SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Provide direction on recommendations from the Sister Cities Advisory Board regarding presenting a Proclamation for the Young Ambassadors Program, increasing the advisory board’s membership to seven members and establishing a hardship fund for students traveling to Japan.
Body
SUMMARY:
The City of Clearwater and City of Nagano, Japan have participated in a cultural exchange program known as Sister Cities since 1959. This exchange is supported by Clearwater Sister Cities Incorporated (CSCI), a not-for-profit organization that operates a Young Ambassadors exchange program. This program sends a group of American middle school-aged youth to Japan for several weeks every summer.
In recognition of CSCI’s ongoing commitment, the Sister Cities Advisory Board recommends that Council designate the Young Ambassadors program of CSCI as an officially sanctioned program of the City of Clearwater. This designation would be in the form of a Proclamation and shall not imply any additional support or funding from the City.
The Sister Cities Advisory Board is currently comprised of six members: one member of the City Council, a representative of the local business community, the School Board’s World Language Coordinator or designee, a Clearwater Sister Cities Inc. representative, a Clearwater Arts Foundation representative, and a youth member who shall be nineteen years old or younger.
The Sister Cities Advisory Board recommends to the Council to add one additional at-large member to the Board. This action would require a change to the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2 (Administration), Article III, Division 12 (Sister Cities Advisory Board), Section 2.251.
The Sister Cities Advisory Board unanimously approved a motion to encourage the City Council to provide two Hardship Grants of up to $3,700 each to cover the cost of the Young Ambassadors program for up to two students from economically distressed Clearwater families. The total amount requested is $7,400.
The Sister Cities Advisory Board further recommends that the Council designate city staff to determine the eligibility of each family requesting funding. Upon qualifying, these funds would be disbursed to CSCI to be used solely for the qualifying family or families.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A