The Sister Cities Commission will be welcoming 2 new regular members, 2 new alternate members and 1 new youth representative in May 2026. Straub is bringing forward this item to consider how the Commission can best welcome and onboard these new members, and this memo will serve as a starting place for a brainstorming session at the April 8, 2026 meeting.
4c
New Member Onboarding
Discussion
· 15 min
· Stephanie Angula and Ryan Opitz, Co-Chairs
· packet pp.11–12
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…
4d
2025 Commission Report to City Council
20 min
4e
Visiting Artist Update
Information
· 10 min
· Ryan Opitz and Stephanie Angula, Co-Chairs
4f
IVE Tabling
Discussion
· 10 min
· Christian Nilsen, Member
5. REPORTS
5a
Youth Representative Update
5 min
· Sanvi Madan, Youth Representative
5b
Sunndal, Chefchaouen and Sister Cities International Monitoring
5 min
· Brandon Grossi, Member
5c
Joint Arts, Sustainability Initiative with Chefchaouen Update
5 min
· Stephanie Angula, Sanvi Madan, and Wendy Pickering
Topics:ClimateArts & CultureElections
6. OTHER BUSINESS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
6a
Parking Lot Next meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2026
Pam Robinson – Alternate (serving as regular member)
Ellen Wunderley – Alternate (serving as regular member)
Staff (3)
Gillian Straub, Staff Liaison
Dale Markey-Crimp, Assistant to the City Administrator
Sanvi Madan
Excused
Brandon Grossi
Christian Nilsen
Recommendations & actions (3)
Sentences extracted from the narrative containing words like
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against the full minutes for context.
The minutes were APPROVED as presented by unanimous consent.
The commission agreed to a 6-6:30 social before the May meeting and offer a board buddy that is matched up at the May meeting.
Commissioners requested that the report specify that the 2026 visiting artist will likely be from Norway, and Straub noted that Sanvi Madan needs to be added to the list of commissioners.