INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & FRIENDSHIP CITIES COMMITTEE

MINUTES

An Open meeting of the International Relations and Friendship Cities Committee was held in the Council Committee Room, City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Tuesday, 2019 October 15 at 12:30 p.m.

1.

CALL TO ORDER

PRESENT:          Councillor James Wang, Chair

                           Councillor Pietro Calendino, Vice Chair

                           Councillor Paul McDonell, Member

STAFF:                Ms. Elaine Wong, Executive Assistant to the Mayor

                              Ms. Monica Macdonald, Administrative Officer

The Chair called the Open Committee meeting to order at 12:36 p.m.

The Chair, Councillor James Wang, recognized the ancestral and unceded homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples, and extended appreciation for the opportunity to hold a meeting on this shared territory.

2.

MINUTES

A)

Minutes of the International Relations and Friendship Cities Committee Open meeting held on 2019 April 24                        

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED By councillor mcdonell

THAT the minutes of the International Relations and Friendship Cities Committee Open meeting held on 2019 April 24 be adopted.

3.

CORRESPONDENCE

A)

Correspondence from the Mayor of Taichung City

Re: Invitation to Visit Taichung City - 31^st Taiwan Lantern Festival

Correspondence was received from the Mayor of Taichung City, Taiwan extending an invitation to the City of Burnaby to the 31^st Taiwan Lantern Festival to be held in Taichung City from 2020 February 8-23.

The Committee expressed interest in visiting Taichung City at a later time, and inquired regarding participation of Tourism Burnaby.

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED By councillor mcdonell

THAT staff send a copy of the correspondence to Tourism Burnaby and inquire regarding interest in developing tourism in Taichung City.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

This matter was further discussed under item 3 B).

B)

Correspondence from the Mayor of Kushiro City

Re: Invitation to Visit Kushiro City - 55th Anniversary of the Burnaby/Kushiro Sister City Relationship                                      

Correspondence was received from Mayor Ebina Hiroya, Kushiro City, Japan inviting Council to Kushiro City in honour of the 55^th anniversary of the Burnaby/Kushiro Sister City Relationship.

Arising from discussion of this item and item 3 A), the Committee expressed interest in visiting the two cities on one trip in 2020 May/June, and introduced the following motion:

MOVED BY councillor mcdonell

SECONDED By councillor calendino

THAT the Committee request Council approval to accept the invitation from Kushiro, Japan and authorize a delegation of Council to visit Kushiro in 2020.

THAT Committee request Council approval to accept an invitation from Taichung City, Taiwan and authorize a delegation of Council to visit Taichung City in conjunction with its visit to Kushiro, Japan.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

C)

Correspondence from the Chair, Mesa Sister Cities Host Committee

Re: Invitation to Visit the City of Mesa - Mesa Sister Cities' Conference

Correspondence was received from Mr. Dennis P. Kavanaugh, Esq., PC, Chair, Mesa Sister Cities Host Committee, extending an invitation to the City to visit Mesa in fall 2020. Mr. Kavanaugh advised that the Host Committee is hoping that delegations from Mesa’s five Sister Cities (located in Mexico, China, Peru, New Zealand and Canada) will attend.

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED By councillor mcdonell

THAT the Committee request Council approval to accept the invitation from the Mesa Sister Cities Host Committee for a delegation of Council to visit Mesa, Arizona in the fall of 2020, and invite representatives from Tourism Burnaby, Burnaby Board of Trade, and Burnaby Board of Education to participate in the Official Sister City visit.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

4.

NEW BUSINESS

Councillor Calendino - City of Padua

Councillor Calendino advised that there has not been a response from the City of Padua to His Worship, Mayor Hurley’s correspondence regarding a Sister City relationship proposal, and undertook to follow up.

Councillor Wang - City of Hwaseong 10^th Anniversary in 2020

Councillor Wang advised that 2020 will mark the 10^th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Hwaseong, South Korea and the City of Burnaby.

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MCDONELL

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

THAT the Committee recommend that His Worship, Mayor Mike Hurley, on behalf of Council, invite the Mayor of Hwaseong to visit Burnaby in the summer of 2020 in commemoration of the 10^th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between  Hwaseong and Burnaby.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

5.

INQUIRIES

There were no inquiries brought before the Committee at this time.

6.

ADJOURNMENT

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED By councillor MCDONELL

THAT the Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Open Committee meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

________________________

________________________

Monica Macdonald

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor James Wang

CHAIR