REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Formalize the Current Friendship City Relationship with Iizuka, Japan to a Sister City Relationship Including Membership in Sister Cities International (Study Issue)
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
On January 29, 2016, at its Study/Budget Issues Workshop, Council prioritized the exploration of upgrading the current Friendly Exchange Relations (FER) Agreement with Iizuka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan to a formal sister city relationship (Study Issue paper OCM 16-01, Attachment 1). This report presents for Council consideration of options for the type of relationship it can establish with the City of Iizuka and then presents examples of increased levels of engagement and an opportunity for the Council to discuss funding commitments for this effort.
Staff recommends that Council formalize the relationship with the City of Iizuka through membership in Sister Cities International (Alternative 3, Option C).
Staff makes no recommendation on the amount of funding Council would approve for increased engagement; however, the Council should provide some level of resources to be dedicated compatible with the type of agreement authorized.
BACKGROUND
Due to numerous inquiries as far back as 1961, the City established a Sister Cities Citizens Committee to explore establishing a sister cities program. As a result of the work of the committee, the Council approved its first sister city relationship in 1964 with the City of Chilean, Chile, a relationship lasting eight years and resulting in a number of civic exchanges, but eventually discontinued by Council in 1970 due to a number of political issues.
For the next 30 years, Council periodically considered reestablishing a sister cities program, but declined based on potential impacts to City resources and staff time. In lieu of a formal program, the City Council and staff welcomed numerous foreign visitors to learn about the City's Planning and Management Systems (PAMS) and other progra...
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