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Sister Cities Commission

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

6:30 PM
Topics tracked across meetings:
Learning Management System Solicitation for Participants 2/2
2026 Project Updates assistance serve on interboard committee for the joint sustainability project 2/2
Section
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2a
Minutes of January 14, 2026, meeting
packet pp.3–5
Staff report:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 01-14-26 Sister Cities Commission Minutes Page [0000]
4. SPECIAL BUSINESS
4a
Learning Management System Solicitation for Participants
5 min
5. REGULAR BUSINESS
5a
Bylaws Update
Action · 15 min · Gillian Straub, Management Analyst · packet pp.7–22
Staff report:
Pursuant to the Issaquah Municipal Code (IMC) 2.54.030 (C), we, the members of the Sister Cities Commission do hereby adopt, publish and declare the following rules and regulations which shall govern the conduct of business.
5b
Membership & Recruitment Update
Information · 5 min · Stephanie Angula, Co-Chair · packet pp.23–71
5c
Report on Trip to Chefchaouen
Information · 15 min · Wendy Pickering, SSC Member · packet pp.73–74
Staff report:
APPROVED: [Date] REVISED: [Date]
5d
2026 Work Plan Adoption
Action · 5 min · Gillian Straub, Management Analyst · packet pp.75–76
Staff report:
APPROVED: [Date] REVISED: [Date]
5e
2026 Project Updates assistance serve on interboard committee for the joint sustainability project
Discussion · 20 min · packet pp.77–78
Topics: Climate
Staff report:
Issaquah has two sister cities, Sunndal, Norway and Chefchaouen, Morocco, and the City maintains its relationship with these two cities primarily through exchange of elected officials and through the efforts of the Sister Cities Commission, established by City Council in 2007. From IMC 2.54.010, the purpose of the Sister Cities is to “increase the knowledge, goodwill, and understanding of the world through people-to-people diplomacy, education, cultural exchanges, economic exchanges, and humanitarian assistance.” 2025 Commission Update In 2025, Commissioners traveled with Mayor Pauly to Sunndal, Norway, held a youth artist and authors showcase, received recognition from Sister Cities International for humanitarian assistance, tabled at Welcoming Week and began partnering on a joint climate project with Chefchaouen. Travel to Norway Mayor Pauly, staff Tina Eggers, and Commissioners…
5f
2025 Commission Report to City Council
10 min
6. REPORTS
6a
Youth Representative Update
5 min · Sanvi Madan, Youth Representative
7. OTHER BUSINESS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
7a
Parking Lot
Topics: Transportation
7b
Next meeting is scheduled for March 11
No transcript available for this meeting yet.

Attendance

Council / Members (8)
Stephanie Angula, Co-Chair
Maryann Heil
Christian Nilsen
Wendy Pickering
Pam Robinson – Alternate – serving as
regular member
Ellen Wunderley – Alternate – serving as
regular member
Staff (3)
Gillian Straub, Staff Liaison
Tisha Gieser, City Clerk
Sanvi Madan
Excused
Ryan Opitz, Co-Chair
Brandon Grossi

Recommendations & actions (6)

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.
  • a) Learning Management System Solicitation for Participants Stephanie Angula requested that Commissioners participate in her final project for her master’s program if desired.
  • She requested that any commissioners who are interested in supporting her work contact her.
  • Christian Nielsen moved that the bylaws be adopted as presented.
  • If all applicants are recommended, then there will be two alternate positions vacant.
  • Pam Robinson noted a need to change the chair elections on the work plan to October, to align with the previously adopted bylaws changes.