Minutes 02/12/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Februarv 12. 2008 Discussion: . The Portsmouth City Council has received letters of interest from the Mayors of Todi, Italy and Goree Island, Senegal requesting Sister Cities relationships. . The Portsmouth Sister Cities Commission has carefully considered the request and voted unanimously to endorse Todi, Italy and Goree Island Senegal as two additional Sister Cities, and is requesting endorsement by the City Council. . Goree Island, Senegal, rich in history, is an area favorite and most famous tourist attraction. Goree Island, with currently a population of approximately 1,000 permanent residents, played an important role in the history of Africa. . Todi, Italy, with a population of approximately 16,722, is a picturesque town known for its Etruscan remains and Roman ruins, and the annual Todi Festival celebration. Financial Impact: . At this time, there is no financial impact. In the future, the expenses of the Mayor and/or Chair of the Sister Cities Commission to visit these localities would be the responsibility of the City of Portsmouth. Staff Recommends: Adoption of the resolution. Vision Principles: Bold New Directions Next Steps following City Council Action: . The City Clerk's Office will forward to each of the localities and the Sister Cities International a certified copy of the resolution. y Mr. Moody wanted assurance that the expenditure of tax monies would not be required at any time for the Sister Cities Commission. 1. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, 363 Middle Street, spoke in opposition to this item. Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Ms. Randall, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION ENDORSING TODI, ITALY AND GOREE ISLAND, SENEGAL AS SISTER CITIES. WHEREAS, the "People-to-People Program" was inaugurated by the United States President Dwight David Eisenhower in 1956 to establish greater friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and other nations through the medium of direct personal contact, sometimes referred to as the "Sister Cities" program; and WHEREAS, all succeeding Presidents of the United States have endorsed the program of exchange of ideas and people between the citizens of the United States and of other nations; and WHEREAS, to implement this program the City of Portsmouth and other cities of the United States have been requested through its coordinating organization, first the American Municipal Association, later the National League of Cities, and now the Sister Cities International organization (sometimes known as the Town Affiliation Association of the United States), to affiliate with a foreign city of similar population and mutual interests; and WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth has previously established and still maintains Sister City relationships with Dunedin, New Zealand (1962), Portsmouth, England (1982), and Kericho, Kenya (2002); and