and City of Clearwater's tentative schedule of
events. Nagano visitors will arrive at Tampa Airport on Tuesday, April 26 at 4:46pm. They will
depart Clearwater on Friday, April 29 at 6:45am. Ms. Walbolt submitted a tentative schedule of
activities from April 26-April 29 for both the Nagano Officials (8-9) and the Nagano Citizens
(26). The tentative itinerary includes plans to visit a game at Bright House Networks Field, City
Hall, Rotary Lunch, School Administration Building, Pinewood Cultural Center, Ruth Eckerd
Hall, and a cruise on Starlight Majesty. To conclude their visit, a Sayonara Party will be held at
Sheraton Sand Key on Thursday, April 28 at 6:30pm.
Program preparations are apportioned as follows:
Ms. Damsky - School Board delegation visit
Mr. Freedman - Ruth Eckerd Hall luncheon and tour
Ms. Petersen - Council participation
Mr. Snedeker - Rotary luncheon sponsorship
Ms. Walbolt - facility, transportation, and program arrangements
Mr. Wisemiller - CSCI support
ITEM #5 - New Business - The next Sister City Advisory Board meeting will be in March, depending on
member participation, to continue finalizing plans for the Nagano Delegation visit in April.
ITEM #6 - Adjournment - Members adjourned at 5:57 p.m.
Special meeting will be March 8, 2005; 4:30p.m. at MSB,
Conference Room 130.
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Staff Assist~ . I'.. ~
Sister City Advisory 2005-0215
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