HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Sister City Committee - 10/05/2009 RECEIVED
,,,ster City Steering Committee
Monday, October 5, 2009, 5:45 p.m. FEB 1 0 2010
6th floor Conference Room, City Hall
1201 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX
CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE
MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT STAFF
Mary Babbili Brandi Williams Drue Combs Laura Gonzales
Randy Farrar Elizabeth Garza Melody Cooper
Jorge Brenner John Rocha Almira Flores
Maria Jaramillo Michele Hammock
Rose Gunji Dora Hidalgo
Westi Horn Liette Ocker
Tim Dowling Kate Rodriguez
Phyllis Roseman
CALL TO ORDER:
The regular meeting of the Sister City Steering Committee was called to order by General Chair
Brandi Williams at 6:15 pm.
II. ROLL CALL: Laura Gonzales called roll. A quorum was met with 10 of 18 members present.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Corrections: Under Committee Reports H: Change "there" to "their"
Rose Gunjii moved to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by
Westi Horn. The minutes were approved as corrected.
IV. TREASURER'S REPORT: DISCUSSION ITEMS: Laura Gonzales reported that the General
Fund balance is $ 18,000. PALS account is $6,879.92.
Randy Farrar moved to accept the Treasurer's Report and John Rocha seconded the motion.
The Treasurer's report was accepted.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT: Alan Thornburg spoke briefly about his desire to become a
member of the Sister City Committee as we will be voting on new committee members
this evening.
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
A. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on nomination and election of General Chair to assume
position on October 5, 2009 Rose Gunjii nominated Brandi Williams for General Chair.
Randy Farrar moved to reappoint Brandi Williams by acclamation as General Chair. The
motion was seconded by Maria Jaramillo. The motion passed.
B. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on selection of new committee members and
reappointment of Brandi Williams and Drue Comb.
Randy Farrar moved to reappoint Brandi Williams and Drue Combs. The motion was
seconded by Timothy Dowling. The motion passed.
The committee selected Alan Thornbourg, Yoshiko Boulan, Donald Russell, and
Samantha Sandate as the choices for new committee members to be submitted
to the City Council.
C. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on progress of the Sister City Parkway Signage in Sister
City Park. Bids were sent out and returned and the new signs have been ordered and
will be delivered within 30 days. The park crew will be constructing the sign when the
materials have been delivered.
D. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on how we will react to our new budget and how many
students we will b..,le to send. In October, we send out packets for students to
apply for the exchange. Tabled
E. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on fundraising for next year. Tabled.
F. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on where the Sister City display is at the Corpus Christi
Airport. Brandi and Laura met with Angela Rowe and it was discussed that the flags
would be moved upstairs in the walkway near Security. Laura will call Angela Rowe and
check on the status of the flags being moved upstairs.
G. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on sending letter from Sister City Committee to Mayor
Adame requesting that Sister City be aligned under his protocol staff. Randy Farrar
moved that Brandi write a letter to the Mayor requesting that the Sister City Committee be
moved from Parks and Recreation to the Mayor's staff. Brandi requested Randy to write a
draft of the letter for her signature. He agreed. John Rocha seconded the motion. The
motion passed.
H. DISCUSSION AND ACTION on change of meeting time. Bylaws state that the meeting
time is the time that is posted on the agenda. There is not a set time in the bylaws. A
different time could be set month to month as needed. John Rocha moved to change the
meeting time to 6:00pm, with the provision that on special occasions the meeting time
could be changed. Timothy Dowling seconded the meeting. The motion passed.
VII COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Publicity Committee — John Rocha notified media outlets about the Student's
presentation from their exchange. John would like to be removed from the Publicity
Committee. Maria is working on the website and will remain on the Publicity Committee
until someone else can be appointed. Maria would like to stay on this committee and
work on the web site but doesn't want to work with the media. Elizabeth Garza
volunteered to be on this committee. Discussion will continue at the next meeting.
B. Selection Committee — John Rocha suggested that the student's test should be made
mandatory for them to pass. Discussion will continue at the next meeting.
C. Fundraising Committee—
E. EXPO/International Cultural Festival - International Education Week at the University is
the third week of November. Sister City can participate by having our student's speak
with international students coming from abroad. On Thursday (Nov.19) of that week,
there will be a dinner and maybe some of the members can attend and promote Sister
City Committee. On Dec. 8, the World Affairs Council will have a meeting about the
US/China relations. They will be celebrating the 30 years of the US/China relations at
the University.
F. Yokosuka, Japan —. No Report
G. Agen, France — Received a gift from the exchange students. Maria will give it to the
Parks and Recreation department for display.
H. Keelung, Taiwan —
I. Monterrey, Mexico —
J. Toledo, Spain, Javier Morin —
K. Veracruz, Mexico —
L. Playa del Carmen —
M. Curriculum Committee/Training —
N. Art Competition Committee — Since Sharon is no longer on the committee we will need
to find a new chair. Discussion will continue at the next meeting.
O. New Sister City-Evaluation Committee —
P. Activities Committees —Westi hopes that when we have activiuies that all committee
members will participate.
Q. Pen Pals — Tabled
VIII. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA—
A. Discussion and Action on moving money to different line items in the budget so that
all the money is not on the Travel line item.
B. Discussion and Action on the December Meeting being held at Westi Horn's house.
IX. GENERAL CHAIR'S REPORT:
X. ADJOURNMENT: Timothy Dowling moved to adjourn and Elizabeth Garza
seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 pm.
Laura Gonzales, Sister City Recording Secretary
Cultural Services Division
Parks & Recreation Department