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City clerk says Taipei Economic and Cultural Office funded Taiwan trip; clerk briefed council on sustainability lessons
Summary
City Clerk Mendoza told the council the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) funded a professional‑development trip to Taiwan for the clerk and staff; Council member Reid asked for details and the clerk said the trip was a cultural immersion paid for by TECO and not listed on the bills list.
City Clerk Mendoza told the Evanston City Council on March 31 that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) paid for a recent professional‑development trip to Taiwan for the clerk and some staff members.
Mendoza described the trip as a cultural immersion and training opportunity focused on sustainability and service delivery. “They paid for me to go, and it was a cultural, immersion opportunity and, educational opportunity for myself and the city,” she said. Council member Reid asked whether the trip had been paid for by TECO and whether the trip appeared on the bills list; Mendoza replied that the trip was not on the bills list and that she was raising the item in communications to summarize what city staff learned and to thank TECO for its support.
Why it matters: disclosure of outside travel funding matters for public transparency and potential ethics scrutiny; Mendoza invited further questions and said staff and council members could email her for additional information.
Details
- Mendoza told the council the TECO office in Chicago invested in the professional development of the clerk and staff and wanted visitors to learn about sustainability practices and the city’s growing Asian community.
- Council member Reid asked what “Tayco” is; Mendoza replied it is the Taipei Economic and Cultural Development Office (TECO).
- Mendoza said the city made a minimal investment for staff travel and invited council members to contact her by email for more information.
Ending
The clerk concluded by offering to answer follow‑up questions and noting the trip’s stated goals of cultural immersion, learning about sustainability practices abroad, and improving service delivery to Evanston’s Asian community.
