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Lakewood staff seek council direction on two sister‑city delegations; estimated costs presented
Summary
City manager presented itineraries and estimated costs for a Danzhou (China) visit Sept. 23 and a Gimhae (Korea) city-council visit Oct. 30; staff requested guidance on whether to cover meals/gifts and asked council for direction on potential travel for the municipal delegation to Gimhae's November festival.
City Manager Brianna Kraus asked the Lakewood City Council for direction on two sister‑city delegations and presented estimated costs at the Aug. 18 meeting.
Kraus said the Danzhou (Hainan Province, China) delegation plans a Sept. 23 visit that would include high-ranking officials (vice governor, deputy secretary of the people’s government, and the vice mayor of Danzhou City). The delegation requested a formal meeting with the mayor and council, a tree-planting activity, a site visit to an agricultural enterprise and lunch and dinner with city officials; Kraus said the Danzhou delegation will pay its own travel and lodging costs but requested the city cover meals and the purchase of a small city gift. The city manager asked council to consider a $5,000 allocation to cover the meals and a gift for the Danzhou visit.
Kraus then described a Gimhae (South Korea) city-council delegation request to visit Oct. 30 for a one-night stay and a meeting with mayor and council. Estimated cost if the delegation took single‑occupancy rooms for eight people and one meal would be $5,200; if the eight delegates double up into four rooms the estimate was $3,800. The Gimhae delegation invited Lakewood officials to attend a Gimhae ceramic festival Nov. 3–9; estimated airfare was $2,500 per person (staff noted participants could attend a shorter portion of the festival). Kraus said the mayor had signed two letters needed for visa requests and that communications staff are coordinating itineraries and a possible photo montage gift.
Councilmembers suggested seeking contributions and partnerships to reduce Lakewood’s expense: Mayor Whalen proposed inviting the Port of Tacoma (and the Economic Development Board) to participate or contribute to an economic-development‑focused lunch and briefing for the Danzhou delegation. Council discussed double-occupancy for the Gimhae visit and suggested selecting who would attend the ceramic festival; no formal appropriation was made at the Aug. 18 meeting. Kraus asked for direction so staff can finalize plans and pursue partner contributions.
