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Sister Cities Commission

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

6:30 PM
Topic tracked across meetings:
Informational Update: Young Artists & Authors Showcase Recognition ID 2065 8/9
Section
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2a
Minutes of October 8, 2025 Meeting
packet pp.3–6
Staff report:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 10-08-25 Sister Cities Commission Minutes Page [0000]
2b
Minutes of November 8, 2025 Special Meeting
packet pp.7–8
Staff report:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES b) 11-08-25 Sister Cities Commission Minutes Page [0000]
4. REGULAR BUSINESS
4a
Follow up from Retreat
Discussion · 30 min · Stpehanie Angula & Ryan Opitz, Co-Chairs · packet pp.9
Staff report:
Items Target Completion Subcomittee Needed Update website, based on Chicago model Q2 2026 Yes Thing exchange Q2 2027 Yes Travel assistance - guides, resources, guided tour, orienteering Ongoing, coincides with website Yes Sustainability + youth Ongoing No Online shopping/commerce exchange Review Q1 2027 No Book club with the library Q2 2026 No Honoring with placemaking TBD - Gillian to look into TBD 3-city historical digitial timeline 2027 TBD portal / weather or salmon camera 2028-? TBD develop resources & relationships ongoing Yes social events - food & music (plan for) moved to resources TBD preschool-to-preschool program Q1 2026 (moved to resources) No New City & SCI research phase ongoing Yes 2026 Projects Previously Discussed YAAS Visting Artist
4b
2026 Young Artists & Authors Showcase Decision and Subcommittee Membership (A)
15 min · Stephanie Angula & Ryan Opitz, Co-Chairs
5. REPORTS
5a
Sunndal, Chefchaouen & Sister Cities International Monitoring
5 min · Brandon Grossi, SSC Member
5b
Nordic Museum Contact/Outing
5 min · Pam Robinson, SSC Member
5c
Joint Sustainability Project
5 min · Gillian Straub, Management Analyst
Topics: Climate
6. OTHER BUSINESS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
6a
Parking Lot The next meeting is scheduled for December 10, 2025 - location change likely
packet pp.11
Topics: Transportation
Staff report:
Applicable Strategic Plan Goal Areas 2025 WORKPLAN (check all that apply) SISTER CITIES COMMISSION ☐Mobility ☒Social & Economic Vitality ☐Growth & Development ☐City Leadership & Services ☐Environ. Stewardship ☐Infrastructure
No transcript available for this meeting yet.

Attendance

Council / Members (8)
Stephanie Angula
Victor Bello
Brandon Grossi
Maryann Heil
Ryan Opitz
Wendy Pickering
Pam Robinson - Alternate
Ellen Wunderley – Alternate (excused absence)
Staff (1)
Gillian Straub, Staff Liaison
Excused
Shari Gehrke
Christian Nilsen
Sanvi Madan

Recommendations & actions (2)

Sentences extracted from the narrative containing words like recommended, requested, directed, moved, or approved. Best-effort — verify against the full minutes for context.

  • The minutes were APPROVED as presented by unanimous consent.
  • The Commission moved to postpone YAAS until 2027, to work on the connections with the sister cities in 2026, to ensure submissions include artists from Issaquah and one of the sister cities.