COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:
City Council Members
FROM: Brian Fullmer
City Council Staff Member
DATE: October 11, 2013 at 9:08 AM
RE:
SALT LAKE SISTER CITIES
RESTRUCTURE
PROJECT TIMELINE:
Written Briefing: October 15,
2013
Set Date:
Public Hearing:
Potential Action:
Council Sponsor:
ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE
Proposed changes to Section 2.82.010 Salt Lake City Code are intended to better maintain and expand Sister
Cities relationships. The Administration provided a list of recommendations that are outlined below.
According to the transmittal, under the direction of CED, a proposed new management group will draft by-laws
and policies and procedures necessary for the newly established board. These policies and procedures will then
be transmitted to the Mayor and Council for review and approval.
The Administration believes the current structure restricts Salt Lake City’s capacity to expand relationships with
Sister Cities. Limited staff involvement and the placement of Sister Cities within Housing and Neighborhood
Development do not allow sufficient attention given to areas such as economic development and larger
educational and institutional exchanges.
MATTERS AT ISSUE
Funding is currently limited. The Council may wish to discuss whether contracting with an outside management
group would increase costs.
ADDITIONAL & BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Administration has proposed changes to the Sister Cities program which will allow the Board to better
accomplish its purpose which is “… to promote peace and unite local and global communities through
friendship, economic opportunities and cultural and educational exchange, particularly between Salt Lake City
and selected cities in other countries.”
With guidance from Community and Economic Development and with City Council approval, proposed changes
to Section 2.82.010 Salt Lake City Code include (See pages 4-5 of the Transmittal letter for details):
CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY
451 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 304
P.O. BOX 145476, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5476
COUNCIL.SLCGOV.COM
TEL 801-535-7600 FAX 801-535-7651
KYLE LAMALFA | DISTRICT 2 | COUNCIL CHAIR || JILL REMINGTON LOVE | DISTRICT 5 | COUNCIL VICE CHAIR || CARLTON CHRISTENSEN | DISTRICT 1
|| STAN PENFOLD | DISTRICT 3 || LUKE GARROTT | DISTRICT 4 || CHARLIE LUKE | DISTRICT 6 || SØREN SIMONSEN | DISTRICT 7
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Moving Sister Cities out of Housing and Neighborhood Development and into Community and
Economic Development.
The City would contract with an outside management group for administration of programming and
activities. This is intended to help remove constraints of limited staff involvement with the program
under Housing and Neighborhood Development.
The management group would then evaluate the Sister Cities program and restructure it to better meet
City defined program goals.
Restructuring the Sister Cities Board to include members from throughout the business, religious,
education and international communities.
Board member term limits would also be created.
Public Process
The proposed restructure was presented to the current Sister Cities Board membership on June 5, 2013, and was
well received.
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ERIC D . SHAW
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY &ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OIRE C TOR
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
MARY DE LA MARE-SCHAEFER
OEPUTY DIRECTOR
CITY COUNCIL TRANSMITTAL
Date Received:
~~~~~~~---
Date Sent to City Council: Q
~ /14 IW/S
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TO:
Salt Lake City Council
Kyle LaMalfa, Chair
FROM:
Eric Shaw, CED Director
•
DATE: July 5,2013
COUNCIL SPONSOR:
SUBJECT:
Salt Lake Sister Cities Restructure
STAFF CONTACT:
Michael Akerlow, Director
Housing and Neighborhood Development
801-535-7966, michael.akerlow@slcgov_com
.j ·COUNCIL SPONSOR:
To be determined by Council
DOCUMENT TYPE:
Briefing - information only
RECOMMENDATION: No Action Necessary
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
,""/ On November 20, 2012, the Salt Lake City Council held a work session to discuss the
current and future direction of the Salt Lake Sister Cities program. Included in this
discussion, Council addressed the term limits for Sister Cities Board Members, areas of
focus for the Sister Cities Board, city staff roles and ideas for use of the Sister Cities
budget allocation.
Upon further review of these matters and after discussion with City staff members
assigned to oversee the Sister Cities program, it is recommended that the program, as it
is currently constituted, be restructured.
451
SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 404
P.O . 80X 145486, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5 4 86
TELEPHONE: 801-535-6230
FA X: 801-535-6005
W WW. SL C GO V. C DM /cE O
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The restructure would include:
•
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Contracting the management of board programming to an outside organization
with an understanding of Salt Lake City's role as an international city
Reorganizing the Sister Cities Board to include local institutions with strong
I
international ties and citizen constituents
Redrafting the Sister Cities Ordinance and by-laws
Administering the Sister Cities program in Community and Economic
Development Department Administration, rather than the Housing and
Neighborhood Development Division.
Background and Analysis of the Current Sister Cities Program
Salt Lake City (SLC) formed its first Sister City relationship with Matsumoto, Japan in
1958. Since then, SLC has formed relationships with seven additional sister cities and
one friendship city, for a total of nine international relationships.
Initially, the majority of these relationships were managed by members of the
community with ties to a particular international city. These community representatives
worked with SLC staff in the Mayor and Council Offices to arrange celebrations,
dignitary exchanges, and other needed services. However, they did not have an official
status as a board.
In 2001 it became necessary to establish an official capacity for these relationships. The
Olympics brought an onslaught of international interest in SLC, demonstrating the need
for an official organization to house these relationships. As such, SLC adopted an
ordinance, Chapter 2.82.010, appointing a Sister Cities Advisory Board to oversee the
f relationships and designating city staff members as Sister Cities Coordinators.
According to the original ordinance, SLC would appoint board members to serve in an
advisory capacity. It also outlined that the program would be open to community
members and business organizations by paying annual membership dues.
In 2008 the Council adopted a revised ordinance that now stands as the current Sister
Cities Ordinance. The new ordinance changed the following procedures:
•
•
•
Membership dues were abolished as the program did not run as originally
outlined.
Criteria was outlined for establishing new relationships. To ensure that the
relationship would remain active, new relationships were labeled as "Friendship
Cities" for a minimum of three years before graduating to "Sister City" status.
Term limits for board members were eliminated. The reasoning being that these
individuals have created long-standing relationships with individual cities and
could not easily be replaced.
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Due to limited time and resources of the city staff involved in Sister Cities, the
new ordinance defined the city staff role to serve only as the secretarial and
treasury functions of the board.
Although the new ordinance made several positive changes, it did not specifically define P
the roles and responsibilities of each board member, other than to adhere to the I
advisory functions as a whole. As such, each advisory board member continued in the
role of representing a particular relationship, with only two board members labeling
themselves as at-large members. This has led to some confusion on the part of our local
community members, as well as our respective Sister Cities, regarding ownership of the
individual relationships, points of contact for the relationships, and definition of
allowable Sister City activities.
In addition to the above mentioned concerns regarding board members representing
particular relationships, there has also been a question about whether eliminating term
limits has narrowed the scope and perspective of the Board.
The biggest concern with the current Sister Cities structure is that SLC has become
limited in its capacity to expand the relationships. While each board member is
passionate about the city they represent, there are many areas such as economic
development, larger educational/institutional exchanges, etc., that are not sufficiently
addressed. This is due to the constraints of limited staff involvement and the placement
of Sister Cities within the Housing and Neighborhood Development Division.
A restnlcture of the Sister Cities Advisory Board would also resolve some other current
concerns with the program. During a restructure these concerns could be addressed by
placing Sister Cities in a department/division that more accurately aligns with the
program goals, defining a more resolute goal and focus for the program, expanding
,/ community participation and organizational representation, and creating a protocol for
discontinuing non-active relationships.
Goals Under the Restructured Program
According to SLC Code, "The purpose of the Salt Lake Sister Cities Board is to promote
peace and unite local and global communities through friendship, economic
.~, opportunities and cultural and educational exchange, particularly between Salt Lake
./ City and selected cities in other countries."
As an international city, it is important that SLC maintains its Sister Cities relationships.
There is a vast amount of untapped opportunity for economic, educational, and cultural
exchange. As such, the goals of the restructured program would be:
•
•
Tap into the international programming and exchanges that are taking place on a
regular basis within the city.
Create stronger partnerships between the city and local institutions that have
healthy and diverse international relationships.
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•
•
•
•
•
Create a structure that allows the City to actively respond to requests that are
international in nature.
Better connect the programming and activities of the cities with international
partnership opportunities, in particular in the areas of arts and economic lY
development.
Develop new relationships and partnerships with cities of like interest in other!
countries and create a system for discontinuing inactive relationships.
Develop programming that highlights Salt Lake City's position as a city of
international prominence.
Allow elected officials and city staff greater opportunities to shape the city's
vision and reputation as one of international prominence.
Recommendations
_/"'
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Move Sister Cities out of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Division
and into Community and Economic Development Department Administration.
•
Contract the administration of the Sister Cities programming and activities to an
outside management group using the existing Sister Cities budget allocation.
Possible respondents could include the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, The
World Trade Center, Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy, and the University of
Utah.
•
The new management group would then evaluate the Sister Cities program and
restructure it to more effectively meet program goals as defined by the city.
•
Under the guidance of CED Administration, and the approval of the City Council,
update the current ordinance, 2.82.010 Salt Lake City Sister Cities Advisory
Board, to include policies and procedures that align with the restructured
program and city goals. Include the following elements in the update of
ordinance 2.82.010 Salt Lake City Sister Cities Advisory Board:
• Move Sister Cities out of the Housing and Neighborhood Development
Division and into Community and Economic Development Department
Administration.
• Create term limits.
• Specify the scope and responsibilities of the Board and its members.
• Establish protocol for discontinuing non-active relationships.
•
Under the direction of CED Administration, the new management group will
draft by-laws and any other policies and procedures deemed necessary for the
newly established Board. These policies and procedures will then be transmitted
to the Mayor and Council for review and approval. The new policies and
procedures will include direction for expanding Salt Lake City's international
presence and involvement, economic opportunities and educational partnerships.
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•
Restructure the Board to include citizen participation, members of the business
community, educational community, religious community, international
community, nonprofits and other pertinent entities for furthering the
international emergence of Salt Lake City. The Board may also include the Mayor
and current Council Chairperson, or their designees. All current Board members
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enlisted for membership on the restructured Board must be reappointed.
Note: The proposed restructure was presented to the current Sister Cities Board
membership on June 5, 2013, and was well received.
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SISTER CITY
DATE
ESTABLISHED
,
V
1958
Matsumoto, Japan
With a population of 243,546 Matsumoto is famous for being home to one of four Japanese
castles. They are also known for music festivals, wasabi farms, winter sports, silk artwork, and
several art museums. SLC has had a very active relationship with Matsumoto and is excited to
th
celebrate the 55 anniversary in July 2013. There are also other non-sister city community
groups/persons in SLC that have active relationships and exhanges standing with Matsumoto.
Quezon City, Philippines (not active)
1960
Oruro, Bolivia (not active)
1977
Keelung, Taiwan
Keelung is the fourth largest city in Taiwan with a population of 387,200 people. It has an
active seaside port, fishing and shipping industry, and mil itary activities. Keelung is one of the
wettest cities in the world with 214 days a year of rainfall. Delegations from Keelung visit Salt
Lake frequently to participate in the Day's of 47 celebrations and Chinese New Year
celebrations. This relationship also holds strong ties between the SLC Police Department and
the Keelung City Police Department, with several educational exchanges taking place between
these groups. The Bing Kong Tong branch in SLC actively supports thi s relationship and holds
regular functions throughout Utah on an annual basis.
Chernivsti, Ukraine
With a population of 240,600 Chernivsti is home to the Carpathian Mountains and several
universities and industries. The city is mostly comprised of Ukrainian s but has sign ificant
Romanian and Russian minority populations. This relationship has been very successful in
branching out to create several ties between various communities in Utah . Some of these ties
include nursing student exchanges w ith UVU, law and judgeship exchanges with the Utah
Supreme Court, and educational exchanges with SLCC.
Thur)es Town, Ireland (not active)
1979
I
1989
2000
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Torino, Italy (2003 Fe)
Torino is a large metropolis of more than 900,000 people. In 2002 SLC and Torino began an
Olympic city relationship. In 2003 they became "Friendship Cities" an then became Sister
Cities in 2006 after showing a strong bond for a successful relationship. Salt Lake City has
several Italian organizations, some of which are active with this relationship .
Izhevsk, Russia (2003 Fe)
Izhevsk is the capital of a large industrial republic in Russia. The population exceeds 650,000. It
is ~ome to the AK-47 rifle and other machine guns, has 23 scientific centers, fifty libraries, and
Tchaikovsky music festivals. Izhevsk became a friendship City to SLC in 2003 and a Sister City in
2009. Izhevsk has a strong SLC community base of support and volunteers - this relationship
has a subcommittee that oversees activities. Izhevsk doctors, artists, musicians, scientists, and
business representative have visited SLC on several occasions.
Trujillo, Peru (Friendship City Only)
With a population of 90,313 Trujillo became a "Friendship City" to Salt Lake in 2005. Since
then some exchanges and cultural developments have occurred in both SLC and Trujillo .
Currently they are working on establishing a relationship between the UofU and "Los Mejores
para un Peru" which is a leadership youth development program. If this relationship continues
to grow it may qualify to become an official Sister City.
2006
2009
2005
www.saltlakesistercities.com
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