CITY OF PEORIA, ARIZONA
IRONWOOD CONFERENCE ROOM
April 26, 2011


A Regular Meeting of the Sister Cities Board of the City of Peoria, Arizona, was convened 
at 8401 W. Monroe Street at 5:34 p.m.

Members Present:  John Buonagurio, Patty Fusco, Bonnie Apperson, and Joya Kizer 
Clarke 

Members Absent:  James Flonacher, Scott Clark and Penny Hughes

Other Municipal Officials Present: Claudia Lujan, Assistant to the City Manager and Terri 
Smith, Assistant to City Council

Member of the Public Present:  Dr. Melanie Lehman

Note:	The order in which the items appear in the minutes is not necessarily the order in 
which they were discussed at the meeting.

Consent Agenda

A motion was made by Board Member Fusco, seconded by Board Member Clarke to 
approve the consent agenda.  Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously 4 to 0. 

Minutes:

1C	Minutes 

Item 1C was approved as part of the consent agenda.

Regular Agenda

Unfinished Business:   

3R	UPDATE ON VIRTUAL LINK BETWEEN A OASIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN 
PEORIA AND ABBEY PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NEWTOWNARDS

Dr. Melanie Lehman, classroom teacher at Oasis Elementary School, presented information 
on the Sister Schools link with Abbey Primary.  Dr. Lehman tied each completed activity as 
part of the linkage to a state standard for third graders.  Going forward, Dr. Lehman 
recommends, from the school perspective, that this program grow to include other classes 
and other grades.  Abbey Primary has suggested the same thing.  Efforts will be extended 
prior to the end of the school year to enlist other interested classroom teachers and provide 
simple information to frame the program.  Follow up can then be facilitated over the summer 
months, when teachers are planning for the next school year.  





The board was pleased with the progress on the initiative and acknowledged the positive 
aspects of the partnerships.  Board Member Apperson will write a press release for 
distribution to local media. 

4R	Centennial Timeline Project – Young Ambassador Time Capsules

At the direction of the Board, staff facilitated guidelines for the 2011 Peoria Young 
Ambassador delegation to develop a Centennial Time Capsule as a collaborative project 
with the Ards delegation.  Peoria’s delegation is scheduled to meet twice in May to get 
direction and to outline their plans for the time capsule.  A motion was made by Board 
Member Fusco, seconded by Board Member Apperson to commence collaborative timeline 
project in collaboration with the Ards Borough. Upon vote, the motion carried unanimously 4 
to 0.

5R	Peoria/Argentinean Sister City

Board member Clarke reported that she had not received a response to her messages to  
Santa Rosa, Argentinean about a possible twinning.   A representative from the potential 
twin city is to be in Arizona for a meeting in May; if it is feasible, an invitation will be 
extended for that individual to attend the Peoria Sister Cities Board meeting.  

6R	Young Ambassador Update

Board members reported back that Program Partner contacts had been made with Audi 
Peoria, Sam’s Club, Scorpion Bay Marina, and Cenix.  Staff will follow up to each interested 
partner.  Confirmed catering details related to city-hosted events at Rio Vista Recreation 
Center.  Board Member Apperson will report back at next meeting regarding catering 
possibilities.  A motion was made by Board Member Apperson and seconded by Board 
Member Clarke to reserve space at Rio Vista for the Farewell Event.  


Reports from Staff:

None


CALL TO THE PUBLIC:
	
Being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was duly adjourned at 
approximately 6:28 p.m.



________________________ 
John Buonagurio, Chair



_________________________ 
Terri Smith, Council Assistant
Mayor and City Council Office
Sister City Board Minutes
April 26, 2011
Page 3
June 20, 2011