10/26/2017 Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 26, 2017
City of Clearwater
City Hall
112 S. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33756
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 26, 2017
4:00 PM
Council Chambers
Sister Cities Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 26, 2017
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Sallie Parks, Vice Chair Terrence Gourdine, Board Member
Candace Hays, and Board Member Pamela Gene Benton
Absent 2 - Board Member Hoyt Hamilton and Board Member Desaray Dilday
Also Present: Jim Halios — Planning & Project Manager, Michael Lavery - Parks
Support Specialist, Patricia O. Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at City Hall.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve minutes from July 27, 2017 meeting
It was noted that Chair Parks was absent on July 27, 2017.
Member Gourdine moved to approve minutes of the July 27, 2017
Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting as amended. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Introduction of visiting teacher Akemi Kobayashi
Member Benton introduced exchange teacher Akemi Kobayashi who
visited Carwise Middle and Clearwater Fundamental schools this week
and planned visits to Safety Harbor Middle and Countryside High schools.
Students were interested in teacher and student exchange participants
from Japan.
Ms. Kobayashi said she had 3 children, taught high school English in
Nagano, Japan and was enjoying her visit to Clearwater. She discussed
differences between Japanese and American high schools and reviewed
the teacher exchange application process, she had applied to visit
Clearwater. She said her husband and children encouraged her.
Board members welcomed Ms. Kobayashi.
5. Old Business Item
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2017
Concern was expressed the board had no response to its motion
encouraging the City Council to approve 2 scholarships for middle
school students from low - income families to participate in the Clearwater
Sister Cities student exchange program to Nagano.
Planning & Project Manager Jim Halios said he would follow up on the
board's recommendation.
6. Director's Report
Board Member /Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc. Representative Hays said
CSCI had hosted its 5th annual wine tasting in September and
planned a fundraiser in November. Middle school participants in last
summer's Young Ambassadors' program to Nagano will make a
presentation to the City Council in November. Plans for the 2018 trip
were underway. A boneka themed party was planned for late December.
It was stated that the CSCI parties were fun and attracted a good crowd.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Member Benton said the Clearwater Sister Cities High School student
exchange was being planned for March 2018 and plans for the February
visit by Nagano Middle School students were underway.
Information will be sent to Mr. Halios for distribution to board members re
a pot luck in November.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
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City of Clearwater
Chair - Sister Cities Advisory Board