Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding the Formulation and Implementation of Sister City Relations Between the City of Dumagete, Philippines and the City of Alameda. (Community Development 267)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager
Re: Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Sign A Memorandum Of Understanding Regarding The Formulation And Implementation Of Sister City Relations Between The City Of Dumagete, Philippines And The City Of Alameda
BACKGROUND
In 2004, members of the Social Services Human Relations Board (SSHRB) and local volunteers formed the Alameda Sister City Workgroup. The Workgroup was established to examine and evaluate the status of Alameda's existing Sister City relationships with Lindigo, Sweden and Arita-Machi, Japan and to determine the interest in, and commitment to, developing a new Sister City relationship with Wuxi, China. A "Friendship City" relationship was established with Wuxi, China and a Sister City relationship was formalized with Jiangyin, China with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2008.
In 2009, the Alameda Sister City Association (ASCA), a non-profit organization, was formed to assume the role formerly played by the SSHRB Sister City Workgroup. ASCA received its 501 (c) (3) non-profit status in 2014. In 2013, members of ASCA expressed interest in pursuing a Sister City relationship with Dumaguete, Philippines in Negros Oriental province. Cynthia Bonta, a former resident of Dumaguete, agreed to take on the leadership role in exploring this relationship. Conversations were initiated with Dumaguete officials later that year. Shortly thereafter, then Mayor Gilmore sent a letter expressing interest in exploring a Sister City relationship between the two cities. Ms. Bonta traveled to Dumaguete to meet with government officials to begin plans for a delegation from Du...
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