October 22, 2024
City Council
DATE: October 22, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Council Member Zepeda
Subject:
Presentation of Mid-year report from the Richmond -
Shimada Friendship Committee
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The commission has requested $10,000 towards Richmond Friendship Ambassadors travel and for
creating a commemorative gift to present to the Shimada delegates at the 65th anniversary in 2026. An official
$10,000 funding request will be made during mid-year
budget review or during the FY 2025/26 budget session.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 19, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond established a sister city
relationship with Shimada, Japan in 1961. The
Richmond-Shimada Friendship Commission will present
a mid-year report on activities and projects.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
PRESENTATION from the Richmond-Shimada
Friendship Commission on mid-year activities and
projects - Councilmember Zepeda (510-620-6593).
AGENDA
REPORT
October 22, 2024
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Shimada Friendship Commission has coordinated in-person exchanges with Richmond’s Sister City Shimada, Japan for over sixty years. In-person exchanges continue to be an invaluable tool for furthering cross-cultural understanding and peacebuilding by creating lifelong friendships between the people of Richmond and Shimada. In 2024, Richmond hosted ten Shimada Friendship Ambassadors for ten days in March. In June the first post-pandemic delegation of five Richmond Friendship Ambassadors visited Shimada for three weeks.
The Commission is engaged in planning for our 2025 in-person exchanges as well as planning for the 65th anniversary of the Sister City relationship in 2026. It is our intent to invite an adult delegation from Shimada to visit Richmond in 2026 as part of the anniversary celebration. To facilitate these programs, the Commission has requested $10,000: $8500 to significantly reduce the costs of airfare for the four student Richmond Friendship Ambassadors and provide a small honorarium to the adult Friendship Ambassador/Chaperone; $1500 for creating a commemorative gift to present to the Shimada delegates at the anniversary. The official funding request will be made during mid-year review or for the 2025/26 FY budget.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment - Richmond Shimada Friendship Commission Mid-Year Presentation