HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2G: App.of Overseas TravelEUGENE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Approval of Overseas Travel Request
Meeting Date: August 8, 2005 Agenda Item Number: 2G
Department: City Manager's Office Staff Contact: Mary Walston
www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5406
ISSUE STATEMENT
This item is to secure City Council approval of overseas travel for a trip by Mayor Piercy and Councilor
Pap~ to the sister cities of Chinju, South Korea and Kakegawa, Japan planned from October 2 - 15,
2005. Section 10.07 of the Eugene City Council Operating Agreements dictate that if the Mayor or
members of the City Council wish to make a council business-related trip to a destination overseas, the
request is to be made in writing and placed on the Consent Calendar for approval by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
Mayor Piercy has been invited to Chinju, South Korea and Kakegawa, Japan. Rather than take two
separate trips, staff has worked with the two respective sister city committees to create an itinerary that
includes visits to both cities. The cost of air fare is approximately $1,255 and the cost of lodging,
ground transportation, meals, and related travel expenses during the two-week trip is approximately
$1,900, for a total of $3,155. (The air fare and non-air fare costs may fluctuate somewhat depending
upon the number of persons in the delegation and the availability of hotel rooms in Seoul and Tokyo; a
final cost will be known after the publication of this agenda item summary.)
Councilor Pap~ has decided to join the Mayor on this sister city trip and is asking the City to underwrite
his travel expenses.
The City has historically paid for the mayor's sister city trips in their entirety. In October 2004, the City
paid for Mayor Torrey's sister city visit to Chinju, and in 1999, the City also paid for Mayor Torrey's
sister city trip to Russia and Japan. Going back to 1996, Mayor Bascom visited Chinju and Kakegawa
on separate trips and the City paid the travel expenses for both.
City councilor participation in sister city trips has been less frequent in recent years. In September 2000,
Councilor Taylor requested City funds for a sister city trip to Kathmandu, Nepal. The original request
was for $3,000; the City Council decided to allocate half that amount and supported the trip in the
amount of $1,500. In 1993, then-Councilor Bobby Green visited Chinju at the City's expense. Also in
1993, then-Councilor Nancy Nathanson visited Kakegawa using City funds. (A subsequent trip to Japan
by Councilor Nathanson in 2003 was not at City expense.)
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RELATED CITY POLICIES
The City policy governing this issue is found in Section 10.07 of the Eugene City Council Operating
Agreements.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
The City Council can approve this request which will result in an expense to the City. Alternatively, it
can deny the request and require the Mayor and Councilor Pap~ to personally incur their travel expenses.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager has no recommendation on this item.
SUGGESTED MOTION
Move to approve the overseas sister city travel request by Mayor Piercy and Councilor Pap~ for visits to
Chinju and Kakegawa in October 2005.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Mary Walston
Telephone: 682-5406
Staff E-Mail: mary. f. walston~ci, eugene.or.us
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