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Residents ask Lexington council to consider sister‑city ties, exploratory committee seeks city support
Summary
An exploratory committee urged the Lexington City Council to formally consider establishing a sister‑city relationship (committee members cited interest in a Ukrainian partnership), said the group would do most of the work, and asked city staff to review options and potential roles.
Residents and members of a newly formed sister‑city exploratory committee asked the Lexington City Council to review and consider a formal sister‑city relationship and to clarify what role, if any, the city would play in supporting it.
The request came during a presentation to council by Natalie Alexishan, a member of the exploratory committee, who described the proposal as a community‑led cultural and educational exchange. "I was lucky enough to be brought up in a very rich cultural community in the diaspora in the Chicago area," Alexishan said, describing how her background and local interest led to the committee’s formation.
The committee told council it is conducting research to find an appropriate partner city and to avoid creating a partnership that exists only on paper. Fred Blanton, introduced by the presenters as a member of the national Sister Cities board and the Virginia representative, met with the group and advised on how to build a sustainable program rather than a ceremonial link.
Committee members said they expect most of the work to be done by volunteers and community organizations, and they do not anticipate a need for substantial ongoing city staff time. The committee also cited potential activities that could involve local institutions — exchanges with universities, cultural events, culinary exchanges and educational programming.
City officials asked for more specifics before committing staff time or budget. A staff member said the city does not currently have a dedicated, budgeted sister‑city program and that other Virginia municipalities have varying levels of staffing and funding for such programs. The staff member said the city manager had already met with the exploratory committee and that council would revisit the request after staff had time to review objectives and potential impacts.
Council members and presenters also noted Lexington has had prior ceremonial international relationships but that any new formal program would be expected to define clear goals, responsibilities and the amount of city involvement. The committee said it would return with more detailed proposals once it completes initial due diligence and community outreach.
No formal action or vote was taken; council discussion ended with direction to the city manager and staff to review the committee’s goals and report back. Public comment during the same meeting also included a resident asking the city to acknowledge any sister‑city relationships on a welcome sign along a roadside.
The exploratory committee emphasized that the effort is intended to be community driven and nonpolitical, and asked council to consider a future formal request if committee research identifies a suitable partner city.
