AGENDA REPORT. Meeting Date: February 5, 2019 Item Number: To: From:

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1 AGENDA REPORT Item Number: To: From: Subject: io Honorable Mayor & City Council Laura Biery, Marketing & Economic Sustainability Manager INVITATION FROM THE ISRAEL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 33RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF MAYORS AND THE MUM WORLD EXPO IN ISRAEL Attachment: 1. Invitation for 33rd Annual Conference of Mayors RECOMMENDATION The current AB 1234 policy (Resolution No. 06-R-12053) provides that the reimbursement of any international travel shall require prior approval by the City Council. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the travel as described in this report. INTRODUCTION The City of Beverly Hills received an invitation from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Mayor Julian Gold and Vice Mayor John Mirisch to participate in the 33td Annual Conference of Mayors as well as present as panelists at the Muni World Expo in Israel. The delegation will also visit Beverly Hills Sister City of Herzliya, Israel on the trip that will occur February 20-28, DISCUSSION In March 2014, the State of California entered into a partnership with Israel. A Memorandum of Understanding formalizes this agreement and convenes working groups with international expertise to coordinate initiatives, facilitate collaboration for entrepreneurs and researchers, support and encourage public-private partnerships, strengthen sister city programs and promote mutual cooperation in key sectors including, but not limited to: Page 1 of 3 1. Water Conservation and Management Meeting 2. Alternative Energy and Related Clean Technologies 3. Health and Biotechnology Solutions 4. Arts and Culture

2 5. Education 6. Agricultural Technologies Subsequently, in November 2015, the City of Beverly Hills signed a Joint Declaration on Joint Innovation, Exchanges, and Cooperation between the City of Beverly Hills and the Consulate General of the State of Israel. The Joint Declaration with the State of Israel promotes and strengthens bilateral collaboration, economic development, and enhances cultural relationships and educational opportunities. The Joint Declaration focuses on the following sectors: 1. Water Conservation & Management 2. Technology and Cyber Security 3. Public Health 4. Emergency Services & Disaster Preparedness 5. Public Safety and Counter-Terrorism 6. Art and Culture Through this partnership, the City of Beverly Hills and the State of Israel are encouraged to coordinate dialogue, information exchanges and initiatives related to these sectors. The Joint Declaration promotes mutual cooperation, understanding and friendships by encouraging ad hoc task forces, trade delegations, and professional exchanges. The Joint Declaration also encourages the collaboration between the two participants educational and cultural institutions, and encourages the strengthening of the Beverly Hills - Herzliya Sister City Program. I nvitees Mayor Julian Gold and Vice Mayor John Mirisch have been invited to participate by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the 33td Annual Conference of Mayors as well as to present as speakers at the Muni World Expo in Israel. The 33td Annual Conference of Mayors will take place February 24-26, 2019 and the Muni World Expo will occur February 26-28, Goal of Conference of Mayors, Muni World Expo Trip, and Sister City Visit Throughout the years, the Conference of Mayors has established itself as an exclusive event where Mayors come together to network and share professional experiences with one another. In addition, the conference offers a unique opportunity to meet top Israeli decision makers on the national and municipal level, including the prime minister, the president and government ministers. The Conference s topic this year will be Innovative Cities, with a special focus on issues and challenges facing today s mayors. In particular, the conference program will highlight new technology to make cities run mote safely and efficiently as well as serve the needs of its citizens security, environment, water, education, and health. The program will feature meetings with Israel s top political leadership and entrepreneurs that are responsible for groundbreaking technologies that address urban needs. It will include sessions with Israeli ministers and mayors and span Israel s main metro centers of Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Haifa. In addition to the Conference of Mayors and the Muni World Expo, Mayor Gold and Vice Mayor Mirisch will visit the Beverly Hills Sister City of Herzliya, Israel. Page2of3

3 - Itinerary and Activities The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs curates the complete itinerary for the portion of the trip that involves the Conference of the Mayors. The Sister City portion of the trip is coordinated with the Consulate General s office as well as the Sister City Committee. The itinerary for the Mayor and Vice Mayor is shown in the table below: Wednesday, February 20 Travel Day to Israel Thursday, February 21 Arriving in Tel Aviv Friday, February 22 Herzliya Sister City Saturday, February 23 Herzliya Sister City Sunday, February 24 Jerusalem Foreign Ministry Trip Monday, February 25 Tel Aviv Foreign Ministry Trip Tuesday, February 26 Tel Aviv Foreign Ministry Trip Innovation and Culture Day Wednesday, February 27 Tel Aviv Muni Expo Conference Thursday, February 28 Tel Aviv Muni Expo and Foreign Ministry Trip Conclude FISCAL IMPACT The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs covers a portion of the lodging, meals, and transportation for the trip. Costs for the visit to the Sister City of Herzliya are not covered by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The total budget for the trip, outside of the costs covered by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is $11,000. This amount is available within the Policy and Management City Council Administrative Support Budget ( Travel and City Representation). Page3of3

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5 Congress j%fiorld The Honorable, Dr. Julian A. Gold Mayor of Beverly Hills STATE OF ISRAEL MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS December 3 1st, 2018 Dear Mayor Gold, On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, and in collaboration with the American Council for World Jewiy and the American Jewish Congress, I have the pleasure of inviting you to the 33rd Conference of Mayors, which will take place in Israel between February 24 and March 1st, Throughout the years, the Conference of Mayors has established itself as an exclusive event where Mayors come together to network and share professional experiences with one another. In addition, the conference offers a unique opportunity to meet top Israeli decision makers on the national as well as the municipal level, including the prime minister, the president and government ministers. We pride ourselves on inviting inspiring political leaders to come to Israel, and have had such distinguished guests as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio three years ago, and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in years prior. The Conference s topic this year will be Innovative Cities, with a special focus on issues and challenges facing today s mayors. In particular, the conference program will highlight new technology to make cities run more safely and efficiently and serve the needs of its citizens security, environment, water, education, and health. The program will feature meetings with Israel s top political leadership, entrepreneurs that are responsible for groundbreaking technologies that address urban needs and sessions with Israeli ministers and mayors; it will span Israel s main metro centers of Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Haifa. We hope you could join us next year! Sincerely, Tzipi Hotovely Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs 3 Jack Rosen President of the American Jewish Congress Chairman of the American Council for World Jewry