Recommendation
Rockville Sister City Corporation is sending six delegate members to Jiaxing, China July 5-20, 2010. It is recommended that delegates be granted official recognition as City Delegates. Delegates include: former Mayor Jim Coyle; former Council member James Marrinan; James McConkey, President of Rockville Sister City Corporation; Ying Chen Wang, Director of Jiaxing operations for Rockville Sister City Corporation; Lynn Mandujano, Academic liaison for Rockville Sister City Corporation; Bingjib Huang, representing the Arts and Cultural interests of Rockville Sister City Corporation.

Discussion
A delegation of twenty-five people from Rockville, including six members of the Rockville Sister City Corporation will travel to Jiaxing, China on an official visit from July 5-20, 2010. The proposed action is to establish credentials for the six members of this delegation and would be evidence that the group is authorized to conduct fact-finding and planning for a Sister City relationship.  Rockville Sister City Corporation hopes this trip will result in a draft "Letter of Intent" or "Sister City Agreement," which will be reviewed by the Mayor and Council so that such an agreement can be signed on a future date. Upon their return, the delegation will report its findings and recommendations to the Mayor and Council.  Rockville Sister City Corporation invites the Mayor and Council to make any recommendations for the Sister City relationship discussions that will take place in Jiaxing.

Mayor and Council History
At a work session on July 14, 2008, the Mayor and Council directed the Rockville Sister City Corporation to pursue a formal Sister City relationship between Rockville and Jiaxing, China. On December 15, 2008, the Mayor and Council approved to host the delegates from Jiaxing, China. On September 14, 2009, during the visit from the Jiaxing delegation, which included representatives from the Mayor's office, the Mayor and Council signed an official "Friendly Relations Agreement" with Jiaxing, China.

Next Steps
If approved, the delegates would need badges printed to show their status while in Jiaxing. Upon return, the delegation would submit a report if its findings and suggestions to the Mayor and Council.

Attachments

Objectives of the delegation's trip to Jiaxing.

Department Head:



Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks
Approved on: 06/07/2010

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 06/08/2010