City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYO R AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: FEBRUARY 8, 2022
FROM: OFFICE OF THE MAYOR WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION FROM THE O FFICE OF THE MAYOR TO ADOPT A NEW
SISTER CITY HANDBOOK WITH GUIDELINES AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE
SISTER CITY PROGRAM
ISSUE:
The Office of the Mayor and the International Relations Council (IRC) created a Sister City Handbook to establish a formally adopted City of Riverside document to serve the IRC and the City of Riverside in the managing and operating of existing Sister City relationships and future Sister City requests.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
1. Approve the Sister City H andbook for use within the City of Riverside’s International Relations Department (Mayor’s Office) and the IRC (International Relations Council).
2. Evaluate Sister City relationships and involv ement going forward with these guidelines in place.
BACKGROUND:
On April 14, 2021, the Mayor’s Sister City Roundtable was formed to evaluate and review existing guidelines for our Sister City relationships, talk about expansion into “Friendship Cities” and establish criteria for both successful and unsuccessful partnerships. Up until this point, Sister City guidelines were minimal, without reference to maintaining on-going relationships or what to do if a relationship needed termination. The Roundtable met four times, in April, May, June and July of 2021. With their approval, the draft handbook was passed along to the fu ll IRC (International Relations Council) Board of Dir ectors, who discussed it and made minor revisions over many months, approving it in December 2021.
DISCUSSION:
The Sister City Handbook is a co mpact 14-page document that offers specific guidelines for the Sister City program. It begins with a welcome from the Mayo r and the President of the IRC, and Very Brief Title of Report ● Page 2
then defines what a Sister City is and why they are important to our co mmunity. Included in its pages are the necessary steps to creating sist er cities, expectation s for maintaining the relationships, ways to communicate to the public, and, if need be, methods for terminating those ties. It also outlines what a “Friendship City” is and ways they are used for positive Riverside connections.
The goal for creating a Sister City Handbook is:
To provide guidance to the IRC (International Relations Council) on expectations for maintaining relationships with our current Sister Cities To offer a tool by which to manage future Sister City requests To create alternatives to the Sister City Program which might benefit Riverside internationally on a short-term or more casual basis
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 1—Arts, Culture and Recreation and Goal No. 1.1, to strengthen Riverside’s portfolio of arts… and life-long learning pr ograms…through expanded community partnerships, and Goal 1.2, to enhance equitable access to arts & culture in providing international arts and cultural opportunities with equitable access. It also contributes to Strategic Priority 3—Economic Opportunity and Goal 3.3, cultivating international business that welcomes innovation… and investment.
1. Community Trust –With input from a broad-based committee of volunteers, and the Board of Directors of the IRC (International Relations Council), the development of a Sister City Handbook was evaluated over the course of a year in a thoughtful process. The development of such a guide promotes public trust by allowing everyone to see a rubric for successful partnerships.
2. Equity – Riverside’s International Relations Si ster City Program promotes world-wide equity and acceptance, and the articulation of program goals only enhances the positive outcomes for everyone.
3. Fiscal Responsibility – By seeking to outline ongoi ng successful relationships, the Handbook can serve to further cost-effective efforts on the part of the City and its citizens.
The only costs are minimal printing expenses (below).
4. Innovation – The Sister City Program is entirely about collaborative partnerships with our international friends; building trust, sharing commitments for economic growth, tourism and cultural exchanges. Each outreach effort stre tches the community to think innovatively about how we could maximize these relationships.
5. Sustainability & Resiliency – When reaching out to our Sister Cities (in the ways that are outlined in the handbook) both communities can grow by capitalizing on the best each has to offer, in areas like green technology, wh ich can be the building blocks for a better Riverside future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $433.33 (100 handbooks printed). The funds are available in the Sister Cities account / 0100000-450006 account number. Appropriations for future fiscal years, if needed, will be included in the Department’s Budget submissions for those fiscal years to be presented to the City Council for approval.
Very Brief Title of Report ● Page 3
Prepared by: Kathy Allavie, International Relations Liaison Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez , Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Concurs with:
___________________________
Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson
City of Riverside