Sister Cities

Idaho Falls Sister City Meeting Minutes Monday, August 28,2017 Members in Attendance: Dave & Carole Walters, Paul & Sheri Hansen, Kevin & Joan Fuhrman, Cal & Cindy Ozaki, Brian & Julie Wartchow, Clarke Kido, Jovita & Mike Cosens, Edward & Cheryl Zaladonis Guests: Bill Kelly & Kathy Reyes-Kelly Minutes: Approved as read Treasurer’s Report: Balance $6466.07 Business:  Friendship Garden-Clarke passed out handouts about the building of the garden, its plants, and the bridge at Taylor’s Crossing that were given out on the eclipse weekend. Judy estimated at approximately 2-3000 people toured the garden that weekend. They received a lot of praise for the garden, the city and our citizens. Edward and Mike have been doing a lot of garden work and have recently completed a sidewalk going down from the tea house.  Carole received a thank you note from the youth delegation for our support during the youth exchange.  Brian passed around an information sheet for the delegates going to Japan to fill out and also took individual pictures of the delegates to send to Japan.  Carole reported on the City Council meeting July 27th. The Sister City ordinance was voted on and passed. The Mayor will put together a committee consisting of voting members from both the adult and youth delegation, 3 at large city residents, appointed by the Mayor, who are not members of SC. Non-voting members of the city would consist of 1 elected city official, 1 member of the youth group, 1 member of the Chamber of Commerce, and one representative from Parks & Recreation, as appointed by the Mayor. All appointments will be confirmed by the Council.  The city voted on the proposed budget for the year. Last year the Sister City groups received $9000, this next year it was approved at $15000.  The Mayor has asked if it was not too late to send someone from the city on the exchange. She will get back to us.  Kevin talked about the Sakai group and a few others who attended the Select USA meeting and met a reporter for the Daily News a Japanese newspaper. They have arranged with REDI to meet this week with Mayors from Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Ammon, and Rexburg for interviews along with Kevin Fuhrman and Carole Walters in regards to Sister Cities.  Exchange: We still have not received any information back from Japan. Carole will contact Haruka and try and get some information on the exchange as well as who is the current President of their Sister City organization.   Gifts: We still are on the lookout for the gifts we need to take. We are having made laser crafted wooden coaster for the delegates and passed around a signup sheet for our members to order some for themselves. We have ordered a wooden Idaho puzzle for Mayor Yamada. We still need a gift to Sister City House and the City of Tokai, and the President of the Tokai Sister City organization. Sheri & Carole are going to look at some Indian glass and art work. The next meeting is Monday September 11 at 7 pm in the City Council Chambers. Sheri Hansen Historian, Idaho Falls Sister Cities (Filling in for Janelle Tomchak)