HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-23 - AGENDA REPORTS - SISTER CITIES (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager
Item to be presented by: Ken Pulskamo
DATE: October 23, 2001
SUBJECT: SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL—MARIKINA, PHILIPPINES &
TENA, ECUADOR
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve the establishment of a Sister City relationship with both Marikina,
Philippines and Tena, Ecuador. Authorize the Mayor of Santa Clarita to sign a letter to the
Mayor of both cities, inviting a delegation to visit Santa Clarita in conjunction with the Sister
City International Program.
BACKGROUND
In 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people -to -people citizen diplomacy
initiative. President Eisenhower's intention was to involve individuals and organized groups
at all levels of society in citizen diplomacy, with the hope that personal relationships, fostered
through sister city, county, and state affiliations, would lessen the chance of future world
conflicts.
Since then, hundreds of cities all over the world have participated in the Sister Cities
International program. Locally, the Santa Clarita Valley International Program (SCVIP),
which is an independent local organization, has formed to pursue the establishment of
international sister city relationships with the City of Santa Clarita. The City of Santa
Clarita's role is to support the efforts of the SCVIP, participate in the SCVIP committee, and
incur the fiscal responsibility of the annual membership dues. Membership dues are based
on population and total $600 for 2001.
Sister cities are also unique in that they inherently involve the three main sectors in a
community: local government, businesses, wide variety of citizen volunteers and service and
non-profit organizations.
The goal of the SCVIP is to establish several sister city relationships throughout the world
that would result in the formation of international partnerships that foster economic
development, cross-cultural exchange, tourism, and educational and business partnerships.
The SCVIP, together with local community members and organizations has taken action to
establish sister city affiliations with Marikina, Philippines and Tena, Ecuador and is now
seeking City Council support and approval.
Agenda Item8 L:
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On May 11, 2001 and August 1, 2001, Mayor Weste on behalf of SCVIP addressed letters of
interest to establish sister city relationships with the two cities. Both these cities are excited
and eager to form a sister city relationship with Santa Clarita. We have already met with
the Mayor of Marikina, Philippines, and have communicated via telephone with the Mayor
of Tena, Ecuador.
The next step in establishing a sister city relationship is to have the City Council approve the
formation of a Sister City relationship with both Marikina, Philippines and Tena, Ecuador
on behalf of the Santa Clarita Valley International Program (SVIP).
To make the sister city relationship official, a formal approval by the City Council and a
signing ceremony of an agreement by the Mayor of each City will be scheduled at a future
meeting. At this time, SCVIP is also requesting the approval to send a letter to the Mayors
of Marikina, Philippines and Tena, Ecuador inviting a delegation to visit the City of Santa
Clarita and proceed with the signing ceremony of the agreement to make the sister city
relationship official.
Sister city partnerships have the potential to carry out the widest possible diversity of
activities of any international program, including every type of municipal, business,
professional, educational, and cultural exchange or project.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City's responsibility is the payment of the annual membership dues in the amount of
$600 for 2001, which has already been paid. There are no other direct financial impacts to the
City associated with this item.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the City Council.
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S\ms\eg\sistercity\agendareport marikina & tena.doc