SHORELINE— Evenings out on the town, gift exchanges and ceremonies are an important part of the Sister Cities Relationship Policy.
After all, what are sister cities for?
Another important part of the policy is determining the guidelines on how sister cities funds should be spent. In order to accomplish this, City Council members at an April 5 special meeting discussed revisions they want in an updated policy to ensure sister cities funds are spent in accordance with both city policy and state law.
The current sister city policy is undergoing revision by Scott Passey, staff liaison to the Sister Cities Association. According to Passey, most cities with sister city policies have guidelines on how funding is spent. The draft resolution for Shoreline borrows heavily from Bellevue’s policy, which has an established expenditure policy. Passey said most cities pay for travel and lodging expenses.
“It is really up to the Council to decide what is right for Shoreline,” Passey said. “We understand the Council may want to modify the proposal.”
On Oct. 14, 2002, the City Council first adopted a sister city policy, but at that time Council did not intend to provide ongoing program funding. However, in the 2004 budget, the Council approved $10,000 to support the program, but it was not determined how the money should be spent.
The objective for entering into a sister city relationship is to promote international culture, heritage and problem solving and should benefit both cities. To accomplish this, visits are often coordinated and such activities as dinners, meetings, receptions and official gift exchanges are organized.
In March 2003, representatives from the city of Boryeong, South Korea, visited Shoreline to facilitate such a relationship. In June 2004, the City Council passed a resolution adopting Boryeong as a sister city. A Shoreline delegation visited Boryeong in October 2003 and a delegation of Boryeong officials is scheduled to visit Shoreline from May 12-15.
Proposed changes include removing the intent not to provide financial support, establishing the program’s public purpose, outlining allowable city expenditures, stating that funding for private purposes is prohibited, allowing the city manager to donate city assets, and explaining that all official gifts received from the sister city are the property of the city of Shoreline.
In addition, the proposed changes would reimburse all Council members and staff traveling to sister cites for airfare, transportation, lodging and meals. However, a majority of Council members thought this was too broad.
“I think it is dangerous to suggest all travel expenses of Council members will be reimbursed,” Council member Scott Jepsen said. “The statement is too general.”
It would be acceptable, he said, for money to be set aside for necessary visits. He also said that based on his previous trip to Boryeong, that city paid for all expenses once he arrived.
Council member Rich Gustafson agreed with Jepsen regarding the guidelines for travel expenses, but also said that despite the fact that the sister city relationship is a positive idea, it may not be a good use of funding given the economy.
Passey reminded the Council that they did not need to approve the expenditure of the $10,000, since it was already in the budget, but that they need to comment on guidelines on how it should be spent.
Mayor Ron Hansen suggested that Council members elected to travel abroad should pay their own way. When he traveled to visit the sister city, he paid his own way and does not believe the city should be responsible for Council member costs.
Council members also discussed whether matching funding from other organization should be a requirement in the policy.
Council member Bob Ransom said limitations regarding matching funds should not be stipulated, because the Sister City Association will not likely be able to raise $10,000 to match city funding.
“We have a weak business district and will not have much funding,” Ransom said. “We must be dependent on the city.”
According to Assistant City Manager Julie Modrzejewski, the revised policy will be brought before Council members for approval April 26.
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