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1 RESOLUTION NO. _____ _
2
3 A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami,
4 Florida, authorizing the City Manager to join Sister Cities International and
5 to negotiate and enter into a Sister City Agreement with the Municipality of
6 Medellin, Colombia.
7
8 WHEREAS, a sister city relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between
9 two communities in two countries. A sister city is officially recognized after the highest elected
10 or appointed official from both communities sign off on an agreement; and
11.
12 WHEREAS, a city may have any number of sister cities, with community involvement
13 ranging from a half dozen to hundreds of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, sister city
14 organizations may include representatives from nonprofits, municipal governments, the private
15 sector, and other civic organizations; and
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17 WHEREAS, sister city relationships offer the flexibility to form connections between
18 communities that are mutually beneficial and which address issues that are most relevant for
19 partners; and
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21 WHEREAS, a sister city organization is a volunteer group of citizens who, with the
22 support of their local elected officials, form long-term relationships with people and
23 organizations in a city abroad. Each sister city organization is independent and pursues the
24 activities that are important to them and their community including municipal, business, trade,
25 educational and cultural exchanges with their sister city; and
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27 WHEREAS, Sister Cities International, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded
28 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and it serves as the national membership
29 organization for individual sister cities across the United States of America. Sister Cities
30 International serves as the national membership organization for 545 US sister cities, counties,
31 and states with 2,121 partnerships in 145 countries on six continents; and
32
33 WHEREAS, Sister Cities International's member programs focus on four main areas of
34 exchange: arts and culture, youth and education, business and trade, and community
35 development and technical exchange to connect citizens around the globe; and
36
37 WHEREAS, the Program strives to build global cooperation at the municipal level,
38 encourage cultural understanding and stimulate economic development; and
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40 WHEREAS, additionally, the Program promotes peace through mutual respect,
41 understanding and cooperation through one individual, one community at a time; and
42
43 WHEREAS, the Municipality of Medellin is the second-largest city in Colombia and the
44 capital of the Department of Antioquia; and
45
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1 WHEREAS, the Wall Street Journal and Citigroup partner with Urban Land Institute, a
2 non-profit research and education organization to choose the World's Most Innovative City based
3 on its Economy, Urban Development, Culture, Livability, Technology, and Research among
4 other measures. Out of the Top 200 leading cities, Medellin was selected as the Most Innovative
5 City in the World with almost 1 million votes; and
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7 WHEREAS, the Municipality of Medellin was featured on 60 Minutes in a segment
8 titled "The New Colombia" for leading the World in bridging the divide between the lowest
9 income and most affluent populations; and
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11 WHEREAS, in December 2016, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded
12 the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a Peace Treaty to end a 50-year civil war; and
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14 WHEREAS, Colombia is a close ally of the United States in South and Central America;
15 and
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17 WHEREAS, the Municipality of Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia with a
18 population of approximately 2.4 million, which is similar to the ·population of Miami-Dade
19 County; and
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21 WHEREAS, Sergio Fajardo, the former Mayor of Medellin, who is credited for the
22 transformation of Medellin, is considered the best example of a College Professor turned
23 Politician. He went on to become the Governor of Antioquia, and is now the leading Presidential
24 Candidate; and
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26 WHEREAS, the Colombian Embassy in Coral Gables fully support and encourages a
27 South Miami and Medellin Sister City relationship; and
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29 WHEREAS, Dade County (26 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Periera,
30 Colombia. Miami Beach (13 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Santa Marta,
31 Colombia. Coral Gables (6 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Cartagena, Colombia.
32 Doral (5 Sister City Relationships) is Sister Cities with Barranquilla and Armenia, Colombia.
33 The most innovative city in the world, Medellin, currently does not appear to have a Sister City
34 Relationship with any municipality in Miami-Dade County which creates a wonderful
35 opportunity for South Miami, the City of Pleasant Living; and
36
37 WHEREAS, peer-learning between municipal employees and elected officials through
38 Sister City activities has helped cities implement innovative policies and management techniques
39 in sanitation, water, health, transportation, tourism, economic development, and education; and
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41 WHEREAS, experiences in international affairs and citizen diplomacy is a critical part
42 of any sister city program; and
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44 WHEREAS, in addition to trade delegations and tourism dollars, Sister City programs
45 create connections with international municipal officials, institutions, and businesses. These
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connections build trust, access, and expertise that help local businesses fmd new opportunities;
and
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 instructs the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate and execute all
necessary documents to effectuate said "Sister City" affiliation, including becoming a member of
Sister Cities International.
Section 2. 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 3. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ , 2018.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND EXECUTION
EXECUTION THEREOF
CITY ATTORNEY
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APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Harris:
Commissioner Welsh:
Commissioner Liebman:
Commissioner Gil: