03-03-2020 - AGENDA ITEM 02 CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A FRIENDLY SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF TAINAN11/16/2020
Print Staff Report
AGENDA ITEM NO. 2
DATE: March 3, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
City Manager
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST TO ESTABLISH A FRIENDLY SISTER CITY
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF TAINAN.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council send a letter of interest establishing a sister city relationship between
the City of West Covina, California, United States of America, and the City of Tainan, Taiwan.
BACKGROUND:
The National League of Cities originally promoted sister -city partnerships after President Dwight D.
Eisenhower proposed a people -to -people citizen diplomacy initiative. In 1967, the League of Cities formed
Sister Cities International (SCI), a national membership association that links jurisdictions from the United
States to communities worldwide.
A sister city relationship is a broad -based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A
city may have any number of sister cities, with community involvement ranging from a half dozen to hundreds
of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, sister city organizations may include representatives from nonprofits,
municipal governments, the private sector, and other civic organizations. Sister city relationships offer the
flexibility to form beneficial connections between communities that address the issues that are most relevant
for partners.
Since the 1960's sister -city relationships between United States cities and foreign communities began to
develop, after President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a people -to -people citizen diplomacy initiative. West
Covina has been supportive of sister -city relationships between communities to promote cultural exchange,
highlight West Covina's diversity, seek business opportunities, and much more. While numerous communities
have been considered (i.e. Santa Ignacia, Phillipines; Yancheng, China; etc.), the following are the cities that
West Covina has adopted sister -city relationships.
Toluca, Mexico
In 1964, the City of West Covina formed a sister -city relationship with the City of Toluca, Mexico. This
relationship became inactive in the 1980's. In 2008, and after several attempts to resurrect the relationship
with Toluca, the City Council formed a sub -committee to seek support from the community to replace Toluca,
with another community in Mexico. There was no future action to find a replacement, and there has been no
https://destinyhosted.com/print_ag_memo.cfm?seq=700&rev_num=0&mode=Extemal&reloaded=true&id=93782 1/3
11/16/2020
Print Staff Report
communication with Toluca. Today, Toluca has sister -city relationships with Fort Worth.
Ohtawara, Japan (Kurobane, Japan)
In January 2004, the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) submitted a letter to
the City, nominating Kurobane, Japan to become a sister -city with the City of West Covina. The ESGVJCC
had a pre -established relationship with Kurobane, Japan. The two groups conducted a student exchange
program for middle and high school students and a cultural exchange program that provided teachers who
travel to Japan to teach English to the Japanese students. In 2007, the City of Kurobane, Japan was merged
into the larger community of Ohtawara, Japan. With the support of the City of West Covina and the
ESGVJCC, this sister -city program remains active and very successful. This relationship was also a deciding
factor to host Team Nippon (Japan) in West Covina during the Special Olympic World Games in 2016.
Wuhu, China
In 2010, a sister -city relationship with Wuhu, China was established, however, the two communities do not
have an active relationship. Wuhu has never sent a delegation to West Covina, while former Councilmember
Steve Herfert and former City Manager Chris Chung visited their community a few years ago. There was a
recent exchange of invitations to visit each other's communities, but no in -person visits with students or
government officials for cultural exchange.
Nantou, Taiwan
In September 2016, the City Council approved sending an invitation to the Mayor of Nantou City, Taiwan to
visit West Covina with the intent to establish a sister -city relationship between the two Cities. While City staff
has reached out to Nantou City, Taiwan, and they wish to become a sister -city with West Covina, the
relationship has not yet become official.
Fengtai District, Beijing, China
In October 2017, the City Council approved sending an invitation to the Mayor of Fengtai, District, Beijing,
China to visit West Covina with the intent to establish a sister -city relationship between the two Cities. In
November 2017, representatives from Fengtai District visited West Covina and executed a joint sister -city
agreement.
The two communities have made a commitment to promote cultural exchanges between the two communities,
seek business opportunities, and much more. Locally, the West Covina Chinese American Association
(WCCAA) has taken on the responsibility to assist in funding the program, seek participants and hosts for a
student exchange program in 2018, etc. The WCCAA hosted the welcome dinner for Fengtai District during
their visit.
On December 5, 2017, the Mayor and Council took action to terminate its sister -city relationship with the
communities of Wuhu, China and Toluca, Mexico.
DISCUSSION:
On February 24, 2020, Mayor Wu received a letter from Ichun Chen, the section chief of the International
Relations from Tainan City Government requesting to explore the opportunity of becoming a Sister City. The
primary objective of the request is to encourage and foster goodwill and friendship between the two nations
and communities.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options:
https://destinyhosted.com/print_ag_memo.cfm?seq=700&rev_num=0&mode=Extemal&reloaded=true&id=93782 2/3
11/16/2020
Print Staff Report
1. Send a Letter of Interest establishing a sister city relationship between City of West Covina, California,
United States of America, and the City of Tainan, Taiwan.
2. Do not send a Letter of Interest establishing a sister city relationship between City of West Covina,
California, United States of America, and the City of Tainan, Taiwan.
3. Provide alternative direction.
Prepared by: David Carmany, City Manager
Attachments
Attachment No. 1 - Letter of Interest
CITY Enhance the City Image and Effectiveness
COUNCIL Respond to the Global COVID-19 Pandemic
GOALS & Engage in Proactive Economic Development
OBJECTIVES:
https://destinyhosted.com/print_ag_memo.cfm?seq=700&rev_num=0&mode=Extemal&reloaded=true&id=93782 3/3
ATTACHMENT NO. 1
Letter of Interest In Becoming A Sister City
This Letter of Interest is an agreement between City of West Covina, California, United States of
America, and the City of Tainan, Taiwan to explore the opportunity of becoming a Sister City.
The primary objective is to encourage and foster goodwill and friendship between our two
nations and communities.
The City of West Covina and the City of Tainan agree to seek approval of their respective City
Councils, to establish a Sister City relationship that will deepen friendship and mutual
understanding between the two cities through educational, cultural, and commercial exchanges.
Both the English language and the Chinese of this Letter of Interest shall be recognized as
official texts.
The City of West Covina and City of Tainan hereby execute this Letter of Interest on March 3,
2020, which shall become effective with the signatures of both municipal representatives.
City of Tainan City of West Covina
On its behalf On its behalf
Huang Wei-che Tony Wu
Mayor Mayor