CC SR 20200721 04 - Sister City Program with Sakura City
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 07/21/2020
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to form a “sister city” relationship with the City of
Sakura City, Japan.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Resolution No. 2020-__, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, ESTABLISHING A SISTER CITIES
PROGRAM WITH SAKURA CITY, TOCHIGI PREFECTURE, JAPAN
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED BY: Same as above
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Resolution No. 2020-__, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, ESTABLISHING A SISTER CITIES
PROGRAM WITH SAKURA CITY, TOCHIGI PREFECTURE, JAPAN (page
A-1)
B. May 21, 2020 Sakura City PowerPoint Presentation (page B-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
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. To ensure that the program continues to strengthen cultural bonds and
foster many enduring and deep friendships, the City Council discussed and agreed to
proceed with pursuing a sister city relationship with Sakura City at its regular City
Council meetings on January 21, 2020, and April 7, 2020.
1
On May 21, 2020, Sakura City Mayor Takashi Hanatsuka and the City Council of
Sakura City discussed and approved the establishment of its first sister city relationship
with our City (Attachment B).
On June 16, 2020, the City Council voted to officially recognize Sakura City, Japan as a
“sister city” to Rancho Palos Verdes. In order to establish a sister city relationship, a
resolution of the City Council memorializing this action is before the City Council
(Attachment A). If the resolution is acceptable to the City Council this evening, Staff will
continue to the final stage in memorializing a sister city relationship with Sakura City by
conducting a “virtual” ceremonial signing event at the August 4, 2020 meeting.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not pursue a sister city relationship with Sakura City, Japan.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate by the City Council.
2
01159.0001/227051.1
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, ESTABLISHING A
SISTER CITIES PROGRAM WITH SAKURA CITY,
TOCHIGI PREFECTURE, JAPAN.
WHEREAS, our world has become a world of cities, with the majority of the world’s population
residing in urban communities; and
WHEREAS, the common concerns of our citizens transcend dividing lines of language,
customs, ideology, and geography; and
WHEREAS, international exchanges between cities, counties, states and similar jurisdictions
abroad and their citizens are vital to the global community because they motivate friendship, mutual
respect, and understanding; and
WHEREAS, friendship unites people of all ages and backgrounds, and surmounts barriers of
distance, culture, language, and politics; and
WHEREAS, the Sister Cities Program is committed to the process of providing an active role
in international affairs to all communities and their citizens for the ultimate goal of world peace; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, United States of America and the
City of Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, wish to enhance their mutual understanding and
strengthen the friendly cooperation between the two cities, and based on friendly consolation desire to
enter into an agreement to engage in reciprocal exchanges to carry out programs of mutual interest
and benefit, and
WHEREAS, bearing in mind the principles of equality and mutual benefit and pursuing the
common development and prosperity, both sides will be committed to various forms of exchanges and
cooperation in the fields of culture and education; and
WHEREAS, the leaders and relevant departments of both sides desire to maintain regular
correspondence with each other to facilitate consultation on matters regarding the exchanges and
cooperation between both sides as well as issues of common concern.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Members of the City Council of
the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on the basis of friendly cooperation, equality and mutual
benefit, do hereby acknowledge the effort to establish a relationship between the City of Sakura City,
Tochigi Prefecture, Japan and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, to promote and broaden cultural and
educational exchanges between the two cities, and on that basis of do hereby proclaim this
commemorative event to celebrate the union of the sister cities.
The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED on this 21st day of July 2020.
_______________________________
John Cruikshank, Mayor
Attest:
___________________________
Emily Colborn, City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Emily Colborn, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the above
Resolution No. 2020-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a
regular meeting thereof held on July 21, 2020.
__________________________________
Emily Colborn, City Clerk
A-1
To form a Sister City with Rancho Palos Verdes
1
2020.5.21
Sakura City Council Report
B-1
To form a sister city
友好都市を締結するには
Sister city agreement will establish by signing the affiliation
document by both mayors.
「締結書」に双方の首長が署名(調印)をすることで、友好都市締結が成立する。
※The format of the signing ceremony is not defined.(free)
調印式の形式は定められていない。(自由)
※If the face-to-face signing ceremony is difficult because of the covit-19,
it is possible to think that exchange the affiliation document by mail.
コロナウイルスの感染拡大の防止により、両市長が対面での調印式を開催することが難しい場合、郵送又での「提携書」のやりとりが考えられる。
2 B-2
Sister City Agreement (English sample)
Sister City Agreement
The Cities of Rancho Palos Verdes City, California, United States of America and Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan hereby recognize each
other as SISTER CITIES. The purpose of this reciprocal agreement is to further develop a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
The Cities of Rancho Palos Verdes City and Sakura City, and their respective citizens, through active exchanges in a variety of areas such as
culture, education, arts, and the economy, will strive to further friendships and deepen their mutual understanding.
We hope this relationship brings our communities closer together and enhances each other's cultural experience.
This present agreement is created in duplicate in Japanese and English languages, both texts being equally authoritative and effective upon
the date of signing.
(Signature)
Name John Cruikshank
Mayor, Rancho Palos Veredes City
Name Takashi Hanatsuka
Mayor, Sakura City
Date: △△▲▲, 2020
Place: Rancho Palos Verdes City
3
Quoted from web
B-3
Sister City Agreement (Japanese sample)
友好都市締結協定書
日本国栃木県さくら市とアメリカ合衆国カリフォルニア州ランチョパロスベルデス市は、相互の信頼と尊敬を礎として、これまで
の友好関係をさらに推進するため、友好都市の締結をすることに合意する。
両市及びその市民は、文化、教育、芸術、経済など幅広い分野における交流を通じて、さらなる発展と互いの理解と連携を深める
ことに努めるものとする。
本協定書は、日本語及び英語を等しく正文とし、署名の日から効力を生ずる。
2020年〇〇月▲▲日
日本国
栃木県さくら市長
署名 花塚 隆志
アメリカ合衆国
カリフォルニア州ランチョパロスベルデス市長
署名 John Cruikshank
ランチョパロスベルデス市にて
4
Quoted from web
B-4
Sakura City Schedule(Goal)
さくら市のスケジュール(目標)
5
June-July Discuss when to form a Sister City with RPV
６～７月 調印に向けての調整
By 2020/12/31 Hold the signing ceremony or exchange
affiliation by mail = Form a Sister City
対面での調印又は書面で調印「友好都市締結」= 友好都市締結
Report citizens(Public magazine)
市民へ報告（広報紙など）
B-5
After forming a Sister City
The following events can be consider (We hope)
・The students of Miraleste Intermediate School come
to Sakura City as a school program.
・Each students exchange by online.
・Citizens visit each other’s city at some event.
6 B-6