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8 France; and Long Beach, Washington. Mr. Potter reviewed the proposal for the Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission. The proposed membership is: 1 representative from the business community; 1 representative from a higher educational institution; 1 City staff member designated by City Manager acting as liaison; 1 citizen representing each sister city; 3 citizens at large; 1 representative from a k-12 educational institution. The Council will designate $15,000 from the City’s current budget already allocated for sister city initiatives to the Commission as seed money. The Commission will establish bylaws and policy resolutions. The charge of the Commission will be as follows: Plan and coordinate activities such as participation in cultural festivities, informational displays at the library/schools/City Hall, exchanges (educational or other interest groups), and fundraising events; Seek private funding for activities and operations; promote Sister City involvement and interest to the community; Establish guidelines for adopting future/new sister cities; Create and charge sub-committees as needed (including one for each sister city); Establish criteria by which separate sister-city subcommittees are deemed inactive; Advise and oversee staffing; and Evaluate need for non-profit entity. Mr. Huja said he was a member of this Committee, and it was the best committee he has worked with in many years. He said they produced a great report and he hopes Council will support the proposal. Ms. Edwards said this provides the opportunity to develop the entire sister city concept. She said it is important to expand what we can learn from other cities and what we can provide to them. She said it also provides the opportunity for private donations. She said it is will provide an important opportunity for children to learn and expand. Dr. Brown said an important point is ownership. He said the sister cities will not just be owned by the City, but the community will have an opportunity to participate. He said we need to do a better job with funding. He said Ms. Edwards made a good point about this being a good opportunity for school children. Mr. Norris said he appreciates the work of the Committee and strongly supports the proposal. He said it will bring a lot more transparency to the process, and does not ask for additional public funding. He said he liked Roanoke’s approach to establishing new sister cities, requiring that there be 25 people in support of it and that $2,500 be pledged, and he would like to see that applied to our existing sister cities. On motion by Mr. Huja, seconded by Mr. Taliaferro, the proposal as recommended by the Ad Hoc Committee on Sister Cities for a Charlottesville Sister Cities Commission, as reviewed by Mr. Potter, was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Ms. Edwards, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. Taliaferro. Noes: None. REPORT : PARKS AND RECREATION – PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS Mr. Mike Svetz, Director of Parks and Recreation, and Mr. Brian Daly, Assistant Director, provided a powerpoint progress report on a variety of Parks and Recreation facilities and programs throughout the City completed or proposed in the past two years. Mr. Huja said he is pleased that Parks and Recreation is doing a tree inventory, and suggested that it be used with the GIS system. He suggested exploring a tree donation program. Ms. Edwards that that in the future she would like to hear about who is impacted by Parks and Recreation programs, and the demographics of those affected. Dr. Brown asked about the status of lights in general, and asked if most of Parks and Recreation lights are in compliance with our dark skies ordinance. Mr. Svetz said that the ordinance includes a sports lighting waiver. He said the first attempt to address the lighting is at Pen Park tennis courts.