Item 4GCITY OF
SOUTH LAKE
4G-1
MEMORANDUM
May 29, 2013
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Candice Edmondson, Deputy Director of Community Services
Subject: Approve proposed change in the City of Southlake's
relationship with Suzhou, Wuzhong District, China from
Friendship City to Friendly City
Action
Requested: City Council approval of proposed change in the City of
Southlake's relationship with Suzhou, Wuzhong District, China
from Friendship City to Friendly City
Background
Information: This item was placed on the agenda at the request of
Southlake Sister Cities' President Jeff Wang. The purpose is to
bring to City Council's attention a recent request Southlake
Sister Cities received from Suzhou, Wuzhong District, China to
change the City's current relationship as a Friendship City to a
Friendly City designation.
The designation does not change the status of the current
relationship between the two cities. Friendly Cities are
registered by The Chinese People's Association for Friendship
with Foreign Countries in Beijing and indicate an increasingly
effectual relationship between the two cities. Currently the
Wuzhong District has twenty-one friendship/sister cities, of
which only two have received the Friendly City designation.
Wuzhong's desire to request this designation for the City of
Southlake is a strong testament to the current relationship and
exchange efforts between the two communities.
Changing the status of a current sister city or friendship city
relationship is a formal process and requires written notification
from the Mayor of Southlake to the Mayor of the foreign city.
Written notification should also be sent to Sister Cities
International informing them of any changes in sister city or
friendship city relationships. If approved by the City Council, the
Mayor of Southlake will submit a letter to the Wuzhong District
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
4G -2
Shana Yelverton, City Manager
Meeting Date — June 4, 2013
Page 2 of 2
indicating Southlake's support of the proposed change to a
Friendly City.
Financial
Consideration: N/A
Strategic Link: This item is linked to the City Council Focus Area of
Partnerships and Volunteerism and meets the corporate
objectives to attract and keep top -tier businesses to drive a
dynamic and sustainable economic environment and promote
opportunities for partnerships and volunteer involvement.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: Southlake Sister Cities Board of Directors voted unanimously in
favor of the change in designation.
City Council consideration June 4, 2013
Legal Review: N/A
Alternatives: Direction to staff as appropriate.
Supporting
Documents: Supporting documents include:
■ Memo from Southlake Sister Cities
Staff
Recommendation: City Council approval of proposed change in the City of
Southlake's relationship with Suzhou, Wuzhong District, China
from Friendship City to Friendly City
City of Southlake Values:
Integrity ♦ Innovation ♦ Accountability ♦ Commitment to Excellence ♦ Teamwork
4G - 3
Southlake
Sister
Cities
To: Candice Edmonson, Deputy Director, Southlake Community Services
(817) 748-8311, cedmondson(a�ci.southlake.tx.us
From: Jeff Wang, President of Southlake Sister Cities
(817) 251-1001, Jeff(a)-south Iakesistercities. org
Date: May 6, 2013
Subject: The Friendly City Designation
There have been significant and progressive developments between the City of Southlake and
Suzhou Wuzhong District since our two communities entered into a friendship city relationship in
November 2010. Variosystems' decision of building a new manufacturing facility in Wuzhong
sets a positive start, and recent Southlake students visit of Jiangsu Foreign Language School in
Wuzhong marks another major milestone of our exchange program. Several delegations from
Wuzhong, including government officials and students, are planned for visiting Southlake later
this year.
The Wuzhong People's Government is extremely impressed with the exchange developments
and opportunities between our two communities. Recently, it unanimously approved a proposal
from Wuzhong Foreign Affairs Office of seeking a Friendly City designation for Southlake. A
Friendly City designation can only be obtained through The Chinese People's Association for
Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) in Beijing. CPAFFC is a commission established
within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC. Currently, Wuzhong has 21 friendship/sister
cities in 10 different countries. Among them, only two cities (one in 1999 and another in 2000)
have so far gained the Friendly City designation. It is undoubtedly the best testimony for the
collective efforts of our two communities.
The Southlake Sister Cities board of directors has voted unanimously to endorse the proposal
and is requesting the City Council's support for this Friendly City designation proposal by the
Wuzhong People's Government.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.