December 16, 2025
Mayor's Office
DATE: December 16, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Eduardo Martinez
Subject:
Direction to Establish a Sister City Commission and Draft Bylaws
FINANCIAL IMPACT: An undetermined amount of staff time will be required.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
August 25, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On August 25, 2025, the City Council approved
establishing a sister-city relationship with Sebastia,
Nablus. As a next step, the Mayor’s Office is requesting that the City Council direct staff to prepare an ordinance creating a Sister City Commission and developing its
bylaws.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
DIRECT staff to work with the Mayor’s Office to establish a Sister City Commission and develop its bylaws through an ordinance - Mayor’s Office (Mayor Eduardo Martinez
510-620-5303).
AGENDA
REPORT
December 16, 2025
DISCUSSION:
Sister City relationships function well with a clear set of rules and regulations by which they operate.
When the City Council approved the sister-city relationship with Sebastia, it created a need for a formal structure to manage and sustain that partnership. Sister City programs work best when there is a clear body responsible for planning exchanges, coordinating community participation, and maintaining communication with the partner city. A commission provides that structure.
Establishing a Sister City Commission through ordinance ensures the work is transparent, and consistent. The commission’s bylaws will define membership, responsibilities, decision-making procedures, and expectations for public accountability.
This is especially important for long-term international relationships, where leadership and community participation may change over time.
Creating this commission and its bylaws will allow the City to manage current and future sister-city partnerships in an organized and equitable way. It will also give residents, community groups, and stakeholders a clear role in supporting cultural, educational, and economic exchanges with Sebastia and any future partner cities.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Agenda Item Establishing Richmond-Sebastia Sister City Relationship Attachment 2 - Resolution Establishing Sister City Relationship With Sebastia, Palestine