SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE

200 E. Wells Street City of Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Meeting Minutes SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE ALDERMAN JOE DAVIS, SR., CHAIR Al Durtka, Eric Gass, Leslie Silletti, and Charles Vang Staff Assistant, Chris Lee, 286-2232, Fax: 286-3456, clee@milwaukee.gov Legislative Liaison: Amy Hefter, 286-2290, ahefte@milwaukee.gov Tuesday, September 18, 2012 2:30 PM Room 301-B, Third Floor, City Hall Meeting convened at 2:32 p.m. Present 1 - Davis Excused 1 - Gass Individuals also present: Amy Hefter, Legislative Reference Bureau William Malone, Department of City Development 1. Roll Call. The roll was called. 2. Approval of the Previous Minutes of December 14, 2011. Mr. Durtka moved approval, seconded by Mr. Vang, of the minutes of December 14, 2011. There were no objections. 3. Presentation on the City of Kochi, India Relative to Establishing a Friendly Exchange Leading to a Sister City Relationship. Individuals appearing: Shajan John, Mahattil International LLC James Godsil, Sweet Water Foundation Christopher Vacherno, Nelson Schmidt Inc. and Water Council representative Dr. Sunni George, Mahattil Advisors Consultants and Educators Jason Axe, Sweet Water Foundation Intern Mr. John gave introductory remarks and introduced Dr. George, Mr. Vitrano, and Mr. Godsil. Mr. John gave an overview on his company, Mahattil International LLC. Founded in 1992, it is a global business development firm that globally connects institutions and organizations that want to collaborate and partner together. One example is the creation of an aquaponics site in India. Mr. John said that one important concept in his company is called Growing Networks, City of Milwaukee Page 1 SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes September 18, 2012 which is an idea to develop opportunities for young people to become global leaders through their involvement in communities around the world, engagement in meaningful activities, and establishment of lifelong relationships after graduation from college. An example of this concept was the creation of an aquaponics site in India that involved the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Sweet Water Foundation in Milwaukee. Mr. John said that the interest in a sister city relationship with Kochi, India is for a partnership between the Milwaukee Water Council and the Center for Heritage and Environment Development in the City of Kochi. The relationship is to focus on water management. Mayor Tom Barrett received a letter from the Mayor of Kochi , India and a book last week. Dr. George, Dean Amhaus from the Milwaukee Water Council, and he had met with Mayor Barrett. Mr. John proceeded to give a presentation on the City of Kochi, India. Kochi is also known as Cochin. The city was a gateway for European explorers into India in the recent past. Kochi is in the state of Kerala. Its coast was controlled by Arabs in the past. Local kings ruled the state up until the time of independence in 1947. Kochi is a growing port city, has the first transshipment port for container and cargo transportation by ships in the country, is the site of the headquarters of the southern naval command of India, has a large shipyard for the manufacturing of ships, and is a destination for health care needs and tourism for people in the region and the Middle East. The city has a dense population of 600,000, similar to Milwaukee. It has a lake that is not fresh and considered slime. There is significant marine activity. It is unique in having the first private airport in India. Many information and technology firms have expanded their sites in Kochi. There is a diverse community due to Arabs, European explorers, and the navy. The makeup of the city is 30% Muslim, 30% Christian, and 30% Hindu. Kerala has 100% literacy among its people. Mr. John further commented on the proposal for a sister city relationship. There will be a consortium of organizations working from both ends, and the local lead sponsor is the Milwaukee Water Council. Primary initiatives are to leverage the strength of water technology in Milwaukee and Kochi’s heritage and tourism . Both cities would benefit with visitors and delegations for this purpose. Both sponsors have the involvement of both mayors. The desired impacts, economic in nature, are for global market access, workforce development, job creation, and tourist exchange. Academic collaboration is necessary and important with the collaboration of students from both ends to ultimately lead to innovation, development, resolutions, new products and services, and exchange of scholars. Community engagement is important and is provided through international service learning internships and tourist exchange. Dr. George provided comments. Both cities are similar with its connection to water. Kochi is facing water related problems dealing with quality and waste management. There is a desire to find a solution. There is an immense possibility for student and tourist exchanges. Mr. Vitrano said that this relationship requires a diverse set of audience groups , commitment, communication, understanding of the roles of public and private sectors, and for public acceptance. Mr. Godsil provided comments. There was a six city tour to spread information about Milwaukee’s aquaponics innovation, which he was involved with in June 2011. Aquaponics has been publicized nationally through TV and radio outlets. He has a passion to increase global bioculture. City of Milwaukee Page 2 SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes September 18, 2012 Ald. Davis introduced Ms. Hefter and Mr. Malone. Ms. Hefter is a research analyst and pulls data together, and Mr. Malone is involved in international relations and trade. Mr. Malone has hosted several youth delegations coming from different areas of the world. Mr. Durtka said that in addition to the focus on economics, the relationship must have a culture aspect beyond tourism for long term sustainability. There should be real exchanges that take place, such as arts and literature. Ald. Davis said that he was excited about the possibilities of student exchange, philanthropic dollars, and interaction of small businesses. He added that the city cannot be micromanagers but instead, let the relationship flourish. Mr. Durtka moved approval, seconded by Mr. Vang, to extend a formal application to be made for a sister city relationship between the City of Milwaukee and Kochi, India . There were no objections. Ald. Davis said that the application should be filed within 90 days. Mr. Hefter said that the application process, once completed, involves another committee meeting for approval, drafting of a resolution, and Common Council approval. An official relationship is for five years and requires the local sponsor to provide annual reports of activities. Ald. Davis said that once a relationship is established, there should be a ceremony involving the mayors from both cities. Ald. Davis said that benefits of a formal relationship are: full membership of both cities to Sister Cities International, access to state departments, listing in the Sister Cities International annual book, and opportunities to attend regional and national conferences of Sister Cities International. Mr. Durtka added that a formal relationship gives access to occasional grants that are available, such as the Gates Foundation grant. Mr. John provided letters, addressed to the Milwaukee Water Council and the Mayor’s office, from the mayor of Kochi to Mr. Lee for the record. 4. Discussion, Review, and Approval of 2011 Annual Reports. Mr. Durtka moved approval and acceptance, seconded by Mr. Vang, of the sister city annual reports of Carora, Venezuela and Umathluze, South Africa. There were no objections and no further discussion. 5. Discussion on the Sister City Relationship with Morogoro, Tanzania. Ald. Davis said that since the ceremony and donation of a fire truck to Morogoro, there have not been any correspondences received documenting the activities of the relationship. It is possible to terminate the relationship, but outreach should be done to find another principal. 6. New Business for Future Discussions. Mr. Durtka questioned the status of the annual report for Galway, Ireland? City of Milwaukee Page 3 SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes September 18, 2012 Mr. Lee responded that correspondence requesting for an annual report submittal has been sent to Irish Fest, the local sponsor for the relationship with Galway. No annual report was received. Mr. Durtka said that there is a new director, Patrick Boyle, at Irish Fest. Ald. Davis requested Mr. Lee to send another notification to the new director at Irish Fest requesting for an annual report. Mr. Durtka inquired as the developments for a sister city relationship with Turkey ? Ald. Davis said that an official application has not been received. If there is interest in the future, another presentation at a meeting would be required again before the committee would extend a formal application to be made. 7. Set Next Meeting Date and Time. No meeting date and time was set. Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m. Chris Lee, Staff Assistant City of Milwaukee Page 4