DATE: May 6, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Sister City Agreement with City of Arandas, Jalisco
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Sister City Agreement with the City of Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.
SUMMARY
On September 12, 2023, the City Council approved a referral that directed staff to return to the City Council with a report that would authorize the Mayor to enter into a sister city agreement with the City of Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico . Attachment II is a resolution that authorizes this action. Staff are seeking City Council approval of this resolution.
BACKGROUND
In 1956, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States initiated the Sister Cities program to nurture friendship and understanding between the United States and other nations. Through this program, municipalities around the world have established lifelong friendships to connect on shared challenges and successes and to create opportunities for cultural exchange for both policymakers and community members.
The City of Hayward (City) is currently a Sister City to five cities:
Faro, Portugal
Funabashi, Japan
Ghazni, Afghanistan,
San Felipe, Mexico
Yixing, China
While the level of engagement may vary with each of our Sister Cities, according to Sister Cities International, these relationships are lifelong and remain in place indefinitely.
DISCUSSION
The Arandas Sister City Formation Committee has been meeting since 2018 with the intent to create an official Sister City partnership with Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico. In 2020 the City’s Fire Department donated a fire engine to Arandas that was being retired from the its fleet.
In 2019, the City reaffirmed its growing relationship with the City of Arandas via City Council proclamation.
The next step to establish a formal relationship is for the City Council to adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with his elected counterpart in Arandas. The Formation Committee has already drafted the bylaws and agreement. This agreement establishes the commitment of both cities to collaborate for their mutual benefit by exploring educational, cultural, humanitarian , and economic opportunities. It further outlines the parties' intent to abide by Sister City International policies.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this resolution. Currently, the City’s Sister City program does not have an allotted budget, and any staff time spent on Sister City efforts is absorbed by the Community and Media Relations Division. Because of this, t he success of the Sister City Program is largely dependent on the work of volunteer committees like the Arandas Committee.
NEXT STEPS
If the City Council approves this resolution, staff will work with the Mayor and the Arandas Sister City Committee to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City of Hayward.
Prepared by: Zach Ebadi, Community Partnership Manager
Recommended by: Chuck Finnie, Communications & Marketing Officer Regina Youngblood, Assistant City Manager
Approved by:
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Dr. Ana M. Alvarez, City Manager