07/28/2022 Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes July 28, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Thursday, July 28, 2022
4:00 PM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Sister Cities Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes July 28, 2022
Roll Call
Present 7 - Chair Michael Ballard, Vice Chair Pamela Gene Benton, Board Member
Sallie Parks, Board Member Lucas Geraldi-Smith, Board Member Lina
Teixeira, Board Member Doug Kelly, and Board Member Stephanie Chill
Also Present— Christopher Hubbard — Cultural Affairs Coordinator, Patricia O. Sullivan -
Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The 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 minutes of the April 28, 2022 Sister Cities Advisory Board meeting.
Member Parks moved to approve minutes of the April 28, 2022 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 Welcome new member Stephanie Chill, President of Clearwater Sister Cities, Inc.
The City Council appointed Stephanie Chill to serve as the Clearwater
Sister Cities, Inc. representative. Stephanie is President of the organization
and fills the CSCI representative vacancy.
4.2 Review and approve the Sister Cities request from the city of Ixmiquilpan, Mexico.
The city of Ixmiquilpan, Mexico has filed an official request to establish a
Sister Cities relationship with the city of Clearwater. Per Sister Cities
International procedures, the Sister Cities Advisory Board is to review the
proposal and forward its recommendation to the City Council.
The official request and supplemental information are complete and present
a clear case to establish a Sister Cities relationship with Ixmiquilpan. City
staff recommends approving the request.
Cultural Affairs Coordinator Christopher Hubbard said a delegation from
Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, Mexico, visited the City in March. As many as 3
generations of former Ixmiquilpan residents live and work in Clearwater,
some have dual citizenship. Ixmiquilpan's history dates back to the 16th
century. Its economy is agriculture, trade, livestock, and tourism. Ixmiquilpan
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Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes July 28, 2022
has requested a Sister City partnership that focuses on culture and academics.
In addition to collaboration with St. Petersburg College, study abroad
opportunities and middle school and high school exchanges may be possible.
City staff and Hispanic outreach recommends pursuing the partnership as it
will benefit the community by forging deeper connections.
Discussion ensued with support expressed for the partnership which would
be a positive influence and benefit both communities. It was recommended
staff research Sister City partnerships with similar connections for ideas and
direction on how best to strengthen the new relationship.
Mr. Hubbard said no budget was needed to begin the relationship. Once the
City Council adopts a Resolution in pursuit of a relationship, staff will begin
allocating resources for exchanges. The Nagano budget sends 4 high school
students plus a chaperone to Nagano annually. Each year money is
reserved in incremental amounts for the 5-year official delegation visit by the
City Council, local residents, and some staff, a similar exchange structure is
anticipated for the Ixmiquilpan program.
Juan Baxcajay, President of the Florida Federation in Clearwater, said he
has lived in Clearwater more than 30 years and was very happy and thankful
to find a home here for him and his children. He said Ixmiquilpan, a beautiful
city with geothermal spas, has much in common with Clearwater. He
supported a Sister City partnership between the cities.
Discussion ensued in support of a partnership and comments re the
importance of travel and establishing international friendships.
Mr. Hubbard said after Council adopts the Resolution, a contract agreement
will be sent to Ixmiquilpan for negotiation. The agreement is designed to
produce a strong relationship and outline exchanges. CSCI will participate..
Member Parks moved to recommend accepting the request by the City
of Ixmiquilpan, Mexico and establishing a Sister Cities relationship
with Ixmiquilpan. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
4.3 Recognize the contributions of former board member Candy Hays to Clearwater Sister
Cities Inc. and the cultural exchange program.
Recognize the contributions of former board member Candy Hays to
Clearwater Sister Cities Inc. and the cultural exchange program.
It was suggested the Board invite Candy Hays to the October Board meeting
to thank her in person for her efforts on behalf of Sister Cities. It was
recommended that a Resolution be prepared.
Member Teixeira moved to continue Item 4.3 to October 27, 2022. The
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Sister Cities Advisory Board Meeting Minutes July 28, 2022
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Review an update on the status of the Nagano exchange programs.
The Clearwater Sister Cities Inc. group partnered with Nagano International
Relations to host two reciprocal broadcast programs. CSCI hosted an
ikebana demonstration at the Countryside Recreation Center that was
Iivestreamed to Nagano. In July, Nagano hosted a tour of Higashi Iida Sake
Brewery, a family operation that has been brewing sake for over 100 years.
Staff will work to have the video of each event posted on the city's website.
Mr. Hubbard acknowledged CSCI's efforts hosting the broadcast programs.
Board Member/CSCI Representative Chill said coordinating the international
hybrid event had been a complex effort. She said the ikebana demonstration
attracted 48 live and virtual participants and received great comments. She
said Nagano residents liked watching a 4t" generation Japanese American
practice ikebana with Florida flora. She said the brewery tour had 28 views.
She said the September livestream was being coordinated with Clearwater
Aquarium. She thanked Member Kelly and his wife for promoting the events.
5.2 Review an update on the Sister Cities Young Ambassadors scholarship.
Staff is investigating internal funding sources to support an annual Young
Ambassadors scholarship. Funds from cancelled 2020-21 trips resulted in a
surplus and provides an opportunity to direct support to the Young
Ambassadors program in an amount similar to the High School program.
Member Chill said the Young Ambassadors usually travel to Nagano and
Japan for 2 weeks in June but Japan's travel restrictions continue. She said
CSCI was researching and working to promote a program restart in 2023.
She said some students cannot pay for the lifechanging experience.
It was stated that middle school children will remember the cultural exchange
for a lifetime.
Mr. Hubbard said the City Council had discussed creation of a need-based
Young Ambassador scholarship. He will follow through with reserving
scholarship funds.
Member Kelly moved to support the City sponsoring a need-based
Young Ambassadors scholarship for middle school students who live
in Clearwater. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5.3 Review an update on city support for cultural exchange programs.
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As Japan relaxes its travel restrictions, city staff is investigating a return to
the student and official delegate exchange program in the summer and fall of
2023. Staff will produce a report on the likelihood of restarting the program,
budgetary impacts, and the process of student selection.
Mr. Hubbard said the City, working with CSCI, was committed to facilitate as
many in person exchanges as possible. Visiting Japan is a transformative
experience and the City wants to provide Japanese officials and students a
similar caliber visit. He hoped teacher exchanges will be reinstated soon.
Staff will continue to monitor travel to Japan.
6. Director's Report
Ms. Chill said CSCI planned to reestablish the Young Ambassador program
next summer if Nagano will accept the students. She reported the Nagano
English Language and International Department coordinators were new but
email addresses did not change. She requested information re Clearwater's
plans for an October 2023 Official Delegation visit. She said CSCI was
working to ensure a sufficient number of hosts are available to welcome
families and students into their homes.
Ms. Chill invited the public to the free family moon viewing event in October
at Moccasin Lake Nature Park.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
Member Kelly said he attended the informative, well -coordinated CSCI
events; he will continue promoting CSCI events on his radio program.
Member Parks said she missed the enriching experience of teacher
exchanges and looked forward to its renewal. Mr. Hubbard will report when
Nagano teachers can be accepted.
Member Teixeira said the new City Manager's priorities included celebrating
different cultures; a downtown Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos
(Day of the Dead) begins November 1.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p m
i• --a Y
Chair, Sist r Cities Advisory Board
Board R -porter
City of Clearwater
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