Sister City Policy

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Sister City Policy

Policy Resolution 32-96

A POLICY RESOLUTION establishing guidelines for sister city relationships.

WHEREAS, the City and citizens of Columbia are privileged to welcome thousands of international visitors and organizations to visit, study, work and conduct business in the city each year; and

WHEREAS, numerous Columbia residents and organizations visit, study and conduct business in countries around the world each year; and

WHEREAS, sister cities provide a means of facilitating mutually beneficial relationships with cities in other countries and the residents therein by:

Creating opportunities for people in both cities to learn and experience other cultures through long-term relationships;

Creating an atmosphere in which economic development and trade can be explored, implemented and strengthened

Opening a dialogue and addressing issues ranging from the cultural to the technical, from the municipal to the medical, from the environmental to the educational and beyond; and

Stimulating environments through which partnerships can creatively learn, work, and solve problems together; and

WHEREAS, the City currently has Sister City relationships with three cities: Matto City, Japan; Suncheon City, Korea; and Sibiu, Romania

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The City of Columbia will welcome and may establish at the City Council's discretion sister city relationships under the following conditions:

The City Council shall be presented with a formal request for the establishment of a sister city from a permanent for-profit or non-profit organization which is either located in the city or has major and continuing ties to residents or groups in the city. The request shall clearly describe the expectations for the responsibilities of the City of Columbia and the proposed sister city, and the benefits to each city.
The sister city relationship shall be established to last not longer than five years. This time period may be renewed by the Council.
The costs of the sister city activities shall be paid primarily from non-City funds.

ADOPTED this 4th day of March, 1996.
ATTEST:
Launa Daniel, City Clerk	Darwin Hindman, Mayor and Presiding Officer

APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Fred Boeckmann, City Counselor

NOTE: Kutaisi, Republic of Georgia, was added as a sister city in 1996.