Title
Authorization to Enter into Three-Year Agreement with Phoenix Sister Cities, Inc. (Ordinance S-44773)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a three-year agreement with Phoenix Sister Cities, Inc. (PSC), beginning on July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021, for an amount not to exceed $142,500 over the life of the contract. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
Phoenix Sister Cities, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1972. It is responsible for coordinating exchange programs in youth and education, municipal and technical cooperation, business, arts and culture with Phoenix's ten Sister Cities. Currently, the City of Phoenix has Sister Cities relationships with Calgary, Canada; Catania, Italy; Chengdu, China; Ennis, Ireland; Hermosillo, Mexico; Himeji, Japan; Grenoble, France; Prague, Czech Republic; Ramat-Gan, Israel; and, Taipei, Taiwan.
In Fiscal Year 2017-18, PSC coordinated:
- A delegation of 20 principals, teachers and administrators from the Taipei Department of Education to meet with high-achieving schools in Phoenix to discuss science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. As a result of this exchange, PSC and the Taipei Department of Education have begun a dialogue to create a sister schools program to encourage sharing of best practices between teachers and foster interaction among students in both cities.
- A delegation of Phoenix residents to Chengdu, China, in recognition of the 30th anniversary of our Sister Cities relationship. The delegation included a representative of a human performance company headquartered in Phoenix, who met with Chengdu gym facilities owners, a fitness tech company, and a physical rehabilitation company, as well as the Chengdu Sports School, the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, and Pinnacle Fitness. Another member of the delegation, who is partner in a Phoenix law firm, met with two Chengdu-based companies: one to explore purchasing land to build and open a distribution center in Arizona, and the other to discuss purchasing land in Arizona and California to develop commercial real estate projects.
- A delegation of officials from Ennis, Ireland, including the Mayor of Ennis, in recognition of the 30th anniversary of our Sister Cities relationship. During the visit, the delegation met with representatives from the City of Phoenix Housing Department, Maricopa Integrated Health System, Hacienda Healthcare and the Arizona Office of Tourism.
- An exchange of youth ambassadors with nine sister cities. During June, 26 Phoenix sophomores and juniors will visit Phoenix's Sister Cities. In July, these youth will return to Phoenix with their Sister Cities' counterparts to learn about Phoenix efforts around sustainability, public safety, Arizona government, and daily life in Phoenix.
These activities are accomplished by outsourcing the coordination of events and exchanges through a great number of PSC volunteers, totaling more than 45,000 hours and valued at more than $1.1 million in Fiscal Year 2017-18.
The City of Phoenix has contracted with PSC since the mid-1980s. The organization is administered by a Board of Directors composed of PSC Commission members, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council, and the chairpersons of the 10 Sister Cities and program committees.
The PSC program has been recognized by Sister Cities International for its excellence, receiving the award for Best Overall Program in the United States (for a city with a population over 500,001) nine times in the last 21 years. Most recently, PSC received the Best Overall Program and Innovation in Youth and Education awards in 2015.
Contract Term
The term of this three-year contract is July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021.
Financial Impact
Estimated annual expenditures for the contract are approximately $47,500, not to exceed $142,500 over the life of the contract. Funds are available in the Community and Economic Development Department's 2018-19 operating budget. The operating budget includes City of Phoenix funding for staff salaries and benefits. All PSC programs, exchanges, events, and travel are privately funded.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval by the Downtown, Aviation, Economy and Innovation Subcommittee on June 6, 2018 by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Community and Economic Development Department.