REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Renewal of Friendship City Memorandum of Understanding between City of Santa Clara and Icheon City, Republic of Korea
Report
BACKGROUND
On April 23, 2019, the City Council approved a three-year Friendship City Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and authorized the Mayor to sign the MOU on behalf of the City of Santa Clara. Since 2022, the representatives from Icheon City have indicated interest in continuing to build their Friendship City relationship with the City of Santa Clara.
Icheon City is located in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea, approximately 35 miles from Seoul. A city of approximately 230,000, Icheon is known as the center of South Korean ceramic manufacturing and is designated as a UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art. A popular tourist attraction is Icheon Ceramics Village, which contains ceramics shops and working kilns. Icheon is also home to more than 1,200 companies. SK Hynix, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of memory semiconductors, is headquartered in Icheon City, as well as HCT, a compliance testing and equipment calibration company. Local institutions of higher learning include Korea Tourism College and Chungkang College of Cultural Industries.
During the past few years, as part of the ongoing relationship, both cities have exchanged letters of greetings for various events and holidays and to announce newly elected officials. Icheon City has extended invitations to the Mayor for the 2023 and 2024 Icheon Ceramic Festival. In addition, there have been planned visits which were postponed. In November 2023, the Municipal Council of Icheon City visited Santa Clara. In late 2023, then-Vice Mayor Kevin Park also visited with the members of the Icheon City Council in the Republic of Korea.
Two Types of Sister Cities Affiliations
As background, a Sister City relationship is a long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. Sister Cities International defines a Sister City relationship as officially recognized when the Mayor or highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign an agreement to become Sister Cities (Attachment 1). A city may have a number of Sister Cities with community involvement.
Sister Cities International defines a Friendship City relationship as the first stage in a relationship between cities before they consider and act on a more formal “Sister City” relationship. A Friendship City relationship is not required prior to two cities establishing an official Sister Cities relationship, nor does it automatically lead to a Sister Cities relationship.
The City of Santa Clara has established relationships with three Sister Cities around the world: Coimbra, Portugal, established on August 4, 1974; Izumo, Japan, established on October 11, 1986; and Limerick, Ireland, established on August 1, 2014. The City of Santa Clara did have a Friendship City relationship with Limerick, Ireland before establishing the more formal Sister Cities relationship.
Santa Clara Sister Cities Association
On May 16, 2024, the Santa Clara Sister Cities Association (SCSCA) met and discussed the renewal of the Friendship City agreement between the City of Santa Clara and Icheon City. President Margaret Horoszko communicated that SCSCA will support the renewal of the Friendship City agreement. The SCSCA is a member of the Sister Cities International organization, and takes on the responsibility of organizing a majority of the cultural and educational exchanges and activities with the City’s Sister Cities. SCSCA is a non-profit organization that brings different cultures together with the goal of enriching the lives of students through cultural exchange.
In addition to volunteers, Sister City organizations can include representatives from nonprofits, municipal governments, the private sector, and other civic organizations. Each Sister City organization is independent and pursues the activities and thematic areas that are important to them and their community including municipal, business, trade, educational, and cultural exchanges and projects with their Sister City. The SCSCA Board is comprised of members of the community and includes a City Councilmember liaison, which is currently Councilmember Kevin Park.
Renewal Friendship City MOU Signing Ceremony
On July 8 and July 9, 2024, a delegation from Icheon will be visiting Santa Clara from Icheon, Republic of Korea. Mayor Kim Kyung-hee will join the Santa Clara City Council to renew the Friendship City agreement between the City of Santa Clara and Icheon City. The signing ceremony is currently scheduled for July 9, 2024, to take place during a public meeting at the City Council Chambers.
DISCUSSION
The attached Friendship City Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Icheon City and City of Santa Clara (Attachment 2) has been reviewed by staff in both cities and is based off the 2019 Friendship City three-year agreement.
The 2024 Friendship City MOU includes the following recommendations, which remain consistent with the 2019 Friendship City MOU:
• A three-year Friendship City relationship, with the option of renewal upon approval of both cities
• The two cities will promote exchanges in areas of common interest, such as science, technology, sports, education, environmental protection, and corporate activities
• The two cities will strive to pursue exchanges in other areas that will further enhance the relationship
• Both cities will strive to exchange representatives and/or staff for visits every alternate year, subject to budget appropriations. Each exchange and/or visit will be reviewed in advance between Icheon City and City of City of Santa Clara
• Additional activities may be pursued through the efforts of other community groups, such as SCSCA and its counterpart in Icheon City
• Both cities will promote exchanges between educational institutions, including middle and high school exchange programs, college internships, and support for students studying abroad
• Both cities will strive to enhance understanding through cultural exchanges such as organizing events, supporting artist residencies, and facilitating exchanges of cultural groups and performers.
The following are proposed updates to the 2024 Friendship City MOU:
• The background section is updated to reflect occurrences between the 2019 Friendship City MOU and the present
• The details for joint activities and programs as part of the cultural exchange now include specific examples, such as the arts, and specified exchanges at the middle school, high school, and college levels
• Communication between non-governmental Sister City organizations in both cities is now expressly encouraged
A translated version in Korean of the Friendship City MOU is also attached to this report (Attachment 3).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for future exchanges and activities, if needed, will be included in future budgets for Council consideration.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve a three-year Friendship City Relationship Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Icheon City, Republic of Korea, and authorize the Mayor to sign the MOU on behalf of the City of Santa Clara
Staff
Reviewed by: Maria Le, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Sister Cities International Program Information
2. 2024 Draft Friendship City Memorandum of Understanding between Icheon City and City of Santa Clara (English version)
3. 2024 Draft Friendship City Memorandum of Understanding between Icheon City and City of Santa Clara (Korean version)