>>> Laura Tesler 2/19/2010 2:03 PM >>>

Janet:
I read with interest your plans to visit Japan and meet with Sanyo. While I
applaud your efforts on the behalf of Salem, I have some concerns I would like
to openly discuss.

My first concern is that this was never discussed with Council as a whole. I
have spoken with a few of my cohorts since I have had to miss a few meetings and
they cannot recall this trip being discussed. Of course, if you are going and
representing yourself this point is moot, but I believe you are representing
Salem. In that case, you are representing Council and I believe that Council
should be appraised of your trip and what your intentions are.

We are a Council of nine; I would never presume to represent Council without

their full approval.

My other concern is who is paying the bill for this trip. If you yourself are
paying, again this is a moot point. If this trip is being financed by the City
it should definitely be discussed at Council so the public knows what their
money is going towards. This for me is a transparency issue.Lastly, I still have
concerns about the environmental impacts of more building on this site until the
lot lines are adjusted. Staff has still not answered my questions about the
trees on this site and until then I really could not support further plans to
cut them. I imagine there would be public outcry on this as well.

In closing, I recognize I may have some mistaken impressions of what is

happening and would be happy to stand corrected on this issue. I would suggest
that you speak to this trip at Council and ask for a motion from the group to
support it to show buy in. Otherwise, I find myself not in support of this trip,
as I have no idea what you are promoting and therefore could not justify it to
my constituents which is troubling.

>>> Janet Taylor 02/19/10 2:41 PM >>>

Laura - If you were at the Council meetings you would have heard me talk about
this trip. No Councilor raised concerns - if they have them, they should let me
know. If you were at the State of the City address you would have heard me talk
about this. If you read the newspaper, you would have read about it. I know
you have a job, but it appears you are way to busy earning a living to serve as
Councilor.

I am going at the request of the State of Oregon Business Development Department

and SEDCOR, as any visit to an Asia corporate headquarters should have the Mayor
in attendance. We are going to say "thank you for the jobs", and answer any
questions they may have on our community and the BETC tax credits.
In addition, we are visiting with Yamasa who has a plant here in Salem where
they have expanded twice in the last 18 months, and attend a trade show where we
hope to interest other companies in coming to Salem - most likely to the Mill
Creek Corporate Center.

I have paid for many, many trips on behalf of Salem - to our Sister City in
Japan and the National League of Cities in Washington D.C. to the tune of
several thousand dollars. I am happy to back bill for those trips and then pay
for this one myself. However, at this time it will be paid by the City of Salem
out of the discretionary "Mayors Ceremonial Fund" as I don't seem to have many
"ceremonies" that I hold.

Don't forget, your constituents may be the next ones to have a good job because
of our efforts.

Janet

>>> Laura Tesler 2/20/2010 2:48 PM >>>

Janet: Thank you for your response.

However, I would still like some general factual information pertaining to your
trip. For example:

How many jobs could an expansion bring to Salem?

What would be the median income level of these jobs?
What concessions, in general terms, would the City be expected to offer? We all
realize there are tradeoffs.
Whom will you be meeting with? Are other City officials going as well?
Will you be touring their facilities there? What are you interested in seeing?
What will be your goals and expected outcomes?

I ask these questions as your fellow Councilor and as a citizen of the City, I
feel that I and the other Councilors am entitled to know this information from
you directly, not from a questionable news source like the Statesman Journal or
other indirect references. I also ask this as I am interested in the possible
economic impact.... It could be positive and I would like to support that.

In closing, I would hope that all wards in the City would benefit from this
trip, not just ward 2.

From: Janet Taylor <jtaylor@cityofsalem.net>

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:49:24 -0700
To: Bob Cannon <BCannon@cityofsalem.net>, Brad Nanke <BNanke@cityofsalem.net>,
Bruce Rogers <BRogers@cityofsalem.net>, Daniel Clem <DClem@cityofsalem.net>,
Diana Dickey <DDickey@cityofsalem.net>, Laura Tesler <LTesler@cityofsalem.net>,
TJ Sullivan <TJSullivan@cityofsalem.net>, <crbennett@cityosalem.net> Cc: Linda
Norris <LNorris@cityofsalem.net>, Sean O'Day
<SODay@cityofsalem.net>
Conversation: Re: Upcoming trip to Japan?
Subject: Fwd: Re: Upcoming trip to Japan?

Councilors - I have neither the time, nor the need to answer these questions.

By the way, last August my husband and I made reservations for a vacation -
paying for the plane and rooms in advance. When I was asked to attend this
trade mission, it fell right in the middle of our trip. I agreed to change our
plans and pay the $414 penalty from our personal funds to make it possible.

I will now be asking the City to reimburse this expense.

Janet