Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 17-153 AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SISTER CITY AFFILIATION WITH PARANAQUE, PHILIPPINES (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
Adoption of Resolution No. 17-153 (Exhibit No. 1) will demonstrate the City Council’s authorization to establish a sister city affiliation with Paraňaque, Philippines.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 17-153, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SISTER CITY AFFILIATION WITH PARAŇAQUE, PHILIPPINES.”
2. DIRECT staff to transmit an executed copy of the resolution to Mayor Edwin Olivarez of Paraňaque, Philippines and Sister Cities International.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City Council is being asked to consider approving Resolution No. 17-153 (Exhibit No. 1) to establish a sister city affiliation with Paraňaque, Philippines. A sister city relationship with Paraňaque, Philippines is a means of promoting a growing awareness and appreciation of each other’s culture and people by developing a variety of educational, professional, economic development, and technical interactions.
Similar to the City of Carson, Paraňaque is an emerging city rich in heritage and history, and also like the City of Carson, Parañaque's enjoys a strategic location important for trade and business vis-à-vis its neighboring mega metropolis, respectfully City of Los Angeles and City of Manila. A sister city relationship between the City of Carson and the City of Paraňaque will foster cooperative uundertakings as well as mutual friendship and goodwill.
The sister city relationship is not only expected to strengthen friendship ties, but more importantly, institute a working avenue of communication in facilitating exchange of information and technology, urban planning and development, socio-cultural activities, tourism, trade and other important aspects of local governance that are beneficial for both local government units.
In accordance with the guidelines of Sister Cities International in establishing sister city relationships, Councilmember Elito M. Santarina from Carson, in July 2017, undertook an exploratory visit to Paraňaque with the express purpose of meeting with government officials and others to discuss mutual expectations, goals and other matters for establishing a sister city affiliation. On July 20, 2017, via Resolution 17-090 (Exhibit No. 2), the governing body of Paraňaque, Philippines also declared its desire for a sister city relationship between the City of Carson and City Paraňaque.
The City of Carson previously had a sister city relationship in the Philippines with the City of La Carlota when it passed Resolution No. 98-047. However, since 1998 and 18 years later, there has been no communication or activity between our cities. As a courtesy, the City of Carson sent a letter to the current Mayor of La Carlota informing him that the relationship was changing from sister to friendship status.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact at this time.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Resolution No. 17-153 (pgs. 3-4)
2. Resolution No. 17-090 from City of Paraňaque, Philippines (pgs. 5-7)
Prepared by: Margie Revilla-Garcia, Public Information Administrator