Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission AGENDA Meeting March 16, 2021 www.charlottesville.gov/zoom I. Approve Meeting Minutes (February 16, 2021) II. Updates: New CSCC Members as of Monday, March 15th (appointed by City Council). III. Virginia Festival of the Book: let’s discuss opportunities for cross-promotion since we are a sponsor this year. IV. Sister Cities International Youth Artist and Authors Showcase 2021 - information from Elizabeth about a CSCC proposal. V. The Festival of Cultures is doing a virtual celebration this year in May. We are a sponsor of this event, what kind of outreach could we do? a. For example, Sin Barreras is joining us as a partner and offering a link to a video on Hispanic Heritage in Charlottesville, and JMRL is hosting a Bollywood fitness class. VI. Update on Funding: Our request for $15,000 was not included in budget talks. It was listed as an “unfunded departmental request”. The original letter was written to our Acting City Manager before. Plan to submit a request to our new City Manager (?) a. Council has also scheduled a public budget forum for March 17 beginning at 6:00 p.m. VII. Student Exchanges. There is a possibility for some student exchanges in the 2021-2022 academic year. Is this something we would like to share with the Cville community? Upcoming Meetings: Tuesday, April 20 at 4:30 pm Tuesday, May 18 at 4:30 pm Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the public meeting may call the ADA Coordinator at (434) 970‐3182 or submit a request via email to ada@charlottesville.gov. The City of Charlottesville requests that you provide a 48 hour notice so that proper arrangements may be made. Remote participation supported for the duration of the City Manager’s Declaration of Emergency issued March 12, 2020. Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission Meeting Minutes Zoom Meeting February 16, 2021 Present: Amanda Folsom, Michael Grinnell, Daman Irby, Kate Kogge, Dave Norris, Elizabeth Smiley, Adrienne Ward Absent: Stella Mattioli, Nana Ghartey, Neely Minton, Joan Clarke Non‐members present: Maxicelia Robinson (Deputy Clerk of Council), Lachen Parks (Communications Director) Meeting opened at 4:34 pm. Kate and Daman Irby presiding. A quorum was deemed present. I. Approval of January minutes Motion to approve: Michael Grinnell Seconded: Daman Irby Motion to approve minutes as written passed with no abstentions. II. 2020‐21 Grants Cycle / Program – update by Amanda Folsom  Reviewed the amount determined for this year’s cycle, $16K;  the proposed award total is ca. $11K  also consideration of funding in different categories other than grants (travel scholarships, event sponsorships); Discussion of individual proposals: Peace and Creative Connection through Art  Increased budget $1850? (extra $ to cover art supplies, shipping on Sister City side)  Daman brings up potential that increased budget still not adequate, esp given that city is not yet determined;  Suggested city Huehue? o Motion to increase grant amount to $1850: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Adrienne Ward (Carried: 7‐0) o Motion for the grant applicant to determine which sister city they will partner with for the project: Elizabeth Smiley o Seconded: Dave Norris (Carried: 7‐0) International High School Exchange  Rec: fund thru travel scholarships program, not Grants Program  However, pandemic conditions make student travel in 2021 highly unlikely; grant applicant wishes to postpone to next year’s cycle (withdraw application for future consideration)  Students are overwhelmed w virtual learning, experiences so does not wish to shift in that direction  Elizabeth Smiley open to working w applicant to know more about the opportunity, esp for less‐advantaged students; notes that Besancon has many exchange programs already, so structures are in place; but she would want to know more about how this proposal relates to others in place, to guard against duplication; Neely should also be consulted re risk management; she can talk w Rebecca  Conversations are ongoing on virtual exchange/connections arrangements between CVille and Besancon (and other cities);  Extra time also allows us to get clearer on whether there is a line item in CSCC for travel scholarships and for how much; Michael asked if we want to allow that for each separate city; to be discussed Face to Face Portraits, Bridge PAI/Speak!  Rec $3950, full funding; all 4 cities  Will require grantees to work w our Sister City Reps to establish connections; o Motion to approve: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Elizabeth Smiley (Carried: 7‐0) Sister City Conversations  Rec no funding, but talk further about potential budget allowance for language learning/training, possibly in tandem w upcoming trips to Sister Cities o Motion to not approve: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Dave Norris (Carried: 7‐0) Huehue Internet Solutions  Rec $3500; full funding minus costs of equipment deemed unnecessary o Motion to approve funding of up to $3500, with 3D printer removed from budget: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Adrienne Ward (Carried: 7‐0) Pen & Paper/Make Sisters Write  Rec $2500  Answers from applicant addressed questions about usage of funds o Motion to approve: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Elizabeth Smiley (Carried: 7‐0) Reading Ghanaian Voices at the Virginia Festival of the Books  Rec $1000 support, but not as grant rather event sponsorship o Motion to not approve grant funding: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Dave Norris (Carried: 7‐0) o Motion to approve Event Sponsorship of $1000: Dave Norris o Seconded: Adrienne Ward (Carried: 7‐0)  Michael Grinnell notes leaves total budget balance of $25K ca.  Amanda Folsom notes that Pleven‐oriented event sponsorship not used last year, as VBook Fest cancelled in 2020 DiversItaly Lecture Series  Rec no funding, as focus on Italian Sister City (Poggio a Caiano) is missing o Motion to not approve grant funding: Amanda Folsom o Seconded: Davis Norris (Carried: 7‐0) Michael Grinnell asked about VA Festival of Cultures;  Kogge noted it’s happening in May 2021  Grinnell will put in line item for $500, the usual contribution for this event o Motion to approve a sponsorship of $500 to the VA Festival of Cultures: Dave Norris o Seconded: Michael Grinnell (Carried: 7‐0) Next steps on Grants Program:  Amanda will be in touch with the Grants Committee and follow‐up with grant applicants regarding funding decisions. Meeting adjourned at 5:40 pm. Next CSCC meeting is on Tuesday March 16 @ 4:30 pm via Zoom.