Report to City Council
ID#1980 Page 1
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Leslie Keane, Interim City Clerk
AGENDA DATE: June 14, 2016
TITLE: SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE / PROPOSED N EW
CITY
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendations: That the City Council:
1. Receive information about Moreno Valley’s Sister City Program status.
2. Provide guidance to staff regarding the current Sister City program and the proposal to expand.
SUMMARY
This report provides a status update regarding the City of Moreno Valley’s current Sister City Program and a proposal to expand the program to include an additional city.
DISCUSSION
About Sister City Programs:
Sister City programs vary widely in organizational structure, yet they typically exist to plan and implement cooperative activities and exchanges to promote community advancement through arts and culture, youth and education, and, business and trade.
Recent Activity:
On March 3, 2015 staff provided a summary of the history of the City’s Sister City Program (Program) to the City Council (Attachment 1). Direction by th e City Council at that meeting was to contact San Juan de Los Lagos to gauge their interest in reviving the program/ relationship. A letter of inquiry was sent on behalf of (then) Mayor Molina in May 2015 and staff received confirmation in January 2016 tha t the current leadership in San Juan de Los Lagos is interested in reviving the program (Attachment s 2 and 3).
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As of the posting of this report, staff is working to coordinate a video conference meeting to alleviate both agencies from travel costs at this time.
Council direction included surveying the community to gain the community’s perspective on the program. The survey that was administered over the 2015 summer between June and September yielded more than 2900 views and netted 73 responses (Attachment 3). The majority of respondents indicated the following:
In favor of re -establishing the existing program, however using current City resources was unfavorable;
In favor of reviewing new cities for consideration; and Preferences for activities were cultural and student exchange programs.
In September 2015, (then) Council Member Gutierrez and staff met with Moreno Valley Unified School District Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. White and Dr.
Kedziora respectively, to gauge interest in a stude nt exchange program. The outcome of the meeting was that if the City were to develop and operate a student exchange program, the District would support the effort. The level of support was undefined.
Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico: Proposed new City:
On Febru ary 8, 2016 , the City hosted a small delegation of visitors from Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico led by its Mayor Presidente Municipal Gerardo Torres and included key staff representatives. The meeting was initiated by a Moreno Valley resident with ties to Zacapu specifically to discuss the possibilities of creating a sister city relationship between Zacapu and Moreno Valley. Presidente Municipal Torres has since sent a letter establishing his desire to continue the discussions that would lead to a formal sister city relationship (Attachment 4).
There appears to be shared interests between Moreno Valley and Zacapu, which include a focus on youth development and economic development. Zacapu has a lot to offer in terms of rich culture, a growing economy, and a desir e to exchange ideas.
During their visit, officials from Zacapu indicated a large enough number of co -nationals in the Inland Empire to make a sister city relationship beneficial.
Moving Forward
If the City Council decides to continue the pursuit of revivi ng the existing Sister City relationship with San Juan de los Lagos and/or consider a relationship with Zacapu or another city, points of consideration would include, but are not limited to:
Moreno Valley’s primary purpose of having a Sister City program. The primary purpose will help guide all future action and organizational models. For instance, if economic development is the primary purpose, working closely with the business community would be essential.
Evaluate of the level of community interest and identify resources.
Consider a Sister City International (SCI) affiliation. The annual dues are $970; cost is based on city population. The benefits of affiliation with SCI include access to expert resources, grant opportunities, training, and policy g uidance.
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While such an affiliation is not mandatory, it may prove beneficial in enhancing the existing partnership with San Juan de los Lagos, as well as any additional communities which may become involved in Moreno Valley’s program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Records indicate that in Fiscal Years 2002/2003, 2005/2006, and 2007/2008 the City expended up to $2,600 on Sister City activities not including an SCI membership.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Positive Environment . Create a positive environment for the development of M oreno Valley's future.
ATTACHMENTS
1. March 3, 2015 Staff Report to the City Council
2. Let’s Talk MoVal Poll Results
3. Letter of Interest: City of Moreno Valley
4. Letter of Interest: San Juan de Los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico
5. Letter of Interest: Zacapu, Michoacán, Mexico
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Shanna Palau Jane Halstead
Management Analyst City Clerk
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Positive Environment. Create a positive environment for the development of Moreno Valley's future.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Staff Report - Sister City Update 3-3-15 Study Session
2. Sister City Program Survey Results - mySidewalk
3. 052215 Letter_Sister City Presidente Gonzalez
4. OFIICO MORENO VALLEY_San Juan de Los Lagos Letter of Intent
5. Zacapu Follow up Letter
APPROVALS
Budget Officer Approval Approved . 4/05/16 7:14 PM City Attorney Approval Approved . 5/24/16 9:19 AM City Manager Approval Approved . 6/09/16 11:21 AM A.2
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APPROVALS
BUDGET OFFICER <BudgetOfficer>
CITY ATTORNEY <CityAttorney>
CITY MANAGER <CityManager>
Report to City Council
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Thomas M. DeSantis, Assistant City Manager
AGENDA DATE: March 3, 2015
TITLE: SISTER CITY PROGRAM
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Receive information about Moreno Valley’s Sister City Program history.
2. Provide guidance to staff regarding the Sister City program.
SUMMARY
This report provides a history of the City of Moreno Valley’s Sister City Program and related activities.
DISCUSSION
About Sister City Programs
While Sister City programs and relationships vary widely in organizational structure , they typically exist to promote goodwill and community advancement through cultural, educational, humanitarian, goodwill, and economic development exchanges.
Moreno Valley’s Sister City Program and History Overview
The City of Moreno Valley currently has a Sister City relationship with San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico , which was established by Resolution No. 93- 57 on July 13, 1993. The majority of program activity was sponsored by business or paid for personally A.2.a
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Attachment: Staff Report - Sister City Update 3-3-15 Study Session (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY)
by participants. It is estimate d that Sister City program related exchanges went on hiatus in the mid-2000s due to the economic decline. In FY 11/12 the $1,100 program budget, which was previously used to host delegate receptions, was eliminated.
Because the Sister City program was largely a citizen- based committee with City Council and st aff participation, there are a limited number of documents recording the program’s activity ( Attachments 1. 1991 Sister City Program Staff Report, 2. 1993 Resolution No. 93- 57, and 3. 1999 Sister City Program Staff Report ). Conversations with individuals w ho had participated in the program assisted staff in preparing this report.
Sister City program activities included, but were not limited to:
• A Moreno Valley Unified School District ( MVUSD) administered student exchange program;
• Goodwill exchanges to help the community of San Juan de los Lagos by providing Police and Fire protection training;
• Coordination for donations of vehicles including a Riverside County fire truck, RTA bus, and an ambulance;
• Donation of a freezer to an orphanage courtesy of Waste Management;
• Goodwill exchange initiated by San Juan de los Lagos with the gift of art produced by a local artist for display at Moreno Valley City Hall;
• Loan of a sacred religious symbol -- Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos -- that was on display at St. Christopher’s church for a period of time.
• Several mutual exchanges of ideas based on cultural activities and shared government processes during Moreno Valley delegation visits to San Juan de los Lagos, and San Juan de los Lagos delegation visits to Moreno Valley
Historical Timeline
• 1991: Due to interest by City Council, the City joined the International Trade Task Force. A Study Session was held November 19, 1991 to review models for a Sister City program. The recommendation was not to pursue a formal Sister City International affiliation, but to be amenable to hosting international visitors.
• 1993: Resolution No. 93- 57 established the adoption of San Juan de los Lagos as the City of Moreno Valley’s Sister City. Minutes from the July 13, 1993 Ci ty Council meeting indicate that a relationship with San Juan de los Lagos had been under cultivation for a couple of years as a result of the direct connection that community member Romelio Ruiz established with San Juan de los Lagos.
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Attachment: Staff Report - Sister City Update 3-3-15 Study Session (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY)
A November 17, 1993 staff memo documents plans for the first San Juan de los Lagos delegate visit after Resolution No. 93-57 established the relationship.
• 1999: August 17, 1999 Staff report recommending the formalization of a Sister City Committee/Taskforce that was p reviously led by an informal group of community leaders including members of the City Council, MVUSD, Waste Management, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and Hispanos Unidos.
The goal of the Committee/Taskforce was to improve accountability, organization, credibility, community involvement, and publicity.
Moving Forward
If the City Council decides to rejuvenate the existing Sister City relationship with San Juan de los Lagos and/or consider a relationship with a new community, points of consideration would include, but are not limited to:
• Evaluate of the level of community interest on both sides. A fundamental requirement for a successful program is a strong community -based program.
Strong interest by key community stakeholders is essential to a success ful and meaningful program. This also extends to active participation by Moreno Valley’s two school districts, given the historical emphasis on the program’s student exchange component.
Techniques to gauge potential interest and commitment within Moreno Valley might include:
• Let’s Talk MoVal/ Survey Monkey
• Community Meetings in each District
• Meeting with Community groups (e.g. Chambers of Commerce, School Districts, Optimists, Soroptimists, Rotary, Kiwanis)
Efforts to survey potential interest in San Juan de los Lagos would rely upon business and governmental leaders in that community.
• Re-evaluate the primary purpose of having a Sister City program in Moreno Valley. The primary purpose will help guide all future action.
• Re-evaluate of the program structure to ensure that it fulfills both communities’ participation objectives. Should the Council wish to pursue such an effort, staff can return with additional information regarding organizational models that may be effective for Moreno Valley’s program.
• Re-evaluate a Sister City International (SCI) affiliation. The annual dues are $970; cost is based on city population. The benefits of affiliation with SCI include access to expert resources, grant opportunities, training, and policy guidance.
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Attachment: Staff Report - Sister City Update 3-3-15 Study Session (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY)
While such an affiliation is not mandatory, it may prove beneficial in enhancing the existing partnership with San Juan de los Lagos , as well as any additional communities which may become involved in Moreno Valley’s program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Records indicate that in Fiscal Years 2002/2003, 2005/2006, and 2007/2008 the City expended up to $2,600 on Sister City activities.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS
Positive Environment. Create a positive environment for the development of Moreno Valley's future.
ATTACHMENTS
1. November 19, 1991 Sister City Program Staff Report
2. Resolution No. 93-57
3. August 17, 1999 Sister City Program Staff Report
Prepared By: Department Head Approval:
Shanna Palau Thomas M. DeSantis
Management Analyst Assistant City Manager
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Attachment: Staff Report - Sister City Update 3-3-15 Study Session (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) Sister City Program - mySidewalk https://mysidewalk.com/organizations/289733/sister-city-program 1 of 3 09/04/2015 3:54 PM
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Attachment: Sister City Program Survey Results - mySidewalk (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) Sister City Program - mySidewalk https://mysidewalk.com/organizations/289733/sister-city-program 2 of 3 09/04/2015 3:54 PM
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Attachment: Sister City Program Survey Results - mySidewalk (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) Sister City Program - mySidewalk https://mysidewalk.com/organizations/289733/sister-city-program 3 of 3 09/04/2015 3:54 PM
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Attachment: Sister City Program Survey Results - mySidewalk (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) A.2.c
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Attachment: 052215 Letter_Sister City Presidente Gonzalez (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) A.2.c
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Attachment: 052215 Letter_Sister City Presidente Gonzalez (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) A.2.d
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Attachment: OFIICO MORENO VALLEY_San Juan de Los Lagos Letter of Intent (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY) A.2.e
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Attachment: Zacapu Follow up Letter (1980 : SISTER CITY PROGRAM UPDATE/ PROPOSED NEW CITY)