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| | | | Meeting convened at 1:40 p.m. | | | |
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| | 1. | | Review and Approval of the Previous Meeting Minutes of April 10, 2015.
Minutes note: Mr. Durtka moved approval, seconded by Mr. Tovar, of the meeting minutes from April 10, 2015. There were no objections. | | | |
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141721
| 0 | 2. | Communication | Communication relating to establishing a Friendly Exchange or Sister City Relationship with Bomet County, Kenya.
Minutes note: Individuals appearing:
Dr. Alice Kones, Kenyans in Milwaukee
David Mugun, Kenyans in Milwaukee
Isaac Kiprono Rutto, Governor of the County of Bomet, Kenya
Esther Rutto, First Lady
Dr. Stanley Kiplangat, County Executive Committee, Health
Robert Kipngeno Bett, Member of the County Assembly
Stephen Changmorik Kipngetich Koech, Member of the County Assembly
Robert Metet, Member of the County Assembly
Wesley Kipkemoi, Director, Resource Mobilization
Chepkemoi, Bomet Liaison
Dr. Kones and Governor Rutto introduced themselves and the Kenyan delegation at the table to the committee.
-Review of the Application for a Sister City Relationship between Bomet County, Kenya and the City of Milwaukee.
Ald. Davis said that the committee is to review the application before them and properly make a recommendation. If approved by the committee, the proposed sister city relationship can properly proceed to the Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee and the Common Council for review and possible adoption. Questions related to the government structure of Bomet County were addressed at the committee’s previous meeting. The CED Committee is aware of the proposal, and Governor Rutto appeared at a CED Committee meeting yesterday.
Members reviewed the application submitted by Dr. Alice Kones of the Kenyans in Milwaukee committee within the Pan-African Community Association (PACA), which is the local nonprofit sponsoring organization. The application is contained within Common Council File Number 141721 and Common Council File Number 141899.
Mr. Durtka said that the application materials were impressive, but the contact information of the PACA board should be submitted and included in the application.
Ald. Davis said that the contact information of PACA should be sent to City Clerk Staff Assistant, Mr. Lee. He added that he was comfortable moving forward with the relationship and was impressed with the members of the governing committee and the by-laws of PACA and the Bomet Development Trust, the nonprofit sponsoring organization in Bomet County.
Mr. Durtka moved approval, seconded by Ms. Barta, of the application for a sister city relationship between the County of Bomet, Kenya and the City of Milwaukee, as presented. There were no objections. Mr. Vang was absent.
-Review of the Resolution Establishing a Sister City Relationship between the City of Milwaukee and Bomet County, Kenya
Members reviewed the resolution before them. The resolution is contained within Common Council File Number 141721 and 141899.
Mr. Durtka moved approval of the resolution, as presented. There were no objections. Mr. Vang was absent. | RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE | | |
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141721
| 0 | | Communication | Communication relating to establishing a Friendly Exchange or Sister City Relationship with Bomet County, Kenya. | RECOMMENDED FOR PLACING ON FILE | Pass | 4:0 |
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| | 3. | | Review of Sister Cities Annual Reports.
Minutes note: -2015 Annual Report for uMhlathuze, South Africa
Individuals appearing:
Magugu Davis, Pan-African Community Association
Professor Johannes Britz, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Vice Chancellor and Provost
Robin Busalacki, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Ms. Davis gave a PowerPoint presentation and an overview of the annual report.
The focus of the sister city relationship between the City of uMhlathuze and Milwaukee has been regarding business growth, educational exchange, cultural exchange, best practices, and trade missions. There has been success with consistent communication between the two communities. PACA has hosted several events in Milwaukee, such as honoring South African Consul General Ms. Vuyiswa Tulelo in November 2014, South Africa Economic Consul Ms. Donna Maluleke in May 2015, and celebrating South Africa Freedom Day at the Milwaukee Yacht Club in May 2015. Ms. Davis had visited South Africa in December 2014. During her trip, she met with the uMhlathuze Municipal Manager Dr. Sibeko. She also met with HOPE and saw its projects. HOPE is the nonprofit sponsoring organization in uMhlathuze. There is interest for an uMhlathuze delegation to visit Milwaukee in 2015, but the trip has been delayed due to the election of a new mayor in uMhlathuze.
Many opportunities exist going forward for the sister city relationship. Culturally through HOPE, South African women want to look for markets with their cultural projects. Economically, the country is interested in housing and industrial developments. uMhlathuze is interested in developing its land next to the Indian Ocean similarly to Milwaukee’s Summerfest grounds. There is desire to launch in Milwaukee the Play Africa project, which is a project that opens museums for children to develop their skills and minds. There is also desire to implement a HOPE project that instills Christian and biblical principles to children. HOPE representatives are planning to visit Milwaukee.
The PowerPoint from Ms. Davis can be found within Common Council File Number 140008.
Mr. Britz said that there has been continuing educational exchanges for the sister city relationship between the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) and South African Universities, the University of Pretoria and the University of Zululand. There is an agreement between UWM and the University of Zululand for educational exchange. Faculty and students from the University of Zululand has come to UWM for research projects and to finish their education, respectively. One of his students has enrolled to do project at the University of Zululand regarding electronic information and poverty. There has been joint projects and with the universities and the uMhlathuze government dealing with ethics of electronic government. He is originally from the City of Pretoria and plans to visit the University of Zululand this October.
Ms. Busalacki said that she was part of an educational exchange to South Africa in February 2015 and visited a preschool there that lacked resources, supplies, and equipment.
Members inquired about the University of Zululand with respect to the number of students and proximity to water, how long the sister city relationship has been in place, and specific businesses engaged to move the relationship forward economically?
Mr. Britz replied that the University of Zululand has about 10,000 students and is more inland than by the coast to the Indian Ocean.
Ald. Davis said that the sister city relationship first started in 2008 and was renewed for another five years in 2014. He added that opportunities can now start to occur in the second term of the relationship as opposed to the first term, which generally consists of determining possibilities.
Ms. Davis said that opportunities exist for construction and industrial development. Spancrete, a Waukesha company engaged in precast concrete building innovations, will be sending their first machine down to South Africa by August this year. Johnson Controls is another company that can become involved.
Members made comments. Cultural events, like the Holiday Folk Fair and an African World Festival, can help expose people to African Culture and benefit the sister city relationship. The Milwaukee Health Department can use the Christian and biblical project of HOPE to help children in the Milwaukee community. Economic opportunities exist for water technology, which Milwaukee has.
Ms. Davis gave final comments. The sister city relationship has been important for past, current, and future exchanges. A big event in Milwaukee is doable but will require collaboration, planning, and funding.
Mr. Tovar moved approval, seconded by Mr. Durtka, of the 2015 annual report for the sister city relationship between the City of uMhlathuze, South Africa and Milwaukee. There were no objections. Mr. Vang was absent. | | | |
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| | 4. | | Old Business.
Minutes note: There was no old business. | | | |
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| | 5. | | New Business.
Minutes note: There was no new business. | | | |
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| | 6. | | Set Next Meeting Date and Time.
Minutes note: Staff is to schedule future meetings, as needed. | | | |
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| | | | Meeting adjourned at 2:14 p.m.
Chris Lee, Staff Assistant | | | |
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