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Home My WebLink About29-Mayor's Office CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REOUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION ORII"\ "fA, L Ull_ Subject: Resolution of the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino ConfIrming the Sister City Affiliation between the City of Kigali, Rwanda, Africa and the City of San Bernardino. From: Thelma Press, Sister City Liaison Dept: Mayor's Office Date: August 29, 2000 Synopsis of previous Council Action: None with this City Recommended Motion: MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCa ADOPT RESOLUTION ft-/~ ;fJ~ Signature ' Contact person: Thelma Press Phone 5133 Supporting data attached: yes Ward: FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: None Source:(Acct. No.) (Acct. Description) Finance: Council Notes: qfii}bD Agenda item NO.~ CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION STAFF REPORT Subject: Resolution of the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino confirming the Sister City Affiliation between the City of Kigali, Rwanda, Africa and the City of San Bernardino. Background: A request from the City of Kigali, Rwanda, Africa to become a Sister City for San Bernardino, California. Although this request was made on May 2, 2000, the petition was not filed until August 1,2000. San Bernardino, regarding Sister City's twinning over these many years, has had a policy of identifying citizens' groups that favor the affiliation and intend to pursue a meaningful program. The groups must be in a position to finance their own activities, as the City of San Bernardino cannot give assurance of any financial backing. This affiliation was cleared with Sister Cities International, making sure that this proposed Sister City would not have a Sister City affiliation with another United States city. The San Bernardino-Kigali Committee being formed is composed of a good ethnic distribution, bringing people from different sectors of our community together. The committee member list was provided by Dr. Cherry Houston, who will be in charge of this committee, on August 8, 2000. The board members for this committee are very responsible and professional people, who will develop good and strong educational, economic and cultural ties. Although Sister City Committees are independent non-profit groups, the protocol requires the approval of a Sister City affiliation between both governing parties of City government. The San Bernardino-Kigali Committee programs will be higher education and international development. (See attached.) Sister Cities International and the United States Department of State are encouraging an emphasis on African programs. Grants are available through the Agency for International Development with which this group will interact. This committee will be requested to work to revitalize the San Bernardino-He Ife, Nigeria Sister City Committee which, due to tribal wars and general country problems, has been dormant. Financial Impact: No fiscal impact to the City of San Bernardino. Possible investment from Kigali, Rwanda, Africa. Recommendation: Adopt Resolution. Attachments: Request from Local Committee re: Sister City Affiliation - Attachment I Request from Kigali, Rwanda, Africa re: Sister City Affiliation - Attachment 2 Sister City Program Policy, City of San Bernardino - Attachment 3 San Bernardino-Kigali Sister City Committee Members - Attachment 4 Letters on Educational Projects - Attachment 5 Background information on Rwanda, Africa - Attachment 6 c c c 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 ~(g[fi)W RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO CONFIRMING THE SISTER CITY AFFILIATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF KIGALI, RWANDA, AFRICA AND THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO. WHEREAS, the Sister Cities International people-to-people program was inaugurated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to establish greater friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and other nations of the world; and WHEREAS, all succeeding United States Presidents have endorsed this program as Honorary Chairperson for the purpose of encouraging the exchange of ideas and cultures of the people of the United States and other nations; and WHEREAS, the City of San Bernardino through its Mayor and Common Council recognizes and endorses this program with the hope that it will lead to a lasting friendship between the people of Kigali, Rwanda, Africa and the City of San Bernardino, California, USA. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino, on behalf of the people of San Bernardino, does hereby welcome the government and the people of the City of Kigali, Rwanda, Africa, to participate with the City and people of San Bernardino as its Sister City for the purpose of creating greater mutual understanding between the people of our two great cities and nations. SECTION 2. The Mayor of the City of San Bernardino is hereby authorized to act as official representative of the City of San Bernardino, to carry out this program. .,...- ~ c; c 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO CONFIRMING THE SISTER CITY AFFILIATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF KIGALI, RWANDA, AFRICA AND THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor 5 and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on the 6 _day of 7 Council Members: , 2000, by the following vote, to wit: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT ESTRADA LIEN MCGINNIS SCHNETZ SUAREZ ANDERSON MCCAMMACK City Clerk The foregoing resolution is hereby approved this day of 2000. Judith Valles, Mayor City of San Bernardino Approved as to Form and legal content: JAMES F. PENMAN, City ttorney By: -~ INTERNATIONAL "'J;<CRmCAL.LEARNING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL ',--,~,' , r "": , "- ;:'.., ,-: --":-j<,~:",<-,:<_:",,,:( ";"{,./ ~HI59- s~fview Lane Alta ~a. Calif~ 9J7~~_ii&A;(!K)9) 941-,S4.'Fax: (909) 94+-1007 Email: Chous~6186@aol.com MaYO;'~OOO " , ' ""c." \ 'c'" Thelma Pfe,ss.Vice Presldeiib ":'_n""-' ..'/ ,"---',,' Sister Citiis .lrltethlltional City of S,!lPJ~ernardino 300 North ':D" Street San Bernardino,CA 92418 ;; "...' Re: Kigali, Rwanda Twinning with San Bernardino -.~< . Dear Ms. Press, It was a pleasure meeting with you last week. I look forward to continuing our relationship in partnering Kigali and San Bernardino through the Sister Cities programs. I am aware that San Bemardino has had a sister city relationship with lie Ife, Nigeria. That relationship to my understanding is dormant. Therefore, I am making a formal request to the city of San Bernardino to begin an educational twinning with Kigali. I have enclosed several documents for your review, including our package "Partnering with Higher Education with International Development". You will see from the letters enclosed in that document that a partnership with California State University San Bernardino has already begun as well as Cal-Poly Pomona. There are many opportunities that I believe San Bernardino should be able to participate in with Rwanda as well as interjecting other trade, investment and sharing opportunities for both. I look forward to working with you in the Sister Cities Intemational programs. Sincerely, /fNi= ~ Dr. Cherry L. Houston, M.P.H. CC: Mayor KABANDANA Marc Prefet Kigali - Republic of Rwanda Dr. Richard Sezibera, His Excellence, The Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, Washington, D.C. Dr. Joseph W. Mutaboba, Ambassador Extraordinary, The United Nations Republic of Rwanda, New York, New York Beth Payne, Vice Counsel, United States Embassy, Rwanda ATTACHMENT 1 1-.., REPUBLlQU/= RWANDAISE K. I' I '21\ 11)';\ (1() Iga I, e ..~U..r... PrHeclure de la Ville de Kigali RH. N': Q-f '061 0654(.00 Objet: Ms. Thelma Press International Programs C.A. U.S.A 303 N. Arrow head City of SAN BERNARDINO SAN BERNARDINO CA. USA. Re: Proposal for a Twinning relationship I have been introduced to you by Dr. Cherry Houston, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N. of Critical Learning Systems International when she paid a courtesy call to my office during the last week of May 2000. The City of Kigali is relatively young compared to other capital cities of the region. It has a fast growing population, owing to the recent past history that was characterised by political turbulances leading to the most horrible events of genocide in April 1994. The government in place has a lot of challenges of re-building the country's social fabric. One important priority programme is that of human resources development, particularly the education of the youth. ATTACHMENT 2 'm line with the government pnonty programme, the city of Kigali focusses mainly on the education of youth in the City. Under this Programme, the city of Kigali wishes to rehabilitate the existing educational institutions in the city, establish new ones, improve the curricular and train the teaching ,staff especially in information technology. The purpose of this letter is to formally request you for a possibility of twinning arrangement between the city of Kigali and that of SAN BERNARDINO in education and culture with ,sibilities in business and other technologies. a.: J 1.1"1 ,," ~ ~ .<, Yours faithfully. , '() A~?" ., '\ ~ .) I. .~~;.::,; Prefet of Kigali City. c.c. Dr. Cherry Houston, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N. V -, < SISTER CITIES PROGRAM POLICY FOR THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA FROM: Thelma Press, Director Cultural and International Affairs, Mayor's Office The National Sister City Program to promote cultural understanding and global cooperation is a non-profit citizen diplomacy network founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The program's purpose is to develop international relations to aid in the development of mutual understanding between American cities and global communities, as well as to develop youth exchanges, educational, economic and cultural programs. San Bernardino's Sister City program began in 1959 with Tachikawa, Japan, followed in the 1960's with Mexicali and Villahermosa, Mexico; in 1973, Tauranga, New Zealand; in the early 1980's, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; 1985, Herzliya, Israel; in 1990, Roxas, Phillipines, 1992, Zavolzhije, Russia; and in 1993, Yushu, China. A municipal linkage in 1976 was established with Riverside, California during the Bi-centennial of our country. Official Sister City relations are consummated by formal agreements between the governing body of the city in the United States and the city in another country. These relationships are recorded with the national office of Sister Cities International to avoid duplication of twinning and to maintain contact with the foreign embassies and the United States Department of State. Sister Cities International also makes diversified programs available to member cities. The policy of the City of San Bernardino over these many years has been only to pay the national dues, which is set according to population, to the Sister Cities International organization in Washington, D.C. Through the Mayor's Cultural and International Affairs Office, guidance has been given to the local Sister Cities committees, and also to many of the community organizations with international and social programs through the City's International Council. The Sister Cities committees have been formed as individual non-profit organizations, each to conduct its business and raise funds independently for the implementation of their individual programs. No funding in large amounts to conduct their specific programs have ever been initiated, the reason being that since it is a people-to-people program, their existence should not depend on the public sector. ATTACHMENT 3 Many times, however, there have been in-house services, approved by the Mayor and Common Council to allow for the transportation of visiting dignitaries in the City, special guests and some limited activities. Before a Sister City is chosen for the City of San Bernardino, there must exist an identifiable, substantial citizen group or association that favors the proposed affiliation and intends to pursue a meaningful program after the relationship is established. The group must be in a position to finance its own activity's as the City carmot give assurance of financial backing. A similar identifiable civic group must also exist within our counterpart city with which affiliation is proposed, with a clear indication of intent to carry out active mutual programs. The international city, itself, must provide evidence of a desire to affiliate. The proposed city must not have a Sister City affiliation with another United States City. If any student exchange programs are in progress, it is recommended that a hold- harmless policy be signed and filed by the parents in order to eliminate any charges against the City in case of accident. PROPOSED COMMITTEE FOR TWINNING OF KIGALI, RWANDA AND SAN BERNARDINO, CA. Committee Chairperson Dr. Cherry Houston, MPH, RN 11259 Skyview Lane Alta Loma, CA 91737 909-941-8484 Obed & Ellen Rutabuka 10811 Parkland Ct. Loma Linda, CA 92354 909-796-2598 Vice-chairperson Cheryl Ellis 489 West Alpine St. Upland, CA 91786 909-946-5496 Fred Flothe 332 West 29th Street San Bernardino, CA 92405 909-886-3356 Secretary/Treasurer Matthew Elbert 1002 DeAnza Drive San Bernardino, CA 92407 909-882-2965 Don Bell, PhD 1642 Pinecroft Dr. Claremont, CA 91711 909-869-3862 Emmanuel Rudatsikira, MD, MPH Jeanne Rudatsikira Dept. of International Health School of Public Health Loma Linda University Lorna Linda, CA 92350 909-824-4902 Lermine Myles 3268 Ashgate Way Ontario, CA 91761 909-947-9767 Jim Taylor 332 West 29th Street San Bernardino, CA 92405 909-886-3356 Danya Elbert, Michael W. Elbert 1002 DeAnza Drive San Bernardino, CA 92407 909-882-2965 Sonya McCullogh 27581 Connie Way Sun City, CA 92586 909-696-1408 Henry Jackson 4800 Magnolia Avenue Riverside, CA 92506 909-657-0093 James Jones 1560 Sherman Rd San Bernardino, CA 92407 Louis Munyakazi, PhD 7233 Imbark Place Moorpark, CA 93021 805-529-2771 Charles Seymour 1125 Harris Street San Bernardino, CA 92411 909-888-1695 ATTACHMENT 4 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407-2397 COLLEGE OF EXTENDED LEAR] (909) 88! fa" (909) 88C CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SAN BERNARDINO April 13. 2000 His Excellence. The Ambassador, Dr. Richard Sezibera Republic of Rwanda 1714 New Hampshire A\'enue, NW Washington, DC 20009 Dear Ambassador Sezibera: On behalf of !he College of Extended Leaming at Califomia State Uni\'ersity, San Bemardino and our International Extension Programs, Distributed Leaming, and Extension Offices, I am pleased 10 pro\'ide . letter in support of a partnership between higher education institutions in !he United States and Rwanda, We are pleased to join wi!h Califomia State Pol~technic Uni\'ersity, Pomona, Critical Leaming Systems lntemational, Q-Media, the Kigali Institute of Technology and the National Uni\'ersity in Butare to ad\'81 and promote lhis international partnership, By mobilizing our higher education resources in both the Un States and Rwanda, we stand poised 10 address collecti\'ely a plethora of globaL regional, and local de\'elopment challenges, At the same time. this initiati\'e seeks to increase the capacity of !he Kigali Inst ofTechnology and !he National Uni\'ersity at Butare, More specifically, the College of Extended Lcarning, drawing from thc resources of its own staff and programs as well as those from thc larger uni\'ersity, can aid in the de\'elopment and deli\'e~' (\'ia on-sitt technology assisled) of: (I) custom-designed professional and certificated programs in a number of field (2) intemational degree programs: and (3) culturc and language programs, As well, along with partner institution California State Pol~technic Uni\'ersity. Pomona, we can work through the 23-campus Califo State Uni\'crsity to gamer instructional resources and support in any number of ways. including researcl nceds assessmcnt assistance, Califomia State Uni\'ersity, San Bernardino is not only commil1ed to international education efforts, wc many years of experience in de\'eloping and deli\'ering professional programs for constituent groups in yarious countrics Oycrscas, I know I spcak for thc entirc Uni\'ersity in pledging our support to ad\ancin type of partncrship that this U,S,/Rwanda initiati\'c affords, If I can pro\'ide additional infonnation on our institution or its resources, please contact me, Sincerely. --', ';-,...--/ ~~j,-7~- Jan Jackson, Ph.D. Dean cc, Donald Bell, Ph,D, (California State Pol~technic Uni\'ersity. Pomona) Cherry Houston, Ph.D" M,P,H" R.N, (Critical Learning Systems International) The California State Universitv Bakersfield' Channel Islands' Chico. Donunglll':: Hllls . Frc,sno. Fullerton' Ha\'lt'ord . H, ",boldt . La".. B '0"/' . La.' "/ If ',' . . .. . . . .eo ~ ~ , ., ..,,1:~~ L'S '. an ifIll' ."l('( Monl€rc)'Bay . !\orthndge . Pomona. Sacramento. San Bernardmo . San Dwgo . Sail Francisco' San Jose' San Lllis Obi..po . San .\fa.I\.'Qs . Sonorllc . ATTACHMENT 5 .~ " ~) t" Mr. Quentin L. Kenan (aT) Managing Partner Q.MEDIA, Ine, P,Q, Box 2153 Farmington Hills. MI 48333 E~mail: www.qtkenan@ameritech.net Q-mEUR April 18, 2000 His Excellence, The Ambassador, Dr, Richard Sezibera Republic of Rwanda 1714 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington, D,C, SUBJECT: Partnering with Higher Education for International Development Dear Mr. Ambassador: This letter is written in affirmation of Q.MEDIA's support of the combined efforts of California State University, San Bernardino College of Extended Learning, International Extension Programs, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Kigali Institute of Technology- Rwanda National University, Butare, Rwanda, and Critical Learning Systems International, in order to mobilize our resources of American higher education in support of international development cooperation, This agreement supports the partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and in Rwanda to demonstrate how we can apply their expertise collaboratively to global, regional, and local development challenges, This initiative also seeks to increase the capacity of the Kigali Institllte of Technology and the National University at Butare, Q.MEDIA stands ready, with the resources, expertise, and backing of our own business partners, Siemens Information and Communications Networks. Emcor, Motorola, Southwestern Bell Communications/Ameritech, Axxis, and Uni.Dial to support this effort and its goals, We look forward to these efforts with great anticipation, and await your direction so that we may begin, Best Regards, aT Kenan PresidenVCEO CC: Cherry Houston, Ph.D" MPH, and RN Critical Learning Systems International Dean Jan Jackson, Ph.D, California State University, San Bernardino Jean Aigner, Ph,D, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Donald Bell, Ph,D, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona v_ VIdeo To" .... Information Technology Consultants ...-.............. ... Telephone (248) 613-8056 Netwolks Fiber W1N1ess IntMMt I'roject Man..enwnt Grant Writing RWANDA I. Introduction Rwanda, republic in east central Africa, bounded on the north by Uganda, on the east by Tanzania, on the south by Burundi, and on the west by Lake Kivu and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). Rwanda covers an area of 26,338 sq km (10,169 sq mi), and Kiaali is its capital and largest city. II. Land and Resources The central portion of Rwanda is dominated by a hilly plateau averaging about 1,700 m (about 5,600 ft) in elevation. Eastward, toward the Tanzanian border, the land slopes downward to a series of marshy lakes along the upper Kagera River. On the western side of the plateau is a mountain system averaging about 2,740 m (about 9,000 ft) in elevation, forming the watershed between the Nile and Conao river systems. The Virunga Mountains, a volcanic range that forms the northern reaches of this system, includes Volcan Karisimbi (4,507 m/14,787 ft), Rwanda's highest peak. West of the mountains the elevation drops to about 1,460 m (about 4,800 ft) in the Lake Kivu region. A. Climate Rwanda has three main seasons: a short dry season in January, the major rainy season from February through May, and another dry period from May to late September. The average yearly rainfall is 790 mm (31 in) and is heaviest in the western and northwestern mountain regions. Wide temperature variations occur because of elevation differences. The average daily temperature in the Lake Kivu area is 230C (730F). In the mountains in the northwest, frost occurs at night. B. Plants and Animals Forests, once extensive, now are concentrated in the western mountains and Lake Kivu area. Predominant trees are the eucalyptus, acacia, and oil palms. Wildlife-including elephant, hippopotamus, crocodile, wild boar, leopard, antelope, and flying lemur-is protected in Akagera National Park. The Virunga Mountains in northern Rwanda are the home of what is estimated to be half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. This subspecies of gorilla was made famous by the work of American zoologist Dian Fossev. C. Mineral Resources The principal mineral resources are cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), columbite, tantalite, beryl, and gold. Large natural-gas reserves, found near the DRC border, are being developed. TTACHMENT 6 ** FOR OFFICE USE ONLY - NOT A PUBLIC DOCUMENT ** RESOLUTION AGENDA ITEM TRACKING FORM Meeting Date (Date Adopted); q - \ il-CO Item # QC( Vote: Ayes '-f") Nays~ Change to motion to amend original documents: Resolution # ~cx:::o- .98d. Abstain rJ. Absent-e- Reso. # On Attachments; ..:::::.....- Contract tenn; Null/Void After: - Date Sent to Mayor: Cl-,). 0 -00 Date Returned from Mayor: Date orClerk's Signature: q';il-OO Reso. Log Updated: Gt6)\-OO ./ Date of Mayor's Signature: Seal Impressed; V q -.;;l0.00 Date Memo Sent to Department for Signature: See Attached: ~ Date Returned: Date Letter Sent to Outside Party for Signature: 60 Day Reminder Letter Sent on 30th day: 90 Day Reminder Letter Sent on 45th day: r \ I See AttaChed;' See Attached: See Attached; Date Returned: - I Note on Resolution of Attachment stored separately: -=--- Direct City Clerk (circle I): PUBLISH, POST, RECORD W/COUNTY Date; See Attached: - - Yes .L No By Yes No --.!C. By Yes No -L By Yes No V By Yes No I By Request for Council Action & Staff Report Attached: Updated Prior Resolutions (Other Than Below): Updated CITY Personnel Folders (6413, 6429, 6433, 10584, 10585, 12634): Updated CDC Personnel Folders (5557): Updated Traffic Folders (3985, 8234,655,92-389): Copies Distributed to: City Attorney / Parks & Rec. Code Compliance Dev. Services Police Public Services EDA Finance MIS Water Others: fn Aj ()l( Notes: BEFORE FILING, REVIEW FORM TO ENSURE ANY NOTATIONS MADE HERE ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE YEARLY RESOLUTION CHRONOLOGICAL LOG FOR FUTURE REFERENCE (Contract Term, etc.) Ready to File: mr Date: q-Jd-CO