Sister Cities Commission — Naperville, IL
Date: 2024-05-08

400 S. Eagle Street
 City of Naperville Naperville, IL 60540



 Meeting Agenda

 Sister Cities Commission

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 6:30 PM NEU




A. CALL TO ORDER:

B. ROLL CALL:

C. PUBLIC FORUM:

D. OLD BUSINESS:

E. REPORTS:
1. 24-0568 Welcome our new Commissioners to the Sister Cities Commission

2. 24-0548 Approve the Sister Cities Commission meeting minutes of April 10, 2024

3. 24-0583 Begin discussion of the roles and responsibilities of the Sister Cities
 Commission and Sister Cities Foundation

4. 24-0567 Discuss opportunities to collaborate with the Naperville Public Library to
 bring awareness to the Sister Cities program
5. 24-0587 Discuss ideas to bring awareness to our Sister City in Nitra, Slovakia

6. 24-0581 Discuss calendar of events to include current and past events that we have
 participated in and to recognize National Days of celebration or holidays
 that tie into our Sister Cities program

F. NEW BUSINESS:

G. ADJOURNMENT:
 Any individual with a disability requesting a reasonable accommodation in order to
 participate in a public meeting should contact the Communications Department at least
 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. The Communications Department can
 be reached in person at 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL., via telephone at
 630-420-6707 or 630-305-5205 (TDD) or via e-mail at info@naperville.il.us. Every effort
 will be made to allow for meeting participation.




City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 5/6/2024

City of Naperville

 400 S. Eagle Street
 Naperville, IL 60540




Meeting Minutes - Final

 Wednesday, May 8, 2024

 6:30 PM



 NEU



Sister Cities Commission
Sister Cities Commission Meeting Minutes - Final May 8, 2024


A. CALL TO ORDER:

 Chairman Fuhrer called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.

B. ROLL CALL:
 Present 7- Tony Chamberlain, Becky Rudolph, Allison Longenbaugh, Yugin Wang, Neelam
 Saboo, Daniel Bukowski, and Lance Fuhrer
 Absent 3- Arun Mani, Ganesh Kar, and James Alan Lowe


C. PUBLIC FORUM:

 None.

D. OLD BUSINESS:

E. REPORTS:

1. Welcome our new Commissioners to the Sister Cities Commission

 Chairman Fuhrer welcomes Sister Cities Commissioner Dan Bukowski who
 was appointed by the Council on April 16, 2024.

2. Approve the Sister Cities Commission meeting minutes of April 10, 2024
 This Report was approved.

 Aye: 6- Chamberlain, Rudolph, Longenbaugh, Wang, Saboo, Bukowski, and Fuhrer

 Absent: 3- Mani, Kar, and Lowe


3. Begin discussion of the roles and responsibilities of the Sister Cities Commission and
 Sister Cities Foundation
 Commissioner Fuhrer stated that there needs to be some clear boundaries
 drawn between the Commission and Foundation. He further stated that the
 Commission serves at the behest of the City and our actions are governed by
 their guidelines, rules, suggestions and directions as a City Commission. We
 have a partner foundation and that relationship has varied in terms of its
 collaborative nature.

 The goal is to discuss the roles and responsibilities that have been drafted and
 start a conversation and bring a final version to the August meeting.

 Some key items from the discussion are that the Commission has to be the
 member of Sister Cities International, and any purchases made have to comply
 with city rules, adding some information about how money can be used,
 providing limits without being too restrictive.

 Chairman Fuhrer discussed adding that the Foundation applies for SECA
 funding each year. Tina Cui from the Foundation was present to provide her
 perspective and suggests adding language that says the Foundation supports
City of Naperville Page 1 Printed on 10/25/2024
Sister Cities Commission Meeting Minutes - Final May 8, 2024

 Sister Cities goals and missions.

 If Commissioners have suggestions for vendors for the Hispanic Fest, refer
 them to the Foundation. Councilwoman Longenbaugh suggested that maybe 2
 Commissioners collaborate with the Foundation on the festival.

 Commissioner Rudolph asked how do we define an art exchange. Is that
 considered a special event?

 Marcie Schatz stated that there are funds in the city budget for the arts
 competition and this would not be considered a special event.

 Marcie Schatz stated that events are difficult, but we can work around some
 language. We understand that Commissioners want to be involved in these
 special events, but we need to clearly define their roles.

 When we look at other boards that have Foundations, these Foundations have
 been established so that people can donate money and the fundamental
 purpose of the foundation is to help fund some of the costs of fundraisers, etc.

 Marcie Schatz stated that the foundation exists to support the Commission.
 Commission should get to a point where they can let the Foundation know what
 they'd like to raise money for the City can fund smaller events.




4. Discuss opportunities to collaborate with the Naperville Public Library to bring awareness
 to the Sister Cities program
 Commissioner Rudolph met with Dave Della Terza and he shared that the
 weekend is the best time to plan events at the Library.

 Commissioner Rudolph shared some ideas on what she has in mind.

 1) January 1 Celebrate Slovakia Day
 2) Prior to Hispanic Fest, make a button
 3) Read a story in Slovakian language

 We will reach out to Wisnoski to see if there's a date where she's available to
 speak at the library.




 Sister Cities Commission will provide a speaker for a program to be held at the
 Naperville Library in 2025 to promote awareness with our Sister City, Nitra
 Slovakia and Sister Cities will support National Hispanic Heritage Month by
 having a related craft project at the Library in September 2024.

 Aye: 6- Chamberlain, Rudolph, Longenbaugh, Wang, Saboo, Bukowski, and Fuhrer

 Absent: 3- Mani, Kar, and Lowe

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Sister Cities Commission Meeting Minutes - Final May 8, 2024



5. Discuss ideas to bring awareness to our Sister City in Nitra, Slovakia

 Commissioner Chamberlain reported on some ideas he has to promote Nitra.
 He said that there is a Slovakian has a choir group performing and that maybe
 we could have them perform with the band. Councilwoman Longenbaugh
 inquired whether the group can perform at the band shell.

 Commissioner Chamberlain suggested hosting a Slovakian dinner and
 Chairman Fuhrer thought this may be hosted by the Foundation since it would
 include selling tickets and food.

 Commissioner Saboo suggested working with schools on the kids making
 posters for display. Chairman Fuhrer stated that they there are 40 schools and
 trying to integrate a special project like this into the school has not been
 successful in the past. It was suggested that Commissioner Saboo reach out to
 Jacque Clermont and/or Jeannie Dina to see if the schools would be interested.




6. Discuss calendar of events to include current and past events that we have participated in
 and to recognize National Days of celebration or holidays that tie into our Sister Cities
 program
 Becky Rudolph proposes having a calendar of events that include current and
 past events. Adding that its important to capture the things we have done.

 Marcie Schatz said staff will reach out to Nina Menis to see if she would like
 Sister Cities to participate in the Kite Festival in June.

 Councilwoman Longenbaugh stated that since January is Nitra Slovakia month,
 we could have the city highlight different items about Nitra and send out as a
 social media post as away to create awareness.

 Councilwoman Allison Longenbaugh discussed the future of Sister Cities and
 getting back to basics, having a quorum, starting with a clean slate moving
 forward.




F. NEW BUSINESS:

G. ADJOURNMENT:
 A motion was made by Chamberlain, seconded by Rudolph, approved. The
 motion carried by a unanimous vote.



City of Naperville Page 3 Printed on 10/25/2024
Sister Cities Commission Meeting Minutes - Final May 8, 2024




 /s/ Rachel Pruneda
 Rachel Pruneda




City of Naperville Page 4 Printed on 10/25/2024