04/25/2019
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library - Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 25, 2019
4:00 PM
Council Chambers - Main Library
Sister Cities Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2019
Roll Call
Present 5 - Vice Chair Michael Ballard, Board Member Candace Hays,
Board Member Pamela Gene Benton, Board Member Hoyt
Hamilton, Board Member Sallie Parks
Absent 1 - Board Member Hannah Joseph
Also Present - Michael Lavery – Parks Planning & Project Manager, Patricia O.
Sullivan - Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the January 24, 2019 Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Member Benton moved to approve minutes of the January 24,
2019 Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written
summation. 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 High School Exchange in June 2019.
Discuss status of preparations for students going to Nagano from
Clearwater.
Meeting went into Recess at 4:05 p.m.
Meeting Reconvened at 4:06 p.m.
Parks Planning & Project Manager Michael Lavery said tomorrow he was
purchasing plane tickets to Japan for the High School Exchange
participants. He thanked Member Benton for her help organizing the trip.
4.2 Official Delegation Trip to Nagano, Japan on October 18-27, 2019.
Mr. Lavery said planning the official delegation trip to Nagano was
ongoing. He was keeping arrangements on track until the new board
liaison is hired. The liaison will accompany the delegation, which
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 25, 2019
included the City Council. All Sister City board members were invited.
Once itinerary and cost information are provided, he hoped members
would advise him if they planned to participate.
Member Benton declined and Member Hays said she probably would
decline.
4.3 Discussion of New Agenda Items.
Mr. Lavery encouraged board members to actively engage in the agenda
process and forward items of interest to the liaison for inclusion on the
agenda and discussion. He said the City Clerk had indicated under
Sunshine rules, Board members should forward all correspondence they
receive to the liaison for distribution to the board. Members should not
discuss with each other any board business outside meetings.
Election of Officers
Member Parks moved to appoint Michael Ballard as Chair. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Parks moved to appoint Pam Benton as Vice Chair. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
New Members Needed
Mr. Lavery reported former member Terrence Gourdine had termed out
and Youth Representative Hannah Joseph had an opportunity to live
overseas for a year and would resign. He requested members advise
qualified people interested in serving on the board re the online application.
He will forward information on the deadline for submitting applications.
Openings included:
1) Local business community representative - Clearwater residency not
required
2) Clearwater resident Age 19 or younger.
The Advisory Board Questionnaire and Application Form is available at:
https://www.myclearwater.com/government/city-departments/official-records-
legislative-services/agencies-advisory-boards
5. Old Business Item
Mr. Lavery said discussions continued with Bourges, France as a
potential new Sister City. It was recommended that a representative of the
Clearwater location of Monin, Inc., headquartered in Bourges, be invited
to represent the local business community on the Sister Cities Board.
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board
6. Director's Report
Meeting Minutes April 25, 2019
CSCI (Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.) Representative Hays reported 10
Young Ambassador students and 3 teacher chaperones will travel to
Japan, including Nagano, in early June. CSCI provided 4 scholarships to
student participants. She reviewed CSCI activities and fund raising
events. CSCI was meeting with the Historical Society re a partnership to
display items.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Member Parks said it might be fun to organize watch parties next summer
when the Summer Olympics take place in Japan. Agenda Item
Member Parks requested a copy of the Board's Rules and Regulations.
Agenda Item for update.
In response to a question, Member Hamilton said he will report on the
Nagano delegation's visit to Clearwater in February 2020. Mr. Lavery said
Clearwater and CSCI had significant responsibilities to host the Nagano
Delegation. The Sister Cities Advisory Board also should be involved.
Agenda Item.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
\\cA., Chair - Sister Cities Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater