CITY OF ANAHEIM
SISTER CITY COMMISSION
MINUTES
October 28, 2024 – 4:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
STAFF PRESENT:
Lori Dinwiddie, James Dinwiddie, Simin Heydari,
Chiarina Piazza, Joseph Aihara, Susan Klaren-
Hatzenbuhler, Anthony Al-Jamie
Kristin Erickson
Juan-Carlos Mendez, Alicia Valadez-Gonzalez,
Deana Helmy
Kimberly Kelemen, Community Services
Taylor Griffin, City Administration
Agenda Posting: A complete copy of the Anaheim Sister City Commission Agenda was posted on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at Anaheim City Hall.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lori Dinwiddie called the Anaheim Sister City Commission (ASCC) meeting to order at 4:09 p.m. on Monday, September 23, 2024.
II. FLAG SALUTE
Commissioner James Dinwiddie led the flag salute.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
NA
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Commissioner Monika Sargent made a motion with the ask of editing her name from the September minutes where her name was mentioned once by mistake. Commissioner James Dinwiddie seconded the motion, AND MOTION CARRIED (Vote: 10-0; Absent: Juan-Carlos Mendez, Alicia Valadez-Gonzalez, Deana Helmy (One Vacant Seat) that the Anaheim Sister City Commission does hereby approve the minutes from the ASCC meetings held on August 26, 2024, and September 23, 2024, as presented.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
October 28, 2024
V. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT
MOTION: No motion made as the commission waits on an updated report from the Anaheim Community Foundation.
VI. DISCUSS COMMITTEES AND BUDGETS
Chair Lori Dinwiddie discussed the recent committees created and would like to get more people in some of them before they start discussing actual business/activity.
VII. DISCUSS VICTORIA-GASTEIZ
Chair Lori Dinwiddie updated the commission and let everyone know she will reach out to the Mayor and Vice- Mayor in Victoria-Gasteiz to try and reconnect.
VIII. DISCUSS CURRENT STATUS OF RELATIONSHIP WITH PUDONG, CHINA
Staff Kimberly Kelemen gave an update after speaking to our Assistant City Manager Greg Garcia, who is a liaison on our committee. He has confirmed Pudong, China is more of a “friendship” City relationship. Commissioner Joseph Aihara made a comment about feeling like we may be spreading ourselves too thin and would like to really follow through with re-connecting with Spain. Chiarina concurred and stated that if we are not an official Sister City with China, we should prioritize Spain.
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ommissioner Anthony Al-Jamie made a recent connection with a Spain professor that is from Victoria-Gasteiz and will help get us in touch with the right people. The commissioners and staff gave a couple ideas of what our connection can be, whether it’s business, student exchange, community involvement.
IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Staff Taylor Griffin asked Commissioner Anthony Al-Jamie if David Bracey and/or himself are on any committees.
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no updated report from the Anaheim Community Foundation Staff Kimberly Kelemen stated there is a current balance of $3,861.91.
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ommissioner James Dinwiddie spoke about his previous experience as Treasurer and suggested they look at the budget as $0, so they have a starting point. They can then decide where the current balance should go. He feels the current amount should be held as “emergency” fund.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
October 28, 2024
Commissioner Kristin Erickson asked about how much fundraising the commission will need to budget for and asked what the expenses were from the previous year.
Taylor brought the financial report from the inbound and outbound expenses on display for the commission. Noted that about $10,000 were spent on the Student Exchange.
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ommissioner Joseph Aihaira made comment that to start fundraising they should start with concrete numbers.
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ommissioner Monika Sargent suggested that we ask local businesses to sponsor with money or other items for the 50th anniversary coming up.
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hair Lori Dinwiddie talked about the past fundraising experience in the past with Anaheim Brewery.
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ommissioner Chiarina Piazza asked who covered the costs for the Japan trip in April. Staff Kimberly Kelemen stated that the city covered the costs.
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ommissioner Anthony Al-Jamie asked if the expenses were combined or separate for the inbound trip. Staff Taylor Griffin stated that the expenses were combined, both city purchased, and commission purchased.
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taff Kimberly Kelemen spoke about the funding that Mito brings for the inbound trip to Anaheim. She explained that Anaheim does not send money to Mito when the students go there.
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taff and commissioners talked about how funding has changed over the years and how much students pay and or what is contributed from the inbound students.
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taff Kimberly Kelemen said that in previous years, the students have contributed 1,000 dollars towards the trip. Most recent trip students contributed $300 dollars.
Commissioner James Dinwiddie said that the amount changes depending on who is sitting on the commission.
Commissioner James also spoke about how the contribution from each of the students can change the type of trip experience the students have.
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ommissioner Joseph Aihara discussed that the students who really want to go on the trip will fundraise the money.
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hair Lori Dinwiddie said that in previous years, the commission was successful with asking for a larger contribution.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
October 28, 2024
Commissioner James Dinwiddie asked if we have a student application ready, and Staff Kimberly stated it is being reviewed and decision needs to be made as to how much the students will be contributing next year.
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ommissioner Joseph Aihara, along with staff and some commissioners all feel that if the cost is raised for the trip, it may deter students from applying.
Commissioner Chiarina Piazza suggested putting the cost up front and rewording the application.
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hair Lori Dinwiddie mentioned that the commission previously offered grants to the students who needed financial help with the costs of the trip.
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ommissioner Anthony Al-Jamie asked if the commission felt that $300 dollars was too low. Chair Lori said yes, she felt that the students should cover at least half of the costs.
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ommissioner Anthony Al-Jamie said that $750 dollars would be around half of the cost of the flight.
Commissioner Kristin Erickson suggested $500 dollars because it still gives the lower income students a chance.
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ommissioner Susan Klaren-Hatzenbuhler mentioned adding an agreement with each student and parent about having to volunteer and be a part of the inbound student exchange.
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mmissioner Simin Heydari mentioned that the students should be made to participate in internships prior to going on the trip.
She also asked if the city has internships for the students, they could participate in.
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taff Kimberly Kelemen spoke about the internships we could provide that are currently already in place with the city.
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ommissioner James Dinwiddie added that in the application they also include a section about extracurriculars for the student to write about.
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ommissioners continued to discuss various potential student agreements to be able to go on the trip and they also discussed on what amount to charge the students overall. Commissioner Anthony Al-Jamie suggested half the airfare which would be about $700 dollars.
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ommissioner Joseph Aihara asked about how many students are standard for the exchange. Staff Kimberly Kelemen said its about 6-8. Chair Lori Dinwiddie stated that we could negotiate with Mito as to how many students we send inbound and outbound.
Anaheim Sister City Commission
October 28, 2024
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hair Lori Dinwiddie stated she will be sending update emails regarding the subcommittees and reviewed the rules of the Brown Act for the subcommittees.
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urer David Bracey offered an invitation to the commissioners to the new Japan Center opening.
X. STAFF COMMENTS
Staff Kimberly Kelemen wanted to thank those that attended the thank you dinner and a special thank you to staff Taylor Griffin for her hard work on organizing it.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:19 p.m. to Monday, November 25, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.