By Bethany Overland

Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler's decision to fly to China for a green technology conference has drawn sharp criticism from at least one city council member.

This was the mayor's second trip to China, where he planned to be for one week, beginning Aug. 28.

The mayor was allotted $3,100 in city money for his flight to China's province of Jilin, as well as lodging and food while he is there.

Most of that money will be to cover the cost of the flight, the mayor said, and he will absorb whatever the trip costs beyond the $3,100 personally.

From the beginning, Councilman Dan Sherman strongly opposed the city's funding of any part of the mayor's trip. Sherman said the costly overseas trip comes at a time when the city should be spending less money, not handing it out in large chunks.

"In this period of economic recession, when the city has had to employ cutbacks in all departments, I believe the council needs to set an example by utilizing its resources more efficiently," said Sherman.

Sherman has openly opposed the trip in multiple city council meetings not only because of the current economic challenges but also because the conference doesn't seem to directly benefit Des Moines.

The invitation to the 2010 World Emerging Industries Summit came after Sheckler took a personally funded trip to the Chinese province of Jilin last year.

During that trip, the mayor said he was introduced to many leaders of the business and political world. When he received the invitation to the summit, complete with "VIP seating" at the conference's head table, the mayor said he thought a mistake had been made.

"I had to make sure it was really meant for me," Sheckler said. "I guess I really impressed them on my last visit. How many small-town mayors get invited to big international conferences like this? It doesn't happen."

The conference, littered with names of impressive international political figures such as former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, will explore how technology and science can merge to create new green industries, spurring economic growth. It will also focus on the transfer of these technologies to underdeveloped nations.

During his time as mayor, Sheckler has proved to be a proponent of economic growth for the waterfront town. In attending the summit, the mayor said he hopes to bring back investments for Des Moines' future economic development.

Sheckler returned from his last trip to China with foreign investors for a new Chinese-themed hotel with "five-star dining" on Pacific Highway South. The building plans for the hotel are now approved, the mayor said.

However, Sherman said he didn't think the city should be funding the trip since the mayor hasn't demonstrated how "a city without significant new green industry to export" could benefit from it.

"No matter how flattering the invitation or how fancy the title of the conference or the titles of the speakers, the subject matter is about technology transfer to developing nations, not to or from Des Moines," said Sherman. "And thus, it would seem a stretch to justify the expense of a trip to Asia for this conference."

Bethany Overland is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.