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 adoptio...
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