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 Monday, May 12, 2014 9:00 AM Room 301-C, Third Floor, City Hall Special Meeting convened at 9:09 a.m. Individual also present: Amy Hefter, Legislative Reference Bureau 1. Approval of the Previous Minutes of April 17, 2014. Mr. Durtka moved approval, seconded by Mr. Gass, of the minutes of April 17, 2014. There were no objections. 2. Review of the Application Relative to Establishing a Sister City Relationship with Medan, Indonesia. Individuals appearing: Alberd Pardede, Consul for Economic Affairs (Indonesian Consulate General) Fessahaye Mebrahtu, Pan African Community Association, Inc. Magugu Davis, Pan African Community Association, Inc. Leni Siker Mr. Pardede gave introductory remarks. He represents the Indonesian Consulate in Chicago and the City of Medan. His office and Mr. Khay Khong have provided the necessary information to the committee and will make preparations to move the agreement forward to coincide with an Indonesian business forum in Milwaukee on June 4, 2014. There are no objections from his side. The Pan African Community Association, Inc. (PACA) will be the local sponsoring agency in Milwaukee for the sister city relationship. There have been many sister city agreements between Medan and other cities, such as one with St. Louis, Missouri. The counterpart to PACA in Medan is the Medan Sister City Association (MSCA). MSCA represents mostly business associations. MSCA also represents academic and cultural associations. Ms. Davis, Sister Cities Director of PACA, said that Mr. Khong is driving the sister city relationship initiative with Medan on behalf of PACA; however, he could not attend this meeting due to being out of the country. City of Milwaukee Page 1 SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes May 12, 2014 Mr. Mebrahtu said that PACA has the commitment and capacity to sponsor a sister city relationship with Medan. PACA’s role is to incorporate its vision with its other sister city relationships with this one. PACA will engage and share helpful knowledge with the local community to gain support for the relationship. Mr. Khong has intimate knowledge of Indonesia. Sponsorship doesn’t have to be restricted and can be from another ethnic based agency. There is historical linkage between Africa and Indonesia with the participation of African freedom fighters and diplomatic relations in 1951. Ald. Davis said that members are to review the application and Proposed Substitute A of CCFN 140085 before them. If approved by the committee, the resolution for CCFN 140085 will be considered by a special meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee and the regular meeting of the Common Council tomorrow, May 13, 2014. The goal is to have an agreement signing ceremony by June 4, 2014 during the time of the Indonesian business forum in Milwaukee. Members discussed the importance of submitting yearly reports. The report requirement serves to verify accomplishments and benchmarks of a sister city relationship. The business forum should be a great first part of the first annual report for the sister relationship between Medan and Milwaukee. Ms. Siker appeared and testified. If possible, the committee should be open to an Asian based organization to locally sponsor the relationship if such an organization comes forward in the future. She has been and will continue to work with the Indonesian consulate office to make a sister city relationship with Medan successful. Ald. Davis replied that there should not be any concerns with PACA as the local sponsoring agency. PACA will engage other groups and will not shut everyone out. PACA has already been working together with other organizations, such as the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, and the consulate office is comfortable with having PACA as the local sponsor. Mr. Pardede said the scope of participation in the sister city relationship with Medan should not be limited to one organization or an Asian based organization. His office and Medan welcomes a coalition of all kinds of willingness, interests, and cooperation from any entity in Milwaukee. Mr. Durtka moved approval, seconded by Mr. Gass, for a sister city relationship between the City of Medan, Indonesia and the City of Milwaukee. There were no objections. Mr. Pardede gave final remarks. The Indonesian business forum is an annual event and will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. There will be delegations from Medan, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry, Coordinating Board of Investment, and Chamber of Commerce from Indonesia. The delegates will participate in the business forum as well as engage in site visits. One important site visit will be the Water Council and its waste water management technologies. Another site visit will be to Harley Davidson. He is hopeful that many local businesses will participate in the business forum. Committee members, PACA, and others are invited to participate in the business forum, to visit Medan, and participate in an Indonesian manufacturing forum in October. Due to the business forum occupying the entire day of June 4th, the signing agreement should be organized at City Hall on June 5th between 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The delegates will return to Indonesia on June 6th. Ald. Davis gave final remarks. If members have any suggestions for site visits for the Indonesian delegates or participants for the business forum, they should forward the City of Milwaukee Page 2 SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes May 12, 2014 suggestions to him to help put an itinerary together. The City Clerk’s office should check on room availability for the Common Council Chambers, Mayor Tom Barrett’s availability, and supply four sets of plaques in English and Indonesian each for the agreement signing ceremony as requested by Mr. Pardede. 3. New Business for Future Discussions. There was no new business for future discussions. 4. Set Next Meeting Date and Time. Next meeting date and time was not set. Meeting adjourned at 9:42 a.m. Chris Lee, Staff Assistant City of Milwaukee Page 3