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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Sister Cities - 12/16/2004CITY OF PALM DESERT SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES December 16, 2004 — 3:00 p.m. Administrative Conference Room 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Talboys called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. II• ROLL CALL Members Present: Patricia Bannon Donna Jean Darby Bill Harris Rolf Hoehn Nancy Jo McIntosh Rose Mary Ortega Gilbert Slagel Mark Talboys, Chairman Staff/Others Present: Buford Crites, Mayor Donna Gomez, Visitor Center Manager Sarah Healy, Ex-Officio Member Briana Kirkwood, Ex-Officio Member Lori Wimbish, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. Member Absent: John Marman IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD NOVEMBER 18, 2004 Motion made by Nancy Jo McIntosh to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 18 2004, seconded by Bill Harris. Motion carried unanimously by a show of hands 8-0. V. NEW BUSINESS A. DISCUSSION OF US/MEXICO SISTER CITIES CONFERENCE, JANUARY 2005 Chairman Talboys began a discussion regarding the US/Mexico Sister Cities Conference. There was a concern that attending the 2005 Conference may not be purposeful unless the sessions and/or workshops are beneficial to the committee. Donna Gomez offered to contact SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES December 16, 2004 Page 2 conference officials to obtain greater details on the itinerary of the conference and get that information to the committee members via e-mail. The consensus was that if the conference itinerary proves to be valuable to the committee they would consider sending two representatives. Motion was made my Ms. McIntosh to get more information on the sessions of the conference and the value of those sessions to the committee, seconded by Mr. Harris. Motion carried unanimously by a show of hands 8-0. B. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST BY SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL FOR 2004 ANNUAL FUND DONATIONS AND NOMINATIONS Chairman Talboys referenced a letter from Tim Honey, the Director of Sister Cities International, regarding fund donations. A contribution of $500 in 2004, and a pledge to contribute $500 in 2005 are the amounts required to become a 50th Anniversary Community Partner. The contribution means that the organization will be recognized as a 50th Anniversary Community Partner, and will directly support all of the initiatives being planned for the celebration in 2006. A list of Sister City donors to the 2004 Annual Fund was also included in the correspondence. Chairman Talboys felt that Mr. Honey has been doing an extraordinary job and that Sister Cities International has come a long way under his stewardship. A discussion regarding the benefits of contributing to the fund ensued. The consensus of the committee was to get more information and bring it back for further discussion. Chairman Talboys began a discussion regarding the nominations. The following motions were made. Motion was made by Ms. McIntosh to recommend the nominations of Mayor Buford Crites, Councilmember Jean Benson, and Mayor Pro Tem Ferguson, seconded by Gil Slagel. Motion defeated. Motion was made by Rolf Hoehn to establish a subcommittee and to choose at least two individuals to serve on the committee, seconded by Mr. Harris. Motion carried by a show of hands 7-0-1. Ms. McIntosh abstained. Chairman Talboys, Rose Mary Ortega, and Bill Harris volunteered to serve on the subcommittee. Rolf Hoehn was added. C. REVIEW OF SISTER CITIES BROCHURE Ms. Gomez had a draft of the new brochure for the committee to review after the meeting. The brochure will be brought back for final review and approval. SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES December 16, 2004 Page 3 D. UPDATE ON SISTER CITIES GOLF TOURNAMENT Chairman Talboys introduced Debra Bamber from Club Intrawest. Ms. Bamber said that Club Intrawest's newest property opened in Ixtapa- Zihuatanejo on December 15, 2004. She gave an overview of the type of involvement Club Intrawest was considering with regard to the Sister Cities Golf Tournament. Mr. Harris asked Ms. Bamber if she could use the mailing list from past participants and include them in their direct marketing. Ms. Bamber said they could. She said they did not want to reinvent the tournament, they wanted to help make it bigger and better. She did stress that there needs to be a clear picture of how the proceeds will be distributed. Chairman Talboys said he was delighted by the overtures of Club Intrawest and that there is a tremendous amount of synergy. Motion was made by Donna Jean Darby to approve that the Sister Cities Golf Tournament on April 8, 2005, be a joint effort between Club Intrawest and the Sister Cities Committee, seconded by Rolf Hoehn. Motion carried unanimously by a show of hands 8-0. E. CONSIDERATION OF SCHUEDULING JOINT COMMITTEE RETREAT AND COMMUNITY TRIP DURING MAY 2005 SISTER CITIES CONFERENCE IN IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO Chairman Talboys said Dr. Cantu has expressed a desire for the two committees to get together sooner rather than later. However, the committee has been talking about a community trip to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and we have also been made aware that the Sister Cities Conference will be held in May 2005, although the confirmation of dates is not available. Chairman Talboys asked the committee what their thoughts were on the subject. Ms. McIntosh thought that combining a retreat with a community trip would be complicated. Ms. Darby said the artist in residence will be here the last week of May cheduled fo May therebeginning of June 0might beHarris prem um that if the community p is s on hotel space. Motion made by Mr. Harris to approve the joint committee retreat to coincide with the Sister Cities conference in May 2005, seconded by Ms. McIntosh. Motion carried unanimously by a show of hands 8-0. F. CONSIDERATION OF THE IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO ANIMAL SHELTER (Added item by unanimous vote.) Chairman Talboys asked Mayor Crites to address the committee regarding the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Animal Shelter. Mayor Crites gave an overview of the conditions at the animal shelter. He felt strongly that the efforts being made to preserve indigenous animals in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES December 16, 2004 Page 4 by these individuals is commendable and wanted to help them financially with this effort. Motion made by Mr. Harris to approve a $750 donation to the Ixtapa- Zihuatanejo Animal Shelter to help their efforts in wildlife preservation, seconded by Ms. McIntosh. Motion carried by a show of hands 7-1. Ms. Darby opposed the motion. VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None. VII. OLD BUSINESS None VIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. CITY COUNCIL Mayor Crites said the Palm Desert table top book is available at the Visitor Center and encouraged everyone to look at the book if they haven't already done so. He also said the City Council has received the applications for the vacancies on the Sister Cities Committee and they are currently being reviewed. B. COMMITTEE CHAIR Chairman Talboys received a letter from Miriam Swarbrick, which he read to the committee. A discussion ensued regarding trade opportunities for both cities. Chairman Talboys said that Ms. Swarbrick is working very diligently with her committee and there are many things they are considering. He did speak with Ms. Swarbrick with regard to the Aesthetic Arts Program and the Artist in Residence Program. She spoke with Tina Swan and Jeanette Maynard to see if they were interested in attending the AEP in 2005. Ms. Swarbrick was concerned whether Gisborne would have the resources this year to pursue the Artist in Residence Program. With regards to the Maori artwork at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum, they were all in agreement to proceed with that project. Chairman Talboys mentioned that the Sister-Cities.org website has a Market Place. He encouraged the committee to go online and check it out. SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE MINUTES December 16, 2004 Page 5 COMMITTEE MEMBERS Mr. Harris graciously commended the committee and its members for their contributions, commitment, and good work. He is very proud to be a part of this committee. Ms. Darby stressed the importance of the City Council choosing individuals with experience in areas that are needed within the committee. D. SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS Art, Culture &Education Ms. McIntosh said they have sent correspondence to Gisborne regarding a student exchange and are awaiting their reply. She will give a more detailed update in the near future. Tourism & Economic Development None. Humanitarian Ms. Ortega said all of the medical equipment to be donated has been picked up and delivered. The only thing left is the equipment remaining for the pick up by Waste Management. Chairman Talboys has contacted Waste Management to take care of the remaining equipment and waste. STAFF Ms. Gomez met with O'Jay Vanegas and Ginger Ridgway, the curator of the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. The date to transfer the artwork to the museum is January 10th and will be displayed through the middle of March 2005. They will market the exhibit and sell the artwork to those who express an interest in purchasing a piece. A reception is being planned for the opening and the preliminary date is January 19tn Ms. Gomez passed around photographs given to her by Ignacio Otero of the Fire Department in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo wearing the fire uniforms donated to them by the committee. Ms. Gomez passed out copies of the committee's current budget. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p. Lori Wimbish, Recording Secretary *Reminder: Our next meeting will be held January 20, 2005 at 3:00p.m.