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Sister Cities board outlines criteria and research plan; council signals support for contract extension
Summary
Valerie Landry, chair of the Sister Cities board, summarized the group's expanded executive committee, a weighted selection criteria for candidate cities, and a plan to begin research in priority countries; she asked council to authorize research and to extend the board's contract into the next fiscal year. Council members expressed particular interest in Mexico and Canada.
Valerie Landry, chair of the Sister Cities board and general manager of the Sanford House Inn and Spa, told the City Council the board has expanded its executive committee, created a live weighted-criteria selection tool for matching partner cities, and is preparing to research candidates in a shortlist of countries.
"We currently have some guests from Botkonigshafen in town right now," Landry said, and noted the board is focusing on matches that can deliver economic-development, cultural and educational exchange as well as humanitarian ties. She singled out ongoing conversations with Querétaro in Mexico and a planned Windsor delegation in January.
Landry said the board proposes researching cities in Mexico, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Italy, France, Korea, Vietnam and Grenada and asked council authorization to begin the outreach and vetting process. She also requested an extension of the board's contract into the 2025–26 fiscal year, noting the board has used $5,670 of reimbursable funds this year.
Mayor Ross and other council members emphasized choosing sister cities that produce measurable economic and community benefits. "Being that Mexico is our closest neighbor here, I think it's really prudent for us ... to look strongly at getting a quality sister city in Mexico," Mayor Ross said. Council members also said they would like more community involvement so ties endure beyond changes in board membership.
City staff and the office of economic development said the funds requested are included in the budget and that an updated contract could return to council at a similar funding level. "The money that was saved would stay within the fund," a staff member said, describing a likely reauthorization of roughly $5,000 for the next contract period.
Next steps: Council members encouraged the board to begin research in the cited countries, to prioritize Mexico and Canada where there are existing relationships, and to return contract paperwork and any formal requests for council approval in an upcoming agenda.
