Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding the Formulation and Implementation of Sister City Relations Between the City of Varazze, Italy and the City of Alameda, United States of America. (Community Development 267)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: David L. Rudat, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Residents of Italian ancestry have been an important part of the fabric, character, culture, and economy of the City of Alameda. In 1941, the Alpicella Family Club was established in Alameda. The organization continues to thrive today with several of its leaders and members tracing their roots to Varazze, Italy, a seaside town located in the Italian Riviera. It is the attraction of connecting to its ancestral origin that motivated the Alpicella Club to approach the Alameda Sister City Association (ASCA) to seek establishing a Sister City relationship with Varazze. With oversight from ASCA, the Alpicella Club facilitated a year-long dialogue with the Varazze Committee in Italy to outline the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a Sister City partnership (Exhibit 1) for consideration by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
Alameda’s Sister City program works to promote cultural understanding and cooperation with cities around the world, and to strengthen international partnerships at the municipal and person-to-person levels. Alameda currently has three active Sister Cities, and one active Friendship City:
Sister Cities
• Jiangyin, China (2008)
• Dumaguete, Philippines (2015)
• Yeongdong-gun, South Korea (2017)
Friendship City
• Wuxi, China (2005)
The Sister City program is a partnership between the City and ASCA, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2009. Prior to 2009, the Sister City program was facilitated by the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB) Sister City workgroup. ASCA evaluates and recommends new Sister Cities for adoption and, as a representative of the City of Alameda, organizes and supports all Sister City activities, including fundraising and cultural events, economic exchanges, delegation visits, and humanitarian efforts, among other initiatives.
Residents of Italian ancestry make up approximately 4.3% of the City’s population. Italian-Americans are active in Alameda, having established the Alpicella Family Club in 1941. Most of the Club’s active members currently live in Alameda. A large percentage of Alpicella Club’s founding members trace their roots from Alpicella, a small town within the Varazze jurisdiction, a “commune” or municipality in the Province of Savona in Italy.
With oversight from ASCA, the Alpicella Club facilitated a year-long dialogue with the Varazze Committee in Italy to outline the terms of an MOU for a Sister City partnership. Based on the Sister City guidelines, including the opportunity for mutual exchanges, information sharing, and diplomatic relations, ASCA recommends Varazze for adoption as a Sister City. With both ASCA and the Alpicella Club demonstrating ongoing commitments and abilities to sustain the partnership long-term, staff supports ASCA’s endorsement and recommends that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an MOU to formulate and implement Sister City relations with the Italian City of Varazze.
DISCUSSION
ASCA’s Varazze Sister City Committee, made up mostly of members from the Alpicella Club, explored the establishment of a Sister City relationship with the City of Varazze. Over the course of a year, the ASCA Varazze Sister City Committee and the Varazze Committee in Italy conducted thoughtful discussions resulting in the development of an MOU about the purpose, expectations, and exchanges that will take place as potential Sister City partners (Exhibit 2). Staff believes that the Alameda-Varazze Sister City partnership is sustainable because of the ability, commitment, and willingness of ASCA’s Varazze Sister City Committee, the Alpicella Club leadership, and ASCA to manage a long-term relationship with the City of Varazze.
Located on the Italian Riviera, the City of Varazze sits on a magnificent seaside approximately 19 miles west of Genoa and seven miles northeast of Savona in the Riviera di Ponente. Varazze is approximately 18.5 square miles in size and has a population of 13,746 inhabitants. Its beauty emanates from the vibrancy of the colors that surrounds it, from the blue waters of the Mediterranean to the lush green woods and brightly-colored houses that dot the city. Visitors enjoy a variety of water sports, such as fishing, sailing, paragliding, and whale watching. The sea of Varazze is part of a Whale Sanctuary and is considered the surfing capital of Italy. Just steps away from its beaches lies the rim of Mount Beigua, which is sandwiched between the Alps and the Apennines with vast plateaus rising over 3,200 feet.
As a seaside community, Varazze has a natural affinity with the island City of Alameda, with both sharing an intimate relationship with the sea. As port cities, Varazze and Alameda are endowed with commercial and business opportunities that will be further enhanced as Sister City partners through mutual exchanges of information about each other’s blue and green economies. While Alameda and Varazze share some common seaside city living and cultural characteristics, there is much more to learn from each other as partners. Visiting delegates can study the academic institutions, arts, healthcare system, sports, and traditions unique to each locality.
ASCA and the Alpicella Family Club are both nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations headquartered in Alameda. Both groups engage in fundraising campaigns to support their activities. For ASCA, fundraising is an important source of revenue dedicated specifically for Sister City program activities, cultural exchanges, and maintenance of these relationships. With ASCA’s oversight, the ASCA Varazze Sister City Committee will work directly with the Alpicella Club to sustain the long-term viability of the Alameda-Varazze Sister City partnership.
Based on its adherence to the Sister City guidelines, including the opportunity for mutually beneficial activities and the ongoing commitment of the Alpicella Club, ASCA has evaluated the City of Varazze and recommended it for adoption as a Sister City. As such, staff supports ASCA’s recommendation that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an MOU for the formulation of Sister City relations between Alameda and Varazze.
In addition to establishing formal Sister City relations, the proposed MOU calls on both cities to promote visits between their people and encourage exchanges in the fields of education, cultural exchange, and the development of person-to-person relationships. The MOU also establishes the Alameda Sister City Association as the City Council’s designee responsible for formulating and implementing the friendly exchange and cooperation programs between the two cities and carrying out the day-to-day work of a Sister City relationship.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
City funds in the amount of $10,000 have been budgeted within the FISC Fund (256) for the support and maintenance of Sister City relationships.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the SSHRB Charter and Ordinance authority “to create an environment which will encourage and bring about mutual understanding, respect, and goodwill among groups of people in the community” (Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-11.5).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15601(b)(3).
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the formulation and implementation of Sister City relations between the City of Varazze, Italy and the City of Alameda.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By,
Ana Bagtas, Management Analyst
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. MOU
2. Sister City Project Brochure