HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 163-09CMR: 163:09 1 of 5
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
DATE: MARCH 16, 2009 CMR:163:09
REPORT TYPE: REPORT OF OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: Approval of a Sister City Alliance Agreement between the City of
Tsuchiura City, Japan and the City of Palo Alto
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City of Palo Alto enter into a Sister City relationship with
Tsuchiura City, Japan. Staff also requests that the Council authorize the Mayor to sign
the Sister City Letter of Acceptance (Attachment A) and the Alliance Agreement
(Attachment B).
BACKGROUND
Neighbors Abroad administers the Sister City Program. This group has been established
on behalf of the City of Palo Alto under the auspices of Sister Cities International and has
developed five Sister Cities relationships: Palo, Leyte, Philippines, established in 1963;
Oaxaca, Mexico, established in 1964; Enschede, The Netherlands, established in 1980;
Linkoping, Sweden, established in 1987; and Albi, France, established in 1994.
In 1993, an exchange program between Palo Alto and Japanese students began through
the efforts of a parent, also an employee of Syntex. At this time, Syntex had a division in
Niihari village, Japan. The exchange program then grew within a Japanese language
class taught in two Palo Alto middle schools, Jordan and Jane Lathrop Stanford (JLS). In
2001, middle school teacher Keiko Nakajima took over the program and the exchanges.
The exchange program began the relationship between Niihari village and the Palo Alto
Unified School District. In 2006, Niihari village merged with Tsuchiura City, which then
adopted the exchange program. Since 1993, one hundred and sixty-eight Japanese
students have visited Palo Alto in 15 different exchange visits. One hundred and thirty
students from Palo Alto have visited Tsuchiura City in return. The cultural experiences
for students of both cities have been highly successful in developing and expanding
friendship through the exchange program. Over the years, Palo Alto family hosts and
other visitors have made trips to Tsuchiura City.
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Neighbors Abroad’s Board of Directors received a letter from Kiyoshi Nakagawa, Mayor
of Tsuchiura City, Japan, dated October 20, 2008, expressing interest in exploring the
possibility of establishing a Sister City relationship with the City of Palo Alto. Neighbors
Abroad’s Board of Directors met with interested community members and found great
interest and support for a new Sister City relationship with Tsuchiura City. At the
January 2009 board meeting, twelve parents involved in the exchanges over the years
came to speak, expressing strong interest in Palo Alto’s building of a Sister City
relationship with Tsuchiura City.
DISCUSSION
At the Neighbors Abroad’s Board of Directors meeting on February 17, 2009, the Board
voted to begin the process of entering into a Sister City relationship with Tsuchiura City,
Japan.
"Our mutual commitment is to encourage educational and cultural exchanges between
Tsuchiura City and Palo Alto and to foster person-to-person relationships that benefit
both cities while strengthening the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between Japan
and the United States."
Keiko Nakajima, teacher and organizer of the student exchanges with Niihari and
Tsuchiura City, Japan, has enthusiastically stepped forward, volunteering to take on the
Vice Chair responsibility for the new Sister City, and to become a new board member for
Neighbors Abroad. She will have help from Bruce Ishimoto, parent and exchange host,
Ann Pianetta, parent and chaperone for an exchange, and Keiko Pederson, parent. The
following individuals from Tsuchiura, Japan have agreed to actively support a Sister City
alliance:
Mayor Kiyoshi Nakagawa, City of Tsuchiura, Japan
Superintendent Yoshifumi Tominaga, Tsuchiura City Board of Education
Assistant Superintendent Teruo Kuboniwa, Tsuchiura City Board of Education
Manager Kazuo Aoyama, Tsuchiura City Board of Education
Supervisor Masahiko Kinoshita, Tsuchiura City Board of Education
Officer Toshio Tanaka, Tsuchiura City Board of Education
Once the Sister City letter of Acceptance and the Alliance Agreement are enacted by both
cities, the agreement will be in effect between Palo Alto and Tsuchiura City for a period
of one year from the date the agreement is signed by officials of Tsuchiura City, and will
automatically renew on each anniversary date unless notice of non-renewal is provided
by either party 30 day prior to the renewal date.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Neighbors Abroad’s Sister City Program is operated and supported by the Neighbors
Abroad organization through membership and fundraising activities. Staff support for the
program is minimal and consists of the CSD staff liaison’s time and resources from the
City Clerk’s Office and the City Manager’s staff. Areas of support include: attending
meetings, facilitating Neighbors Abroad requests, and preparing proclamations and
resolutions. No new resources are required to enact or maintain the proposed agreement.
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ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Letter of Acceptance
Attachment B: Alliance Agreement
PREPARED BY: _______________________________________________________
LINDA CRAIGHEAD
Division Manager, Arts & Sciences
DEPARTMENT HEAD: _________________________________________________
GREG BETTS
Interim Director of Community Services
Department
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: __________________________________________
JAMES KEENE
City Manager