CRITERIA FOR SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS
Binding City Policy
BCP-ART-1.01
PURPOSE
The Council finds:
1.The Sister City movement in the United States was inaugurated by President Eisenhower in 1956 as the "People to People program," whose purpose was to establish greater friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and the peoples of other nations through direct contact.
2. All succeeding U.S. Presidents have endorsed the program to be conducted for the broad purposes of exchanging ideas and building relationships between the citizens of the United States of America and the people's of other nations.
3. The Town Affiliation Association of the U.S., Inc. encouraged Portland and other American communities to affiliate with cities in other nations of similar characteristics and mutual interests.
4. There are continuing requests by cities wishing to affiliate with Portland as a sister city.
5. The City of Portland wishes to maximize the diversity of cultures represented in its sister city relationships.
6. Criteria for establishing sister city relationships are essential to ensure that the benefits of the sister city program reach the greatest number of people in an orderly manner.
7. New criteria for the establishment of sister cities and responsibilities of the Director of International Relations are needed to reflect current resources and correct outdated procedures.
POLICY
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
The amended criteria for the establishment, funding, and administration of the sister city relationships, which are attached to Ordinance 176047 as EXHIBIT A, are adopted by the Council.
HISTORY
Ordinance No. 176047.
Passed by Council November 7, 2001. Effective November 7, 2001.