Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: january 17, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: Eric Levitt, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Daisy perez, deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: FRIENDSHIP CITY with SEONGNAM, REPUBLIC OF KOREA
SUMMARY
The the City of Fullerton had previously partnered with Youngin, South Korea to form a formal Sister City relationship in 2014. Now the City of Fullerton has the opportunity to establish a Friendship City relationship with Seongnam City, Republic of Korea for mutual prosperity, promotion of friendship and cultural exchange.
RECOMMENDATION
Ratify the executed Letter of Intent between City of Fullerton and Seongman, Republic of Korea and any other related documents to formally establish a Friendship City relationship with the City of Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager recommends approval.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
This item has no anticipated fiscal impacts to the City.
BACKGROUND
Sister City and Friendship City relationships help foster people-to-people international diplomacy, cooperation and friendship. The Fullerton Sister City program began in 1965 with the adoption of Morelia, Mexico as Fullerton’s first Sister City.Fullerton established a second Sister City relationship in 1989 with Fukui, Japan. The City signed a third Sister City agreement in 2004 with Yongin, South Korea and a fourth Sister City agreement with Tollo, Italy in 2021. The Fullerton Sister City Association (FSCA) was established to further the cause of cultural and international understanding through exchanges with individuals representing nations worldwide.
Cities form a Friendship City or Friendship Cities relationship as a “stepping-stone” to a more formal “Sister City” agreement. Friendship City relationships can help communities explore compatibility and develop the expertise and resources needed to maintain consistent programming.
Due to timing of officials from Seongnam City, Republic of Korea visiting the City of Fullerton, the Mayor of Seongnam and Mayor Jung ceremonially signed a letter of intent. The letter is consistent with the on-going priorities of the City of Fullerton.
Staff reqeusts that City Council formally ratify the Letter of Intent.
DISCUSSION
The City of Fullerton and Seongnam City, Republic of Korea seek to formally establish a Friendship City relationship with the following terms and conditions for mutual prosperity, promotion of friendship and cultural exchange:
Both cities shall promote broad exchange and cooperation on the joint interests in economy, culture, education and other topics based on mutual reciprocity.
Both cities shall facilitate open channels of communication and cooperation on questions and issues of common interest.
For mutual benefit and development, both cities shall commit to building a cooperative exchange that values business collaboration opportunities and economic development.
The Letter of Intent represents the interest of friendly, cooperative exchange between the City of Fullerton, California, United States and Seongnam City, Republic of Korea.
About Seongnam, South Korea: With a population of approximately 920, 000 residents, Seongnam South Korea is the fourth largest city in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province and the tentyh largest city in the country. It is located immediately southwest of Seoul and is part of the Seoul Capital Area. A business-friendly city, Seongnam is a hub for high-tech information, industry and research including the Pangyo Techno Valley and High-Tech Valley. Seongnam is home to over 3,000 manufacturing businesses and over 3,700 companies are constructing sites within the Seongnam City Knowledge Industry Center. Pangyo’s firstTechno Valley is a world-class research and development hub and serves as Korea’s core cluster that leads the science technology innovation sector in South Korea.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Letter of Intent
Friendship City Partnership
January 17, 2023 - Page 2