REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of April 8, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
SUBMITTED BY: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion Regarding Establishing a New Sister City Relationship RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the concept of establishing a new Sister City relationship and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND:
On March 11, 2025, Council Member Bhattarai requested a discussion about establishing a new Sister City relationship. The Council agreed unanimously to bring the discussion back at a future meeting. Councilmember Bhattarai also provided the City Manager with a letter from Tilottama Municipality, Nepal, regarding a City-to-City Relationship for City Council consideration (attached).
ANALYSIS:
The City of Hercules has a history of establishing Sister City relationships to foster international partnerships and promote cultural exchange through the Hercules Sister City Association, a volunteer based non-profit. On November 5, 1981, officials from Tsushima, Japan, came to Hercules to sign an affiliation document that formalized the relationship between the City of Hercules and the City of Tsushima. The ceremony took place in Refugio Valley Park and included the dedication of the Tsushima Friendship Bridge that spans the creek leading to the lake. Tsushima renamed a street previously known as Nishiki-machi to Hercules Street. Hercules also has a street named for our Sister City, Tsushima Avenue, which extends from San Pablo Avenue west to John Muir Parkway. November 5, 2024, marked the 43rd anniversary of the alliance between Hercules and Tsushima.
Following the establishment of the Sister City relationship, the Hercules Sister City Association sent Hercules Youth Ambassadors, comprising middle and/or high school students, to represent Hercules on a visit to Tsushima and other parts of Japan. The Hercules Sister City Association managed fundraising for the trips and regular communication with the City of Tsushima.
Current Status of Hercules Sister City Association
The Hercules Sister City Association last took applications for the 2020-2021 Hercules Youth Ambassadors beginning on January 13, 2020. The selected Youth Ambassadors represented the City of Hercules on a trip to Tsushima and other locations in Japan, from late July to early August 2021.
In May 2022, the Hercules Sister City Association notified the City that it was terminating the sister city association between Hercules and Tsushima due to COVID-19 and the lack of resources, including staffing and funding, to resume activities at this time.
Since that time, the Association has undergone some organizational changes and seeks to reestablish its connection with Tsushima more sustainably. As a first step, it is coordinating a virtual exchange between the students of the two cities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with discussing this item. However, approval of this initiative would require additional staff time and funding to establish a framework for implementing the program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
This discussion is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is an administrative activity with no potential significant environmental impact. No discretionary action is being taken.
ATTACHMENTS:
Letter from Tilottama Municipality, Nepal, Regarding City-to-City Relation