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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5.1 Sister Cities Mayor's Summit Invitationor 19 82 /ii � 111 DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL February 16, 2016 Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers CITY CLERK File #140 -50 Christopher L. Foss, City Manager �?14 " Invitation to Participate in Sister Cities Mayors Summit Gat ering of United States and Irish Sisters Cities Mayors in Dublin, Ireland Prepared by Taryn Gavagan Bozzo, Executive Aide EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider invitations from the Wicklow County Council, the City of San Jose, and the City of Dublin, Ireland, inviting the Mayor to participate in a Sister Cities Mayors Summit Gathering of United States and Irish Sisters Cities Mayors in Dublin, Ireland, in April, 2016. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Cost to attend the delegation and Summit is estimated at $3,000. Should the City Council elect to send the Mayor to attend the Summit in Ireland, a budget change will be necessary from the General Fund. RECOMMENDATION: If the City Council elects to send the Mayor to participate in the Summit in Ireland, Staff recommends the City Council direct Staff to proceed with travel accommodations as necessary. `Reviewed By Assistant City Manager DESCRIPTION: An invitation from the Wicklow County Council (Attachment 1), and the Cities of San Jose and Dublin, Ireland, (Attachment 2) was received, inviting the Mayor to participate in a Sister Cities Mayors Summit Gathering of United States and Irish Sisters Cities Mayors in Dublin, Ireland. The gathering of Sister Cities will consist of a dinner on April 21, 2016, a Summit on April 22, 2016, a social program on April 23, and an optional commemoration event on April 24. Based on preliminary pricing for travel accommodations, the cost estimate for travel to Dublin, Ireland would be $3,000. Page 1 of 2 ITEM NO. 5.1 NOTICING REQUIREMENTS /PUBLIC OUTREACH: I101 •[Tits ATTACHMENTS: 1. Invitation Letter from Wicklow County Council 2. Invitation Letter from the City of San Jose and the City of Dublin, Ireland Page 2 of 2 oil Bommum IXTITIF�_ « .- r ornia City Hall 1 OiOi Civic Plaza Dublin CA 94568 US& 141h January 2016 Dear Mayor Flaubert, 2t116 is a year of commemorations in Ireland. It is also the 60th anniversary of the founding of Sister Cities international by President Eisenhower, I would like to invite you, as our sister city, to lead a delegation to Ireland!: in April 2016. In co- operation, with Local Authorities throughout the island of Ireland we are inviting Cities in the USA twinned with Irish Cities/Cuunties/Towns. We are also inviting othdr cities in the• USA with whom we have regular contact✓co-operation but have not yet a sister city formal agreement. This gathering of sister cities wilt happen in the year in which Ireland remembers the sacrifices of young men at the Somme during World War I and the 1916 Rising in Dublin,, both pivotal events in the birth, of modern Ireland. It provides an opportunity to redefine around city agendas the unique relationship between the USA and Ireland. The gathering is in two parts; firstly each city will visit its own sister city/county; secondly all will gather for a Summit in Dublin on April 22 "`'. This Summit will be co-hosted by Dublin City and San Jose, The theme for the Summit will be "Independence and Interdependence", reflecting the need for cities globally to work together to improve the lives of citizens and tackle common urban challenges, On April 23rd we will be organising a social programme in Dublin. On April 24th you and your delegation will be invited to participate in 1916 commemoration events in Dublin (optional) on April 24th We would invite you to visit us prior to the Summit in Dublin on April 22"d. We would like to organise a programme for you and your delegation here in your own sister city ver a three/two day period before we travel to Dublin on April 21s. On the evening of April 21 �t a Dinner for Mayors and City leaders will be held in Dublin City Hall. Given the significance of the occasion and the potential of the initiative to further citizen diplomacy through, the sister city model, Dublin and San Jose have invited Vice President Joe Biden to lead the USA Cities delegation and to speak at the Summit. Dublin. We are inviting the Vice President and the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland to speak at the Mayors and Leaders Dinner. ` I at No howt of it '04y"", F9 I' would hope that you would use the opportunity afforded by this gathering to bring with you representatives from key groups with whom we could agree future co-operation. In particular we woulA appreciate parti'cipiation from your business, cultural, education and youth sectors. We wifl organiise the local programme in a way that allows members of your delegation to network and develop co-operation with their equivalent sectors here, This gathering provides an opportuniity to revi:tallise our relationship and build practical projects of future co operation among us. Yours, sincerely, November 6", 2015 Mayor David Naubert 100 Civic Plaza Dublin,CA 94568 Dear Mayor Flaubert, 2016 marks the Centenary of the Easter Rising that took place in 1916 in Dublin, Ireland which precipitated Irish Independence. it also marks a key year in the long and bitter conflict that was World War i 1916, in particular, marks the centenary of the Battle of the Somme when Irish men of both political traditions died. Additionally the 6 01h anniversary of the establishment of Sister Cities International, founded by President Eisenhower in1956` and the 30mannlvomaryof the sister city relationship founded in 19Q6 between Dublin, the capital of Ireland, and San ]ow6, the capital wf Silicon VaUey. We, as the Mayors of these two "twinned" cities, are planning to co-host a Sister Cities M!ayors Summit Gathering of United States and Irish Sister Cities Mayors in Dublin on April 22", 2016. There are over 60 sister city ^bwinnimg~ relationships between US and Irish Cities and Counties, This Summit will be an important official calendar event in the celebration of the 1916 Irish National Centenary and will also v||uw us to celebrate and reflect upon the unique relationship that exist between Ireland and the Umlted States. The theme for this Summit will be "Independence and interdependence," respecting both traditions. It � a great honour for us, as the co-organisers of the Summit, to officially invite you and a city delegation of business, community and education leaders to participaite in this auspicious gathering of citizen diplomats. Before or after the Summit event in Dublin, it is envisioned that each U3 city would travel and be hosted in their respective |hxh City/County (preferably befure). We hope you are receptive and your schedule will accommodate our invitation. We have aligned the US-Irish Sister Cities Mayors Summit and Gala Dinner for Friday, April 22nd to coincide with the Irish National Government's Centenary Dedication of Richmond Barracks on Sunday, April 24th, 2016, the actual 1U&th Anniversary date of the Dublin Easter Uprising which sparked the Irish independence movement, The Lord Mayor will also host a pre Summit Reception mnThursday evening, April 21st which we would be honored to have you attend, aswell. The Summit wi|i provide an opportunity for these delegations to participate in the lBI6 [ommemwn/tionsandoxp|oreinpractica|wnyshmwLhe0S|rishommperat|uncambeshaped, strengthened and deepened over the coming decades in an age of change and &balisation. Irish President Michnd D. Rigg|ns,AnTaoiseodh Endm Kenny and the National Government endorses this Summit gathering. US Ambassador tu Ireland, HE Kevin O/MaUey and Irish Ambassador 1othe United States, HE Anne Anderson, have offered their support for this Summit which could bnpivotal in the future of Irish —USA relations and would cement future ties through community to community interaction. The Honorabie Mary D. Kane, President/CEO of Sister Cities International, will be the lead Citizen Diplomat for this gathering, The City of Uub|in will provide administrative and |ogist�c support to ensure the Summit is successful, We have delegated organizational coordination in San Jose to Tim Qui&y, Community Co-Chair of the San Jos6 Dublin Program and Vice Chairman of Sister Cities International, and in Dublin to Peter Finnegan, Dublin City Council's Director of International Relations. The history, economies and cuiture of Ireland and the United States are tied together by migration, blood and community ties, business and education opportunities, and sports and municipal exchange. As leaders of two great cities that have benefitted from these connecVons, we see the Summit as an opportunity to establish a roadmap for future sub national cooperation. We hope that you will share your wisdom, your insights, and your leadership with your colleague mayors and business and community leaders who make the journey and participate in the Summit. VVe look forward to welcoming you iu Ireland and sharing a very memorable anduniquehumo|and and diaxpora civic leadership gathering as part of the national celebration for the ZQ16Centenary Sam 7.Uczrdo Mayor San Joa6,California City Hall, 2OO East Santa Clara Street San ]os6, California 95I13 [c President Michael n. Higgins 8nTamlaeach[nda Kenny TD His Excellency Ambassador Kevin O Malley Her Excellency Ambassador Anne Anderson CrionaNiDha|aigh 4rdmh6am/ Lord Mayor Dublin, Ireland The Manxion House, Dawson Street Dublin 2, Ireland.