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Accepting the gift of travel expenses from Visit Saint Paul for Councilmember Dai Thao, and official gifts from MN Lynx and MN United, for an official delegation to Changsha, China from October 6 through October 12, 2019 for the purpose of reaffirming our partnership and our friendship as sister cities.
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WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul enjoys a longstanding sister city relationship with Changsha, China; and
WHEREAS, Council member Dai Thao will be co-chairing the Saint Paul delegation to Changsha, China from October 6 through October 12, 2019 for the purpose of reaffirminng our partnership; and
WHEREAS, Sister City Delegation visits serve a public purpose of expanding opportunities in the realm of Education, Arts and Culture, Business, and Inter-government Exchange; and
WHEREAS, 2019 marks 31-years of Sister City Friendship with Changsha; and
WHEREAS, Visit Saint Paul has offered to pay for travel expenses (travel, food, accommodations, official gifts) totaling $3,700 for Council member Dai Thao; and
WHEREAS, the MN Lynx and MN United has offered to donate official team memorbilias as gifts to the Changsha deleagates during the sister city visit totaling $250; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City hereby accepts the gift from Visit Saint Paul and appropriates them for the travel expenses of Council member Dai Thao for the official visit to Changsha, China; and
RESOLVED, the City accepts the donated official team memorbilias from the MN Lynx and MN United as gifts to Changsha delegates; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City finds that this appropriation serves the public purposes of the advancement of trade, education, arts/culture and intergovernmental relations between the citizens and officials of the cities; and
FINALLY RESOLVED, that on behalf of the City of Saint Paul, the Council extends its thanks and appreciation to Visit Saint Paul, MN Lynx, and MN United who support these efforts for their generosity and public service in this matter.