Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout18 TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION/FRIENDSHIP CITYAgenda Item 18 Reviewed. AGENDA REPORT City Manager JCP Finance Director NIA MEETING DATE: APRIL 21, 2015 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: FRIENDSHIP CITY RELATIONSHIP — THE CITY OF HEYUAN SUMMARY: One of Mayor Puckett's goals for this year is to consider developing a Sister City relationship with one or more cities abroad. Last November, then Mayor Pro Tem Puckett traveled with representatives from the City of Yorba Linda to China to meet with Mrs. Li, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. On that trip, the City of Yorba Linda executed an agreement establishing a Friendship City relationship with Hong'an. As a result of that trip, Mayor Puckett has been invited back to China to sign a Friendship City agreement with Heyuan located in Southern China. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: 1) Approve the Mayor's international travel to China; 2) Direct the Mayor to sign an agreement to develop a friendly cooperation relationship with Heyuan on behalf of the City of Tustin; and 3) Consider additional Friendship Cities that reflect the cultural diversity of Tustin. FISCAL IMPACT: All travel, hotel, and meal costs are paid for by the Chines People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries which is a government associated 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It is anticipated the Mayor will incur costs for incidentals such as passport/visa documents and gratuities for travel guide(s). Based on a conversation with Yorba Linda, this should not exceed $600. Funds are available in the City Council travel budget. Agenda Report — Friendship City April 21, 2015 Page 2 BACKGROUND: Friendship City relationships are a less formal part of the International Sister City program and often represents the encouragement of people connecting with those in other parts of the world. Sister City programs can be more extensive with exchanges in education, business and culture. Heyuan, "origin of the river", is a regional hub that connects the coastal areas of the Guangdong Province and the interior countryside of Southern China. The City of Heyuan has a population of approximately 3.5 million and encompasses over 6,000 square miles of natural resources and fertile land. Since Heyuan's establishment in 1988, its jurisdiction has included one district and five counties (Yuancheng District, Dongyuan County, Heping County, Longchuan County, Z#in County and Lianping County), with the municipality seat in the Yuancheng District. Heyuan ranks among the fastest-growing district -level municipalities in the Guangdong Province and features businesses in a wide array of industries, including agriculture, bio- pharmaceutics, solar energy, and telecommunications, and mobile phone development. The city is home to the Wanly Lake Reservoir, a major source of high-quality water for the entire region. Heyuan is also famous for its natural gardens and is commonly called "Evergreen Heyuan". It features unique landscapes that make it a superb destination for tourists and students, such as the Zhangxi Huanglongyan Limestone Cave and the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum, which is recorded in the Guinness World Record for collecting the most dinosaur egg fossils in the world. Due to Heyuan's unique resources and long history, it is regarded as one of the most suitable cities for residency, tourism, and business establishments among its neighboring regions of Hong Kong and Macau. Attachment: Aerial Map Agreement Between Heyuan, People's Republic of China and the City of Tustin of the United States of America on Strengthening a Cooperation Relationship To encourage greater friendship and understanding between the City of Tustin of the United States of America and Heyuan, People's Republic of China through direct personal contact, the two parties agree to develop a friendly cooperation relationship. In order to foster these goals, the people of the City of Tustin and Heyuan, in a gesture of friendship and goodwill, agree to collaborate for the benefit of their communities by exploring mutual educational, economic and cultural opportunities. The two parties agree to support and encourage opportunities for mutually beneficial practical exchanges in the fields of economy, tourism, culture, education and science. To ensure smooth conduct of the cooperation between the two parties, the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affair Bureau of Heyuan City and The City Manager's Office of the City of Tustin are established as the communication departments. This Agreement goes into effect on May 25, 2015 and is written in both English and in Chinese with both texts being equally authentic. This Agreement may be terminated, in whole or in part, when such action is deemed appropriate by either party to be in its best interest. Charles E. Puckett, Mayor Peng Jianwen, Mayor City of Tustin, California Heyuan The United States of America People's Republic of China MEETING DATE: APRIL 21, 2015 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: FRIENDSHIP CITY RELATIONSHIP — THE CITY OF HEYUAN SUMMARY: One of Mayor Puckett's goals for this year is to consider developing a Sister City relationship with one or more cities abroad. Last November, then Mayor Pro Tem Puckett traveled with representatives from the City of Yorba Linda to China to meet with Mrs. Li, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. On that trip, the City of Yorba Linda executed an agreement establishing a Friendship City relationship with Hong'an. As a result of that trip, Mayor Puckett has been invited back to China to sign a Friendship City agreement with Heyuan located in Southern China. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: 1) Approve the Mayor's international travel to China; 2) Direct the Mayor to sign a Friendship City agreement with Heyuan on behalf of the City of Tustin; and 3) Consider additional Friendship Cities that reflect the cultural diversity of Tustin. FISCAL IMPACT: All travel, hotel, and meal costs are paid for by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries which is a government associated 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. It is anticipated the Mayor will incur costs for incidentals such as passport/visa documents and gratuities for travel guide(s). Based on a conversation with Yorba Linda, this should not exceed $600. Funds are available in the City Council travel budget. Agenda Report — Friendship City April 21, 2015 Page 2 BACKGROUND: Friendship City relationships are a less formal part of the International Sister City program and often represents the encouragement of people connecting with those in other parts of the world. Sister City programs can be more extensive with exchanges in education, business and culture. Heyuan, "origin of the river", is a regional hub that connects the coastal areas of the Guangdong Province and the interior countryside of Southern China. The City of Heyuan has a population of approximately 3.5 million and encompasses over 6,000 square miles of natural resources and fertile land. Since Heyuan's establishment in 1988, its jurisdiction has included one district and five counties (Yuancheng District, Dongyuan County, Heping County, Longchuan County, Z#in County and Lianping County), with the municipality seat in the Yuancheng District. Heyuan ranks among the fastest-growing district -level municipalities in the Guangdong Province and features businesses in a wide array of industries, including agriculture, bio- pharmaceutics, solar energy, and telecommunications, and mobile phone development. The city is home to the Wanly Lake Reservoir, a major source of high-quality water for the entire region. Heyuan is also famous for its natural gardens and is commonly called "Evergreen Heyuan". It features unique landscapes that make it a superb destination for tourists and students, such as the Zhangxi Huanglongyan Limestone Cave and the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum, which is recorded in the Guinness World Record for collecting the most dinosaur egg fossils in the world. Due to Heyuan's unique resources and long history, it is regarded as one of the most suitable cities for residency, tourism, and business establishments among its neighboring regions of Hong Kong and Macau. Attachment: Aerial Map S !i1l�Pl ffi41 .-Nr -- Heyuan Qinuan t 9Y �7 INI I _ e Huizhc u., q 9 Chao 14 Don uan , - Yunfuy fshanWei-w ILA Jian henzh. n men �hongsfian 9 . 1 1 �# � k Donq. hanr Sea H o n I Kong w11 Hong Kong WOngmao %Cf Yangjiang Rrver ' ingran Sea _ q y.