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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />CITY COUNCIL CIVIC AND CULTURAL COMMITTEE <br />September 23, 2008 <br />4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. <br />San Leandro City Hall <br />835 East 14th Street <br />San Leandro, California <br />Sister Cities Gallery <br />HIGHLIGHTS <br />Committee Members: Mayor Santos, Vice Mayor Stephens, and Councilmember Gregory <br />City staff present: Interim City Manager Steve Hollister; Community Relations <br />Representative Kathy Ornelas <br />Public present: City Councilmember Diana Souza; Karen Holzmeister, Daily Review <br />The meeting was called to order at 4:05 p.m. <br />1. Discussion Regarding Funding For Mayor and/or City Council Travel to Sister Cities <br />or Friendship Cities <br />Mayor Santos reviewed the history of the Mayor's Community Fund and its original intended <br />purpose as a funding source for support for Sister City events and travel. He also reviewed <br />how recent travel by himself, Vice Mayor Stephens and Interim City Manager Hollister has <br />been at their own expense and not funded by the City. Unfunded travel is a financial burden <br />to the individuals, and the Mayor proposed the City Council consider providing funding for <br />Sister City or Friendship City travel in the future when economic times permit. He also <br />suggested that he and the Councilmembers consider using their allocated <br />Training/Transportation budgets for such travel. <br />Vice Mayor Stephens suggested that the City Council suspend all international travel until <br />the current budget crisis has passed. <br />Councilmember Gregory concurred that international travel at this time may not be prudent, <br />although each request should be considered on a case-by-case basis in the event that there <br />maybe some economic benefit for the City for travel to a Sister or Friendship City. <br />Staff discussed proposed changes to the Sister City and Friendship City Guidelines in the <br />City Council Handbook, which include a travel request form the City Council could review if <br />travel funding is requested (see attachment). Committee members recommended the changes <br />to the Guidelines be brought before the City Council for consideration with the additional <br />