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Authorizing the Department of Public Works to accept the gift of travel expenses and related conference costs of $1,600$2,000 from WTS-MN for City staff to attend the 2025 WTS International Annual Conference and amend the budget to accommodate the gift of $1,600$2,000.
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Whereas, the Department of Public Works applied for funding from WTS-MN chapter towards costs related to the WTS International Annual Conference that will be held on May 7-9, 2025, in Toronto, Canada; and,
WHEREAS, the City, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, would like to accept the gift of funding from WTS-MN for staff to attend by providing travel expenses and related conference costs of $800$1,000 for two selected participants; and,
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works intends to send Laura Krause and HunWen Westman to the conference due to their involvement in city planning and traffic engineering efforts; and
WHEREAS, the conference provides the planning and engineering industry with best practices tailored to urban areas such as Saint Paul; and,
WHEREAS, WTS aims to advance women in the transportation industry, consistent with the City’s goals on equity; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Saint Paul finds that attendance at this conference will be beneficial to the City by providing staff with opportunities to interact with leading urban professionals from peer cities; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby authorizes the Department of Public Works to accept the gift of conference related costs from WTS-MN and amends the budget to account for the gift from WTS-MN of $1,600$2,000 and thanks them for their generous gift.