CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 5 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-1511 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Clerk's Office
MEETING DATE: March 03, 2025
SUBJECT:
Official Visit to Sister City Toyonaka, Japan – Approval RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a formal invitation from Mayor Shigeki Osanai of Toyonaka City to travel to Japan to participate in World Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, Japan program to promote the Sister City relationship in July 2025; authorize a written response from Mayor Newsom accepting the invitation; and authorize the City Clerk to all things necessary and proper to coordinate the City's participation in the exchange program.
BACKGROUND:
On February 14th, 2025, the City received a formal invite from Mayor Shigeki Osanai to travel to Toyonaka to participate in the Sister City program as part of the World Expo 2025, Osaka-Kansai, Japan. Formal events are scheduled from July 16 to July 21 and the City of Toyonaka would be honored if Mayor Newsom could attend.
In 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution 77 (2018) which called upon the United States federal government and the California state legislature to recognize, acknowledge, and promote Osaka-Kansai, Japan to host the World Expo 2025. As part of the event, the City of Toyonaka has sponsored an international exchange program, inviting students living and studying in San Mateo to participate in the program. The San Mateo Sister City Association will coordinate an application and approval process for six (6) middle-school students and three (3) adult chaperones to participate in online exchanges with students from Toyonaka before participating in-person activities at the World Expo site. Mayor Newsom has been invited to participate in formal events associated with the event.
History of Formal Delegation Visits between Toyonaka and San Mateo:
• October 1963 – The first visit when the agreement was signed at the Toyonaka City offices with San Mateo Mayor Albert J. Wisner and a delegation of seven other officials present. • May 1964 – Mayor Fujito and three Toyonaka City officials visit San Mateo. • October 1971 – A delegation of 44 visitors from Toyonaka were hosted by the City of San Mateo. • October 1972 – Mary Louis Anderson, Sister City Association and host of the previous year’s visit, officially delivered to Toyonaka letters of commendation and thanks from the San Mateo City Council. • October 1973 – 10th Anniversary – a San Mateo delegation comprised of Elmer S. Anderson, Chairman of the Sister City Association, Mrs. Andersen, and Mr. & Mrs. Nakada visited Toyonaka.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
• June 1976 – Mayor Shimomura and wife visit San Mateo for America’s Bicentennial celebration and the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Japanese Garden in Central Park.
• November 1979 – formal Goodwill visit from Toyonaka – a 36-member delegation from Toyonaka visited San Mateo led by Sister City Chairman Hiroishi.
• November 1979 – Mayor Jane Baker made an official visit to Toyonaka to meet with Mayor Shimomura and members of the Sister City Association.
• July 1983 – 20th Anniversary celebration – 40-member delegation led by Mayor Shimomura of Toyonaka visits San Mateo.
• August 1985 – San Mateo Mayor Aron Hoffman, former Mayor Florence Rhoads, and their families, accompany the Goodwill baseball Exchange Team to Toyonaka.
• August 1987 – Toyonaka Mayor visited San Mateo with the baseball delegation. • October 1988 – 25th anniversary visit celebration visit to Toyonaka, led by Mayor Jane Baker, Councilmembers Paul Gumbinger and Tom Mack, and Past Mayor Hugh Wayne and spouses traveled to Toyonaka. • August 1993 – 30th Anniversary Celebration held in San Mateo with a delegation visiting led by Mayor Hayashi and members of the Toyonaka City Council.
• August 1994 – San Mateo’s Centennial Celebration. A delegation of Mr. Nobuyoshi Kitano and Mr. Taku Nagao presented official gifts in honor of San Mateo’s 100 years.
• August 1999 – Mayor Claire Mack accompanied the baseball team as part of an official visit to Toyonaka. • October 2000 – A visit from Toyonaka to San Mateo of Senior citizens (20 person delegation) to encourage senior exchanges.
• August 2003 – 40th Anniversary visit, Mayor Claire Mack and Deputy Mayor Carole Groom led a delegation to Toyonaka as part of the commemorative ceremonies.
• August 2013 – 50th Anniversary visit, Toyonaka came to San Mateo with a 40+ member delegation. • April 2014 – official goodwill visit from City Clerk Patrice Olds to deliver the artwork commissioned to celebrate the 50 th anniversary visit.
• August 2016 – 50 th Anniversary of San Mateo’s Japanese Garden, Toyonaka sent ten officials to participate in the celebration hosted by the City of San Mateo.
• October 2018 – Council Member Maureen Freschet traveled to Toyonaka with the inaugural girls’ softball exchange as the City’s official representative.
• August 2019 – Council Member Eric Rodriguez traveled to Toyonaka with the baseball team and was the City’s official representative to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the San Mateo-Toyonaka Baseball exchange. • October 2023 – Council Member Amourence Lee traveled with City Clerk Martin McTaggart as part of an official goodwill exchange to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the San Mateo-Toyonaka Sister City relationship.
In addition to the formal visits, there have been many informal visits in which the City Council hosted a welcome.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Next Steps:
1. At this meeting, please receive the invitation from the Mayor of Toyonaka.
2. Authorize a response from Mayor Newsom accepting the invitation (Attachment 1).
3. Authorize the City Clerk to coordinate Mayor Newsom’s participation in the World Expo 2025.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Travel and lodging costs are anticipated to be between $3,500 to $5,000 per city representative. No additional budget appropriation is required at this time. Staff will return to Council should any additional appropriation be required.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This approval is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is an organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Proposed letter Mayor Newsom
Att 2 – Letter Mayor Osanai
STAFF CONTACT
Martin McTaggart, City Clerk
[email protected]
(650) 522-7044