Res No 033-18-15065RESOLUTION NO. 033-18-15065
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami,
Florida, authorizing the City Manager to join Sister Cities International and
to negotiate and enter into a Sister City Agreement with the Municipality of
Medellin, Colombia.
WHEREAS, a sister city relationship is a broad-based, long-tenn partnership between
two communities in two countries. A sister city is officially recognized after the highest elected
or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement; and
WHEREAS, a city may have any number of sister cities, with community involvement
ranging from a half dozen to hundreds of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, sister city
organizations may include representatives from nonprofits, municipal governments, the private
sector, and other civic organizations; and
WHEREAS, sister city relationships offer the flexibility to fonn connections between
communities that are mutually beneficial and which address issues that are most relevant for
partners; and
WHEREAS, a sister city organization is a volunteer group of citizens who, with the
support of their local elected officials, fonn long-tenn relationships with people and
organizations in a city abroad. Each sister city organization is independent and pursues the
activities that are important to them and their community including municipal, business, trade,
educational and cultural exchanges with their sister city; and
WHEREAS, Sister Cities International, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded
by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and it serves as the national membership
organization for individual sister cities across the United States of America Sister Cities
International serves as the national membership organization for 545 US sister cities, counties,
and states with 2,121 partnerships in 145 countries on six continents; and
WHEREAS, Sister Cities International's member programs focus on four main areas of
exchange: arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community
development and technical exchange to connect citizens around the globe; and
WHEREAS, the Program strives to build global cooperation at the municipal level,
encourage cultural understanding and stimulate economic development; and
WHEREAS, additionally, the Program promotes peace through mutual respect,
understanding and cooperation through one individual, one community at a time; and
WHEREAS, the Municipality of Medellin is the second-largest city in Colombia and the
capital of the Department of Antioquia; and
WHEREAS, the Wall Street Journal and Citigroup partner with Urban Land Institute, a
non-profit research and education organization to choose the World's Most Innovative City based
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Res. No. 033-18-15065
on its Economy, Urban Development, Culture, Livability, Technology, and Research among
other measures. Out of the Top 200 leading cities, Medellin was selected as the Most Innovative
City in the World with almost I million votes; and
WHEREAS, the Municipality of Medellin was featured on 60 Minutes in a segment
titled "The New Colombia" for leading the World in bridging the divide between the lowest
income and most atlluent populations; and
WHEREAS, in December 2016, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a Peace Treaty to end a 50-year civil war; and
WHEREAS, Colombia is a close ally of the United States in South and Central America;
and
WHEREAS, the Municipality of Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia with a
population of approximately 2.4 million, which is similar to the population of Miami-Dade
County; and
WHEREAS, Sergio Fajardo, the former Mayor of Medellin, who is credited for the
transformation of Medellin, is considered the best example of a College Professor turned
Politician. He went on to become the Governor of Antioquia, and is now the leading Presidential
Candidate; and
WHEREAS, the Colombian Embassy in Coral Gables fully support and encourages a
South Miami and Medellin Sister City relationship; and
WHEREAS, Dade County (26 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Periera,
Colombia Miami Beach (13 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Santa Marta,
Colombia. Coral Gables (6 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Cartagena, Colombia.
Doral (5 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Barranquilla and Armenia, Colombia
The most innovative city in the world, Medellin, currently does not appear to have a Sister City
Relationship with any municipality in Miami-Dade County which creates a wonderful
opportunity for South Miami, the City of Pleasant Living; and
WHEREAS, peer-learning between municipal employees and elected officials through
Sister City activities has helped cities implement innovative policies and management techniques
in sanitation, water, health, transportation, tourism, economic development, and education; and
WHEREAS, experiences in international affairs and citizen diplomacy is a critical part
of any sister city program; and
WHEREAS, in addition to trade delegations and tourism dollars, Sister City programs
create connections with international municipal officials, institutions, and businesses. These
connections build trust, access, and expertise that help local businesses find new opportunities;
and
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Res. No. 033-18-15065
WHEREAS, common ties exist between the City of South Miami and the Municipality
of Medellin which would benefit from an exchange of interests and cultures by the mutual
establishment of a "Sister City" relationship; and
WHEREAS, under the "Sister City" relationship, both cities commit to support and
encourage opportunities for mutually beneficial and practical exchanges in the fields of business,
arts, culture, education, sports, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission find that the establishment of a "Sister
City" affiliation with Municipality of Medellin, to be in the best interest of the City.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida hereby
approve of the establishment of a "Sister City" affiliation with Municipality of Medellin and
authorizes and instnlets the City Manager and City Attorney to Begetiate and execute all
necessary documents to effectuate said "Sister City" affiliation, including becoming a member of
Sister Cities International.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami, Florida hereby
appoints Commissioner Josh Liebman to the inaugural liaison for the City of South Miami in the
Sister City affiliation with the municipality of Medellin. Such appointment shall be for a two-
year term and will be at the convenience of the Commission.
Section .3 Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is
for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
Section a.4 Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of March, 2018.
ATTEST:
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COMMISSION VOTE: 5-0
Mayor Stoddard: Yea
Vice Mayor Harris: Yea
Commissioner Welsh: Yea
Commissioner Liebman: Yea
Commissioner Gil: Yea