HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2308-1928AA1.Palo Alto and Bloomington, Indiana Sibling Cities Annual Report for 2022 and
Upcoming Events
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: August 21, 2023
Report #:2308-1928
TITLE
Palo Alto and Bloomington, Indiana Sibling Cities Annual Report for 2022 and Upcoming Events
RECOMMENDATION
Receive this informational report about the Palo Alto and Bloomington, Indiana Sibling Cities
Annual Report for 2022 and information about upcoming events.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The City of Palo Alto became the part of the first of its kind Sibling City partnership at the end of
2021 when the City partnered with the City of Bloomington, Indiana as Sibling Cities. This
partnership, similar to Sister City partnerships that the City has with 8 cities around the world,
allows the Palo Alto and Bloomington communities to connect on culture, education,
sustainability, and other topics of interest to both cities.
At the time of adoption in Palo Alto, the City Council requested an annual report from Sibling
Cities USA and Neighbors Abroad about progress on this first-of-its-kind partnership. The first
annual report is included here as Attachment B.
In addition to the annual report, the Palo Alto-Bloomington Sibling City committee will be
hosting some upcoming events as an opportunity for further dialogue between members of the
two communities. The flyer for the upcoming sessions is included with this information report
as Attachment A.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The upcoming events provide an opportunity for members of Palo Alto and Bloomington
communities to engage with one another to continue and grow the connection between the
two cities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Not a project.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Flyer for Upcoming Sessions
Attachment B: Palo Alto and Bloomington Annual Report for 2022
APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager
B r i d g i n g r e g i o n a l D i v i d e s , S e p t 1 7
C l i m a t e A c t i o n , O c t 8
R a c e & B e l o n g i n g , N o v 1 2
SIBLING CITIES TOWN HALLS
B l o o m i n g t o n , I N & P a l o A l t o , C A
Residents will gather in person in each city and connect virtually with the other city.
Co-sponsors:
Sundays, 4-6 pm ET / 1-3 pm PT
What are they thinking in ourSibling City? Let's find out!
Locations:
Bloomington Palo Alto
Downtown, 303 E. Kirkwood 3700 Middlefield Road
Register Here:
SIBLING
CITIES USA
BLOOMINGTON-PALO ALTO
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022
INTRODUCTION
On February 15, 2022, the
mayors of Bloomington, IN
and Palo Alto, CA entered the
first-ever Sibling Cities
agreement during a launch
celebration. This report
summarizes the highlights
from the following year.
We connect community
organizations to build
friendship, respect, and
cultural understanding
We encourage
economic collaboration
and sharing of best
practices for equitable
growth, innovation, and
shared prosperity
COMMUNITY COMMERCE CIVIL DISCOURSE
We foster
understanding,
respect, and trust
through discussions
on challenging policy
issues
THREE PILLARS OF CONNECTION
Bipartisan National Support for SCUSA
I applaud this inaugural effort … and
hope it leads to many future Sibling
City relationships that connect and
unite us as a nation. –Rep. Anna
Eshoo (CA)
Sibling Cities USA takes an approach
… that recognizes the essential role
communities play in our democracy.
It is a welcome effort in these
divided times. -David Mathews,
former Cabinet SecretaryWe look forward to the mutual respect,
bridging of divides, and unifying pride
in being fellow Americans that we
believe could result from such a
program. -Tom Cochran, CEO US Conf of Mayors
2022 SCUSA LEADERSHIP
Founder &
CEO
Bloomington
Coordinator
VICKI VEENKER KAREN HOWE FERNANDEZ
Former Palo Alto
Coordinator & Neighbors
Abroad Liaison
ANDIE REED
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Virtual Kickoff
February 2022
High School
Essay Contest
March 2022
Delegation Visit To
Bloomington
May 2022
Bloomington Innovation
Award Celebration
May 2022
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Delegation Visit to
Palo Alto
November 2022
Civil Discourse
Launch
February 2023August 2022
Bloomington Sign
Unveiled at PA City Hall
Cornell William Brooks
Former NAACP President and
Harvard Professor
Tara VanDerveer
Indiana University Alumna
and Stanford Women’s
Basketball Head Coach
PALO ALTO-BLOOMINGTON KICKOFF EVENT
February 2022
-Mayors signed
Sibling Cities
Agreement
-150 Attendees
Keynote
Speakers:
DELEGATION VISITS
BLOOMINGTON
May 2022
-Dimension Mill Visit
-City Hall Tour with Mayor Hamilton
-Lunch Meeting at IU Cook Center for Arts
& Humanities with BEDC and Chamber of
Commerce
DELEGATION VISITS
BLOOMINGTON
May 2022
-Visit to Teacher’s Warehouse
-Brown County sightseeing with concert by
Jacobs School of Music students at
Nashville Art Guild
-Gathering with members of the
Bloomington Rotary Club
DELEGATION VISITS
PALO ALTO
November 2022
-Welcome Lunch by Neighbors
Abroad
-Climate Summit with US
Department of Energy Asst.
Secretary Ali Nouri
-Civil Discourse Planning Meeting
-Economic Roundtable at City Hall
with the PA Chamber of Commerce
DELEGATION VISITS
PALO ALTO
November 2022
-IU Alumni Association Reception
-Stanford, Art Center, Downtown, and
other tours
-Jacobs School String Quartet
Performance
-Rotary dinner
Tom Ehrlich
Former Stanford Dean
and
IU President
Joan Blades
Co-Founder,
Living Room
Conversations
CIVIL DISCOURSE LAUNCH
February 2023
-40+ Attendees
-Event included our
first cross-cities
discussion groups
Keynote Speakers:
10
Joint Steering
Comm. Meetings
IMPACT METRICS
26
Delegates visit their
Sibling City led by Rotary
6
High school Essay
Contest winners 65
Attend Civil Discourse
Planning Meeting
36
Connected
organizations
150
Attendees at Virtual
Kickoff
200
Cans of food & $1000
raised in Kiwanis fundraiser
200
Attend Climate
Summit
200+
Participants and
supporters
-COMMUNITY: Counterpart groups will
continue to meet, exchange ideas, and
undertake joint projects
-COMMERCE: The business communities
will continue to share best practices and
discuss economic development
-CIVIL DISCOURSE: Town Halls and small
group discussions will take place
throughout the year
LOOKING FORWARD
ESSAY WINNERS TO TRAVEL TO THE NETHERLANDS
Summer 2023
-High school students wrote
about civil courage
-6 winners; 3 from each city
-Winners will travel to
Enschede, Muenster, &
Amsterdam
-Sponsored by Neighbors
Abroad
FALL 2023 CIVIL DISCOURSE TOWN HALLS
August 2023
Regional Divides:
What’s the need for
Sibling Cities?
October 2023
Climate Action &
Sustainability
November 2023
Race, Equity, &
Belonging
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
-Join a Town Hall
Planning Group
-Host a Living Room
Conversation
Civil
Discourse
Join a Committee:
-Joint Steering Comm.
-Civil Discourse
SCUSA
Leadership
-Community Group
Projects
-Business/Commerce
Connections
Counterpart
Connection
CONTACT US!
Vicki Veenker:
vicki@siblingcitiesusa.org
Karen Howe Fernandez:
bloomington@siblingcitiesusa.org