CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Waive the first reading and pass the ordinance amending section 2-11-1 (Sister Cities Commission) of the Naperville Municipal Code to add Cancun, Mexico as a Sister City (requires six positive votes)
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
SUBMITTED BY: Marcie Schatz, Deputy City Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
The Sister Cities Commission voted on February 17th to add Cancun, Mexico as a Sister City (5-0).
BACKGROUND:
On March 3, 2020, Lance Fuhrer, Alan Lowe, and Shafeek Abooubaker from the Sister Cities Commission requested that Cancun, Mexico be added as a new Sister City for Naperville. By consensus Council directed staff to bring back an ordinance adding Cancun, Mexico as Naperville's newest Sister City.
DISCUSSION:
Sister Cities originated through President Eisenhower’s “People-to-People Program” in 1956 to establish greater friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and other nations. In 1977, the City of Naperville created the Sister Cities Commission and recognized Alcala de Henares, Spain as its first Sister City, followed by Tornio, Finland and then solely Nitra, Slovakia in 1993. In 2007, the City of Pass Christian, Mississippi was designated as an honorary “Partner City.”
The mission of the Sister Cities Commission is to connect Naperville and its citizens to the global community by fostering centers of opportunity, expression, including arts and culture, and economic bonds between people, communities, and businesses around the world. Cancun, with its well established and engaged Sister Cities Commission, can help the City further this mission.
The City of Naperville Sister Cities Commission has a history of working with the City of Cancun for over five years. As Naperville was attempting to sell a retired fire truck, the City was approached by the Cancun Fire Department requesting a donation. Representatives of the City of Cancun and its Fire Department met with members of the Naperville Sister City’s delegation in August 2014. The Commission recommended and City Council approved the donation and the Cancun Fire Department placed this unit in service in the Hotel Zone. The City subsequently donated a retired ambulance in 2018.
Existing Sister Cities Relationships
Per the Sister Cities International affiliation policy, in order for two United States Cities to share the same Sister City, a Cooperative Agreement must be signed. In this case, the Mayor of Wichita, Kansas would have to sign a letter agreeing to Naperville’s request for a Sister City relationship with Cancun. If the City Council approves this recommendation, we will send this request to Wichita for approval.
Sister Cities International
In addition to the Cooperative Agreement, Sister Cities International, which is the organization that formally recognizes Sister City relationships, requires that a Sister City Agreement be executed between Naperville and Cancun. If the City Council approves this recommendation, this ceremonial agreement will be drafted for signature by the two cities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.