Title
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Sister City Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Between the County of Yeongdong, the Republic of Korea and the City of Alameda, United States of America. (Community Development 256)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On July 3, 2017, the City of Alameda (City) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Yeongdong, the Republic of Korea (Yeongdong-gun) to form a Sister City partnership. Yeongdong is a county in South Korea. The Sister City program works to promote cultural understanding and cooperation with cities around the world to strengthen international partnerships at the municipal and person-to-person levels. Since the establishment of its Sister City relations, residents from both cities have exchanged delegations to promote cultural understanding and foster mutually beneficial opportunities. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) affirms the partners' commitment to their Sister City collaboration by specifying the terms of the partnership and the activities that will facilitate cooperation and advancement of each other's development.
BACKGROUND
The Sister City program is a partnership between the City and the Alameda Sister City Association (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, organizes and supports all Sister City activities, including fundraising and cultural events, economic exchanges, delegation visits, and humanitarian efforts. Alameda currently has four active Sister Cities and one active Friendship City:
Sister Cities
* Jiangyin, China (2008)
* Dumaguete, Philippines (2015)
* Yeongdong-gun, the Republic of Korea (2017)
* Varazze, Italy (2019)
Friendship City
* Wuxi, China (2005...
Click here for full text