HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - SISTER CITIES PHILIPPINES (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: October 22, 2002
City Manager Approva
Item to be presented by: Ken PulskamA
SUBJECT: SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL—SARIAYA, QUEZON
PHILIPPINES
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve the establishment of a Sister City relationship with Sariaya, Quezon,
Philippines. Authorize the Mayor of Santa Clarita to sign a letter to the Mayor of Sariaya
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, was 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 $675. for 2002.
Sister cities are also unique in that they inherently involve the three main sectors in a
community: local government, businesses, and a wide variety of citizen volunteer, 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 cross-cultural
exchange, tourism, economic development, and educational and business partnerships.
The SCVIP, together with the local Phil -Am Association of Santa Clarita Valley, have taken
action to establish sister city affiliations with Sariaya, Philippines and are now seeking City
Council support and approval.
n0 FBI,! 0, go
A re U
Agenda Item :�
The process in establishing an official sister city relationship is through a formal approval
by the City Council and a signing ceremony of an agreement by the Mayor of each City which
will be scheduled at a future meeting. At this time, SCVIP is also requesting approval to
send a letter to the Mayor of Sariaya, Philippines 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
$675. for the year 2002, 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.
KP:EG:
sisWrcity\Sariaya\agenda report Sariaya.doc