HomeMy WebLinkAboutSCAC.2023.0118.MinutesTOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS SISTER CITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
JANUARY 18, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER — Vice Chairman Tall
Vice Chairman Tall called to order the regular meeting of the Sister Cities Advisory
Commission at 4:05 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL — Vice Chairman Tall
Present: Vice Chairman Bev Tall; Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell; Commissioner Lisa
Ristuccia; Commissioner James Wilson
Absent: Commissioner Marlene Fahrenbach
Staff Town Manager Grady Miller; Executive Assistant Angela Padgett -Espiritu
Present:
3. CALL TO THE PUBLIC
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.01(H), public comment is permitted (not required) on matters NOT listed on the
agenda. Any such comment (i) must be within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and (ii) is subject to
reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. The Commission will not discuss or take legal action on
matters raised during Call to the Public unless the matters are properly noticed for discussion and legal action.
At the conclusion of the Call to the Public, individual commissioners may (i) respond to criticism, (ii) ask staff to
review a matter, or (iii) ask that the matter be placed on a future Commission agenda.
No one from the public spoke.
4. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Approval of the minutes of the Regular
Meeting of September 21, 2022.
MOVED BY Vice Chairman Bev Tall, Commissioner James Wilson to APPROVE the
minutes of the September 21, 2022, Regular Meeting of the Sister Cities Advisory
Commission.
AYE: Vice Chairman Bev Tall, Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell, Commissioner Lisa
Ristuccia, Commissioner James Wilson
5. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Appoint of a Commission Chairman.
MOVED BY Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell, Commissioner Lisa Ristuccia to APPOINT Vice
Chairman Bev Tall to Chairman of the Sister Cities Advisory Commission.
AYE: Vice Chairman Bev Tall, Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell, Commissioner Lisa
Ristuccia, Commissioner James Wilson
6. CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Appoint of a Commission Vice Chairman.
MOVED BY Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell, Commissioner Lisa Ristuccia to APPOINT
Commissioner James Wilson to Vice Chairman of the Sister Cities Advisory Commission.
AYE: Vice Chairman Bev Tall, Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell, Commissioner Lisa
Ristuccia, Commissioner James Wilson
7. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION: Selection of a New Sister City.
A discussion ensued between the Commissioners and Town Manager regarding the
criteria and selection process for a new Sister City.
The Commission discussed selecting a new sister city to replace Kasterlee. They agree
guidelines should be created first to help determine the compatibility and suitability of
potential new sister cities.
A collaborative team is proposed for creating the guidelines, comprised of members from
the Sister Cities Commission, the Sister Cities Association Board, and the wider
community. The Commission would use examples from other cities as models when
drafting their guidelines.
There is debate around whether Sister Cities International (SCI) approves and recognizes
sister city relationships. It's clarified that SCI mainly doesn't allow the same foreign city to
have multiple U.S. sister city partners.
Discussion covers responsibilities and activities between the Commission and the
Association Board. A flow chart is suggested to clearly lay out roles, overlap, and gaps.
It's agreed personal connections to candidate countries are very valuable in fostering
enduring sister city ties, but relationships cannot overly rely on individuals as people
eventually move on. Succession planning and developing wider connections are important.
The merits of possible Asian sister cities are raised given existing European links,
however, ease of travel and communication needs to be assessed.
8. NEXT MEETING DATE: Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
The next regular meeting of the Sister Cities Advisory Commission will be held,
Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
9. ADJOURNMENT
MOVED BY Commissioner Lisa Ristuccia, Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell to ADJOURN the
regular meeting of the Sister Cities Advisory Commission at 4:50 p.m.
AYE: Vice Chairman Bev Tall, Commissioner Zarrin Caldwell, Commissioner Lisa
Ristuccia, Commissioner James Wilson
SISTER CITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION
ATTEST AND PREPARED BY:
nge a Esiiritu, Exetive A,ssibtant
ev Tall, Chairman
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular
Meeting held by the Fountain Hills Sister Cities Advisory Commission in the Town Hall Council
Chambers on the 18 day of January, 2023. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a
quorum was present.
DATED this 16 day of January, 2024.
Angela Espirit , , Executive Assistant