CC SR 20200407 04 - Sakura Sister City
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 04/07/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to form a “sister city” relationship with Sakura City,
Japan
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file, and if desired, provide direction to Staff regarding next steps to
form a “sister city” relationship with Sakura City, Japan.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Kit Fox, AICP, Interim Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as above
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Sister Cities International membership application (page A-1)
B. SoCal Sister Cities brochure (page B-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
At its meeting on January 21, 2020, the City Council welcomed a delegation of officials
from Sakura City, Japan, including its mayor, Takashi Hanatsuka. As a result of this
successful cultural exchange, Councilmember Ferraro asked for an item to be
agendized at a future City Council meeting for the consideration of a “sister cities”
relationship with Sakura City, Japan.
Since 2001, more than 300 students from two middle schools in Sakura City have
traveled to Rancho Palos Verdes to attend Miraleste Intermediate School, enabling
students from both cities to attain a robust cultural understanding and appreciation of
both countries. Over the years, the program has strengthened cultural bonds and
fostered many enduring and deep friendships.
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Located 25 miles northeast of Tokyo, Sakura City is a thriving
community of over 175,000 residents with a rich and vibrant history.
The city is perhaps best known for the famous cherry blossoms that
give it its name and feature prominently on its flag (see right).
The “sister city” program was launched as a national concept in 1956 when President
Eisenhower called for massive exchanges between Americans and people of other
nations. Originally proposed as the people-to-people program, and under the aegis of
the National League of Cities, Sister Cities
International (SCI) became an independent
nonprofit organization in 1967. SCI is the
national membership organization for sister city
state programs in the United States, and
currently represents more than 2,100
communities in 121 countries around the world.
Current annual membership dues for a city of
our size are $810 (Attachment A).
SoCal Sister Cities is the local chapter of SCI, with member cities from San Luis Obispo
to the Mexican border (Attachment B). SoCal Sister Cities Board of Directors provides
information and organizational support for SCI members with existing affiliations
throughout the world and for those wishing to establish such programs. SoCal Sister
Cities serves as a clearinghouse for information, as a reference source for SCI
members, and as an information source on matters of protocol. South Bay member
cities include Carson, Gardena and Redondo Beach.
Sakura City officials are aware that the City Council will be considering forming a “sister
city” relationship with Rancho Palos Verdes and they have expressed an interest in
reciprocating the relationship. Moreover, with the success of their recent visit, it seems
likely that there is mutual interest in such a relationship.
Staff suggests that the City Council authorize contacting Sakura City officials to begin a
dialogue, possibly culminating in the adoption of resolutions declaring our “sister city”
relationship by each city council. If desired, the City Council may also direct Staff to
further explore membership in SCI and SoCal Sister Cities.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not pursue a “sister city” relationship with Sakura City, Japan .
“The Sister Cities Program is an
important resource to the negotiations
of governments in letting the people
themselves give expression of their
common desire for friendship, goodwill
and cooperation for a better world for
all.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
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2020 Membership Application
915 15TH STREET NW · 4TH FLOOR · WASHINGTON, DC 20005 · TEL: 202.347.8630 · WWW.SISTERCITIES.ORG
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Annual Dues* (Please check one)
City/County Population Dues
Under 5,000 $190 Community Information
5,000‐10,000 $310
10,000‐25,000 $440
25,000‐50,000 $610 Does your city currently have a sister city?
50,000‐100,000 $810 City Contact Information
100,000‐300,000 $1,030 Mr.
300,000‐500,000
500,000‐1,000,000 $1,910
1,000,000 and above $2,280
Billing information (if different from primary contact information)
Mr.
Salutation First Name Last Name Title
Organization Address City
State Zip code
Do you need an invoice?
Phone number
Yes No
Email address
Payment Method Check (make payable to Sister Cities International) Visa MasterCard American Express
/
Card No. Expiration Date CC Security Code Cardholder Name
Cardholder Signature
Primary Contact Information
Mr./Ms.
Salutation First Name Last Name Title
Organization Address City
State Zip code Phone number Email address
YesAre you a city employee? No
If not, please enter your city’s contact information in the box
above.
Please send your completed application to info@sistercities.org or mail to:
Sister Cities International, 915 15th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC, 20005
City/County State Population Size
Yes No
Saluatation First Name Last Name
Title Phone Number Email Address
$ 1,380
A-1
915 15TH STREET NW · 4TH FLOOR · WASHINGTON, DC 20005 · TEL: 202.347.8630 · WWW.SISTERCITIES.ORG
2020 Member Benefits
Sister Cities International supports private citizens, local organizations, and municipal officials who conduct exchanges
and activities under the umbrella of the sister cities movement. Every day, we strengthen and grow the sister cities net‐
work by providing support to our members through programs, grants, services, and networking opportunities.
Member Services
•Communications: Sister Cities International can work with
you to publicize your program’s success stories, exchanges,
and events as well as help you effectively navigate crises or
controversies related to your program.
•Connecting with the Network: Sister Cities International’s
greatest resource is our network. We can connect you to the
Department of State, foreign embassies in the U.S., and
other key members to help you get the answers and support
you need.
•Governance and Policy Services: In our network, there is no
such thing as “one size fits all.” Sister Cities International can
help you establish an internal structure that suits the needs
of your program and takes advantage of your community’s
resources.
•City Connection Marketplace: Our City Connection
Marketplace provides you with dedicated staff assistance
and the necessary connections to municipal officials,
twinning organizations, and the diplomatic c ommunity to
help you find and establish a sister city.
*Membership dues rates are subject to an annual cost of living
adjustment.
Resources and Discounts
•Visa Consultations: We partner with a number of immigration
lawyers throughout the U.S. to provide pro‐bono consultations
(up to 30 min.) on questions you might have regarding inbound or
outbound visas.
•Travel Insurance: Get access to discounted travelers insurance
for individuals or groups through Sister Cities International.
•Medical Services: Sister Cities International works with Passport
Health to provide members with discounted immunizations and
other medical services.
•Background Checks: Members of Sister Cities International receive
access to discounted background check services to administer
international exchanges.
•Toolkits and Templates: Sister Cities International provides
members with a number of resources to help build and run your
program. Get access to handy guidelines, tem‐ plates, webinars,
and best practices for exchanges, policies, and other topics
relevant to sister city program development.
Other Programs
•Annual Awards: The Awards highlight sister city programming excellence and achievement in a number of competitive categories
and programmatic areas. The awards bring international recognition to each community’s contributions to the citizen diplomacy
movement.
•Young Artists & Authors Showcase: Open to all youth in member cities, the Showcase is a chance for students to share their
passion for world peace by submitting artwork, essays, and poems inspired by an annual theme. Winners receive cash prizes and
top entries tour the U.S.
•High School Homestay: This exchange program enables member cities to host high school students for a year or semester. We
assist with processing exchange visas for the youth and makes it a simple and rewarding experience for students and host
families.
•Youth Leadership Summit: Foster the next generation of citizen diplomats and future leaders by sending your community youth
aged 14 ‐ 18 to our annual Youth Leadership Summit. Through specialized simulations, site visits, speaker sessions, and peer
interactions to empower them to think globally about critical issues. By interacting with other peers from around the world,
students at the summit become a new generation of volunteers who are instrumental in promoting peace, mutual respect, and
understanding among communities locally and worldwide.
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SoCal Sister Cities connects
144 cities in 47 countries with 37 cities
in Southern California.
SoCal Sister Cities
CONTACT
Sister Cities International SoCal Chapter, Inc.
P.O. Box 61264 Los Angeles, CA 90061
Website: www.socalsistercities.org
SoCal Sister Cities
Promoting the Success of Sister Cities
Malibu
Newport Beach
Palm Desert
Pasadena
Redlands
Redondo Beach
Riverside
San Bernardino
San Diego
Santa Barbara
Santa Clarita
Sante Fe Springs
Santa Monica
Temecula
Temple City
Upland
Walnut
Whittier
Anaheim
Bakerseld
Beverly Hills
Big Bear Lake
Burbank
Carlsbad
Carson
Chula Visa
Compton
Corona
Culver City
Encinitas
Gardena
Glendale
Irvine
Laguna beach
Laguna Niguel
Long Beach
Los Angeles
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SoCal Sister Cities
Promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding,
and cooperation — one individual, one community at a time.
What is SoCal Sister Cities?
Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter,
Inc. (SoCal Sister Cities), a tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
organization, was established as an extension of Sister
Cities International (SCI) in Southern California.
1. SoCal Sister Cities services SCI members from San Luis
Obispo to the Mexico Border.
2. SoCal Sister Cities Board of Directors provides
information and organizational support for SCI
members with existing aliations throughout the world
and for those wishing to establish such programs.
3. SoCal Sister Cities serves as a clearinghouse for
information, as a reference source for SCI members and
as an information source on matters of protocol.
State Charity Registration #CT0163170
EIN# 33-0607663
SoCal Sister Cities convenes a conference, several
regional meetings, and events in cities throughout
Southern California yearly. Delegates from aliated
cities gather to discuss, share programs and hear from
speakers on topics including student exchange,
fund-raising, and other subjects of general interest to
the member cities and their sister cities abroad.
History of Sister Cities International
The Sister Cities Program is a living legacy left by the late
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He initiated the
program in 1956, as a new approach to securing peace
around the world through the establishment of
personal, people-to-people friendships between
Americans and the peoples of other nations. Since 1956,
the network of Sister Cities International has grown to
unite tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and
volunteers in programs through over 2,000 cities in 140
countries on six continents, with cities in the United
States.
History of SoCal Sister Cities
Thelma Press, began her involvement withSister Cities
in 1959 through the establishment of a relationship
betweenSan Bernardino, California and Tachikawa,
Japan. In 1972, Ms. Press was appointed as SCI's
California State Representative. In 1974 she met with
Mayor of Santa Fe Springs, Betty Wilson, to form a
California state chapter of Sister Cities International.
Betty Wilson was one of thepeople who sat with
President Eisenhower to sign the agreement that
formed Sister Cities. Given the size of the State, it was
decided to establish Northern and Southern California
chapters.Together, Ms. Wilson and Ms. Press established
rules and regulations for chapter by-laws and SoCal
Sister Cities was established. SCIState chapters then
spread throughout the United States. SoCal Sister Cities
now connects 144 cities in 47 countries
with 37 cities in Southern California.
Thelma Press
SoCal Sister Cities
Co-Founder
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