Item 8ACITY OF
SOUTH LAKE
MEMORANDUM
October 27, 2010
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Chris Tribble, Director of Community Services
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Subject: Resolution No. 10 -054, Approve the Friendship City
Agreement with Suzhou Wuzhong District, China
Action
Requested: City Council approval of Resolution No. 10 -054, entering into
a Friendship City Agreement between the City of Southlake
and Suzhou Wuzhong District, China
Background
Information: This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of
Mayor Terrell and Council Member Wang.
Southlake Sister Cities is a non - profit organization formed in
1991 to facilitate cultural exchanges and goodwill between
countries and in so doing further contribute to world peace
and prosperity.
In 1991 the City of Southlake entered into a Sister Cities
arrangement with Tome (formerly Toyoma), Japan and in
1997 became a Sister City with El Fuerte, Mexico. These
relationships have been rewarding and educational
experiences for the cities, as traditions and cultures have
been shared and new friends made.
Southlake Sister Cities now seeks to enter into a Friendship
City Agreement with the community of Suzhou Wuzhong
District, China.
According to their Internet site, Suzhou Wuzhong District,
China has a population of 535,000 and offers a long history,
well - developed culture, picturesque landscape and abundant
natural resources and is adjacent to Taihu Lake. The area is
well -known for its cultural and historic sites and places of
interests and attracts more than 3 million domestic and
foreign tourists each year. In addition to tourism, the
community is deeply involved in economic development and
is home to new and high -tech industries and green
environmental urban industries such as electronics and
information, biopharmaceutical, new materials and precision
Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Meeting Date — November 2, 2010
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machinery. It has attracted over 1,000 foreign invested
enterprises from more than 20 countries and regions.
Financial
Consideration: No financial impact involved with entering into a Friendship
City Agreement at this time. Future involvement and
interchanges may be funded as part of the annual Sister
Cities Community Services budget.
Strategic Link: This item is linked to the City's Strategy Map related to the
focus area of Partnerships and Volunteerism and meets the
Corporate Objectives to Promote Opportunities for
Partnerships and Volunteer Involvement and Enhance
Resident Quality of Life and Business Sustainability through
Tourism.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: Southlake Sister Cities will review Resolution No. 10 -054,
establishing the Friendship City Agreement with Suzhou
Wuzhong District, China at their October 29, 2010 Board
Meeting.
City Council will consider this item November 2, 2010.
Legal Review: Not applicable.
Alternatives: Alternatives may include:
• City Council approval
• City Council approval with modifications
• City Council decision not to approve
Supporting
Documents: Supporting documents include:
• Resolution No. 10 -054
• Friendship City Agreement (handout at meeting)
Staff
Recommendation: City Council approval of Resolution No. 10 -054, approving a
Friendship City Agreement between the City of Southlake
and Suzhou Wuzhong District, China
Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Meeting Date — November 2, 2010
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RESOLUTION NO. 10 -054
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, IN SUPPORT OF A
FRIENDSHIP CITY ALLIANCE BETWEEN SUZHOU
WUZHONG DISTRICT, CHINA AND THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS
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WHEREAS, the Southlake Sister Cities organization is a non - profit
grassroots organization, dedicated to bringing the world closer through
interchanges of culture and goodwill between countries, and in so doing further
contribute to world peace and prosperity; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has formed sister city alliances with
Tome, Japan in 1991 and with El Fuerte, Mexico in 1997 and has benefited from
these relationships and seeks to extend its realm of friendship to other countries;
and
WHEREAS, the citizens of Southlake, Texas, in the United States of
America, and the citizens of Suzhou Wuzhong District, in China, do hereby
desire a friendship alliance between the peoples of our two communities; and,
WHEREAS, we accordingly agree to promote mutual understanding and
goodwill for the welfare of our peoples and to accelerate the relationship between
our two countries;
Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Meeting Date — November 2, 2010
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
All of the above premises are found to be true and correct and are
incorporated into the body of this resolution.
SECTION 2.
The City Council of the City of Southlake herein enters into a Friendship
City Agreement with Suzhou Wuzhong District, China in an effort to facilitate
cultural, commercial and educational exchanges between the two cities; to build
and achieve mutual trust; and to establish a permanent friendship between the
communities of Southlake, Texas, USA and Suzhou Wuzhong District, China.
SECTION 3.
This resolution shall become effective on the date of approval by the City
Council.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 2nd DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2010.
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE
John Terrell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Lori Payne, TRMC
City Secretary