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| | 3. | | Review and approval of the previous meeting minutes from October 1, 2025.
Minutes note: Meeting minutes from October 1, 2025 were approved without objection. | | | |
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| | 4. | | Discussion, review, update(s), and/or motion(s) on prospective and current sister city relationships and/or friendly relations relating to their establishment, status, activities, planning, and/or annual reporting.
Minutes note: a. Abuja, Nigeria
i. 2025 annual report (due 10/28/25)
Mr. Lee said that the 2025 annual report was filed and that representatives for this sister city relationship could not attend today's meeting to present on the annual report due to other conflicts.
Member Cheney Trawinski moved to hold to the call of the chair, seconded by member Hegarty, review of the 20205 annual report for the sister city relationship with Abuja, Nigeria. There was no objection.
b. Bomet County, Kenya
i. Expiration (expired 11/23/25)
ii. Renewal application
iii. 2025 annual report (due 11/11/25)
Mr. Lee said that the relationship had expired, no renewal application and 2025 annual report were filed, and representatives for the sister city relationship could not attend today's meeting due to other conflicts.
Member Durtka said he had concerns with the lack of attendance and timely filing of documents, which has happened before. Another concern was the lack of representation, which should be beyond one or two individuals similar to the standard of other sister cities. The committee should consider this relationship as no longer viable should there be no renewal application and 2025 annual report filed within the next 30 days.
Member Hegarty said the committee should be mindful for advance scheduling of meetings to accommodate local representatives in attending meetings. A month in advance would seem reasonable.
Chair Ald. Stamper concurred and asked for Mr. Lee to send correspondence to the representatives regarding the 30-day filing.
c. Kragujevac, Serbia
i. 2025 annual report (due 11/11/25)
Appearing:
Stefan Dostanic, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
Mike (Miso) Jovic, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
Rose (Ruzica) Sasich, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
Biljana Dostanic, St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
Mr. Dostanic and his team presented on the 2025 annual report. The mission and focus of 2025 activities were to strengthen cultural, educational, community, and economic ties; advance citizen diplomacy between the cities; and grow their organization and contribution towards the sister city program. There were two key achievements in the acquisition of a full-time Serbian language teacher, grant funded by the Serbian government, at their school and the facilitation of discussions for a Harley-Davidson dealership in Kragujevac. There was efforts to start working towards a school exchange between the cities where both sides could determine the type of exchange to take place including student exchange or transfer of practices. They would work to renew the grant for the Serbian instructor. They helped to connect corporate leadership with an investor regarding the dealership. Meetings on the dealership took place in the Czech Republic. Due to concerns with competition, the investor was working to buy out small dealerships currently existing in Kragujevac. Global engagement took place with Mr. Dostanic attending the SCI US-Japan Summit last year. Much experience, ideas, and best practices was gained and brought back to assist with the sister city relationship with Kragujevac.
There were various community and cultural programming that occurred in 2025: a youth grandmaster chess session at Serb Hall, suicide prevention training, attendance at the Latvian Independence Day event, participation in the Milwaukee Sister Cities meet-and-greet and Holiday Folk Fair booth, Serbian Days festival, Jos-Kos basketball tournament, St. Sava Church Slava celebration, international evening, career fair at Serb Hall, and FEMA assistance and social security info sessions. Much of these programming activities involved an effort to make the sister city relationship visible at these events.
Going forward for 2026, they looked to continue the growth in a school exchange, cultural exchange, economic collaboration towards a Harley dealership, a counter-signing ceremony in Kragujevac with Milwaukee officials attending; and to expand their committee to increase involvement and sustain their efforts. Serbian Days festival would be August 21-23 for 2026. There will be an Expo 2027 in Belgrade, Serbia to promote the region, and they welcomed any opportunity to assist or be involved in the expo.
Ms. Sasich commented. Mr. Dostanic and Mr. Jovic have been instrumental in sustaining their committee and bringing innovative, respectively. As part of the church board, she helped to bridge sister city activities with their church. All were welcomed to their Saints Day celebration occurring this Sunday at their cultural center.
Members commended the work and efforts of the St. Sava team.
Member Cheney Trawinski said that the promotion and visibility of the sister city relationship should be increased more at St. Sava's various events.
Member Hegarty moved approval, seconded by member Durtka, of the 2025 annual report for the sister city relationship with Kragujevac, Serbia. There was no objection.
d. Tarime District, Tanzania
i. 2024 annual report (due 12/11/24)
ii. 2025 annual report (due 12/11/25)
Appearing:
Dr. Christine Mosore, Mosorec International Foundation (MIF)
Chair Ald. Stamper said that he had discussed with Dr. Mosore in permitting her to attend the meeting virtually to present due to travel conflicts.
Dr. Mosore presented the 2025 and 2024 annual reports for the sister city relationship with Tarime District. She is the founder of her three MIF entities operating the relationship in both cities. Both cities were similar in shape and size. 2025 activities consisted of participation in the Milwaukee Sister Cities meet-and-greet event; participation as a panelist at the 2025 World Affairs Seminar presenting on citizen diplomacy, promoting sister cities, and engaging youths; participation at an International Institute of Wisconsin networking event welcoming professionals from abroad with one coming from Tanzania; and participation in the Milwaukee Sister Cities booth at the Holiday Folk Fair. The planned student exchange to host students in Milwaukee from Tarime was postponed due to challenges in VISAs, schedule conflicts, and funding. Due to the unrest in Tanzania, the 9th Tanzania Day celebration in November 2025 occurred differently with a prayer gathering instead of a program.
There was ongoing MIF support given to Tarime in 2025. Through partnership with the local government, a secondary school was built alongside MIF's academy in Tarime to increase access to education in the village. There was support to empower, train, and send graduating schools at the academy to higher education in Tarime. Local agencies were paid to train students. Electronic devices were added to the MIF academy in Tarime to help monitor electricity usage and save resources. Tanks were installed as an additional fresh water drinking source in Tarime where the well there would dry up at times. Planned for 2026 were the hosting of students from Tarime, a trip to Tarime and Tanzania and continuation of the global experience exchange program, ongoing youth development in both cities, and Tanzania Day celebration in November 2026.
In 2024 there was a summer student exchange and global experience trip in August where 8 students with chaperones, alongside herself, traveled to Tarime and Tanzania. MPS was engaged in addition to word of mouth concerning the students chosen. There were 15 students originally but the number reduced to 8 due to financial issues. The students who traveled engaged and contributed to the students and the local community in Tarime in various ways and gain many rewarding experiences. Their activities included providing medical supplies to hospitals; providing food to families and local markets; making food at a local mill; providing supplies, play equipment, and sporting equipment to the local academy and students, painting the facade of the school, and leading student activities. Electricity was also installed, after many years, at the MIF academy in Tarime as well as installing safe drinking water capacities. There was the 8th annual Tanzania Day celebration event in November 2024 featuring a virtual option and tour, African foods, and performances. Ms. Galaxy attended and spoke at the event, and Teju made a drum performance as well.
Members inquired about the student exchange program, the different MIF organizations, and the mutual benefit for Milwaukee.
Member Cheney Trawinski said that there should be virtual meetings with Milwaukee schools regarding student exchange between the cities, similar to her experience with the Kenyan and Ghana communities.
Dr. Mosore replied. She has two MIF nonprofits, one in each city, as well as a MIF pro-profit to help with funding and sponsorships. She has been working with MPS and engaging them for many years. The installation of electricity at the MIF academy in Tarime was in part to realize access to internet, which could be realize now to conduct virtual meeting options.
Member Hegarty moved approval, seconded by member Penaloza, of the 2024 and 2025 annual reports for the sister city relationship with Tarime District, Tanzania. There was no objection.
e. Other
Appearing:
Caitlin Ward, Irish Festivals, Inc. (dba CelticMKE)
Molly Modlinski, Irish Festivals, Inc. (dba CelticMKE)
Tomislav Kuzmanovic, Federation of Croatian Societies, Inc.
Anne Leplae, Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee
Ms. Ward and Ms. Modlinski gave a brief update on the sister city relationship with Galway, Ireland. Their committee board has expanded to include other significant contributors such as former Ald. Michael Murphy, Colleen Kennedy, and Mary Alice Tierney. Their main contact, Keith Finnegan, in Galway became the city's Internal Relations Officer. There was a November 2025 meeting with the Dept. of City Development on benchmarking. Some of their colleagues were in Galway presently. Former Ald. Murphy was honored in Galway and met the mayor there. He also facilitated a meeting of Galway officials visiting Milwaukee in August 2025. There was interest to bring in a youth soccer team to Milwaukee from Galway.
Chair Ald. Stamper asked that future information regarding events be sent to the committee.
Mr. Kuzmaniovic gave a brief update on the sister city relationship with Zadar, Croatia. The focus on water quality exchange between the cities was ongoing. They still needed information on the proper contact at the School of Freshwater Sciences. They would hold an annual meeting this Sunday. Their committee remained the same. They participated in the Milwaukee Sister Cities booth at the Holiday Folk Fair. Upcoming events and activities included their beer garden, Croatian Fest, Croatians coming to Milwaukee, and World Cup games for the Croatian soccer team. Information regarding these activities would be sent.
Member Cheney Trawinski said she would be of resource and would forward her contact information.
Chair Ald. Stamper said for Tom Krenz to contact and follow up with him regarding the contact for the School of Freshwater Sciences.
Ms. Leplae gave a brief update on the friendly exchange relationship with Chasse-sur-Rhone, France. The MoU signing took place in October 2025. 22 people, including a dozen students and chaperones, visited Milwaukee and attended the signing, which was hosted by the Milwaukee School of Languages. The delegation would make a film of their trip. The connection between the cities was the Joan of Arc Chapel on Marquette University grounds in Milwaukee. The chapel was transferred from Chasse-sur-Rhone. There was ongoing virtual meetings between the cities and interest from the Milwaukee School of Languages for possible exchange. One Marquette University student went to visit Chasse-sur-Rhone recently.
Ms. Leplae inquired about the process to pursue a sister city relationship.
Chair Ald. Stamper said that Mr. Lee could provide information regarding the sister city relationship process offline. | | | |
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| | 5. | | Discussion and review of Sister Cities Committee activities and meetings.
Minutes note: a. Coordination
Member Durtka said that there was discussion to gather all sister city and friendly relations representatives offline to come together to discuss ideas, challenges, and ways to improve the relationships. Mr. Lee's efforts have been helpful (but limited), and more could be done. He has these types of meetings through his activities with Sister Cities International regarding Japan. There should also be a calendar of events where all sister and friendly exchange cities can list all their events to better promote and inform everyone.
Member Cheney Trawinski said that there should be more proactive efforts to elevate and promote the sister cities, especially through social media via the City.
Dr. Mosore concurred with utilizing social media and advocated for a more dedicated resource person to assist with these efforts, which had been discussed for many years, whether it could be Mr. Lee or another person.
Chair Ald. Stamper said that he would help establish the suggested gatherings with everyone, ask the City Clerk's Public Information Office to help assist with social media, and utilize City Channel 25 as a tool for awareness.
b. Meeting frequency and schedule
Members had discussed striving to schedule meetings at least one month in advance to provide better opportunities for representatives to attend meetings in-person, which Chair Ald. Stamper would strive to do.
c. Other
There was no other discussion. | | | |
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| | 6. | | Review and motion to amend the Sister Cities Committee ordinance Chapter 335 relating to friendly relations.
Minutes note: Mr. Lee said that the proposed ordinance would change the terminology from "friendly relations" or "friendly exchange" to "friendship city" used in the Sister Cities ordinance (Ch. 335) to mirror the terminology used by Sister Cities International. This discrepancy was discovered during the friendly exchange relationship process with Chasse-sur-Rhone, France late last year.
Member Hegarty moved approval, seconded by member Penaloza, of the proposed ordinance. There was no objection. | | | |
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| | 7. | | Review and approval of the 2025 Sister Cities Committee annual report.
Minutes note: Mr. Lee said that the annual report summarizes the committee's meetings and activities for 2025 as well as overall information regarding the sister city and friendly exchange relationships.
Member Durtka moved approval, seconded by member Cheney-Trawinski of the Sister Cities Committee 2025 annual report. There was no objection. | | | |
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| | 8. | | Discussion on sister city related events and activities.
Minutes note: a. City event with Japanese and Serbian exchange leaders
Member Durtka said that there will be students from Japan visiting Milwaukee in October 2026 for a week. There was plans in 2027 to send a Serbian group to Japan.
b. Sister Cities International events and conferences
Member Durtka said that upcoming was the SCI annual conference in July 2026 in Washington D.C., which would be its 70th anniversary.
c. Holiday Folk Fair International Milwaukee Sister Cities Booth recap
Members discussed that the Sister Cities booth was successful again this year. The musical display items were great and something new. A concern was volunteers lacking overall knowledge regarding sister cities in general and the different sister cities despite there being information handouts present at the booth. Perhaps there can be an orientation to better educate volunteers. Other concerns were volunteers being late for their shifts and that the poster board was outdated and did not include information for all sister cities. There could be better supervision of volunteers.
d. Other
There was no other discussion. | | | |
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| | 9. | | Next steps.
Minutes note: a. Set next meeting date(s) and time(s)
b. Agenda items for the next meeting
To be determined. Agenda items to include matters that were held over. | | | |
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| | 10. | | Public comments and/or announcements.
Minutes note: Appearing:
Tony Snell Rodriguez, VISIT Milwaukee
Mr. Snell Rodriguez commented. VISIT Milwaukee was a destination marketing organization working with others like itself, such as Destinations International, to help with tourism, promote international relationships, and host visitors. He and others at VISIT Milwaukee attended Bastille Days and events of the French-American Chamber of Commerce. As a part of that they met and gifted items to the Consul General of France, and they would be willing to welcome and gift students exchanges coming to Milwaukee. They would like to be an asset to the sister cities. Sister cities were welcomed to utilize and list their events on VISIT Milwaukee's event calendars (travel and local community calendars).
Chair Ald. Stamper asked if Destinations International was able to share their knowledge of other sister city relationships through other cities and whether VISIT Milwaukee would like to add a representative to serve as a member on the Sister Cities Committee, which the latter he would add as an agenda item for the next meeting.
Mr. Snell Rodriguez replied that he would inquire with Destinations International and would certainly entertain further the committee membership opportunity. | | | |
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| | 11. | | Adjournment.
Minutes note: Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.
Chris Lee, Staff Assistant
Council Records Section
City Clerk's Office | | | |
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