Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the International Relations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Raleigh council adopts sister‑cities work plan and formalizes partnership with Seoul district
Summary
City Council approved a formal work plan for Raleigh Sister Cities and agreed to pursue a new sister‑city relationship with a district of Seoul after staff and volunteers outlined steps to strengthen oversight, align partnerships with council priorities and evaluate current relationships.
Raleigh City Council on June 16 adopted a work plan to strengthen the city’s volunteer‑led Raleigh Sister Cities program and voted to move forward with a formal sister‑city relationship with a district in Seoul. Symmetria Jones, the city staff liaison, told the council the nonprofit organization is volunteer‑run and has managed Raleigh’s five existing sister‑city partnerships since the 1980s.
Mary Claire Freeman, president of Raleigh Sister Cities, said the organization connects Raleigh residents with global partners through exchanges, cultural events and student programs and highlighted recent delegations and youth engagement work. “We are grassroots, volunteer led, and we connect, educate and facilitate,” she said. Freeman and Jones told the council the group wanted clearer procedures for selecting new partners, criteria to evaluate prospective partners and an internal city commission to improve continuity and alignment with council goals.
Community supporters urged approval of the proposed partnership with the Seoul district; Manu Lee, joined by members of the Korean‑American Chamber of Commerce, said the district hosts biotech and R&D and has similarities with Raleigh’s industry. Council members discussed whether to formalize boards and commissions language now or to separate that element for later review; Council Member Patton, the city liaison, said an internal commission could provide “clarity around roles and responsibilities.”
After debate, the council approved the staff recommendations and the work plan. The motion also included formal steps to evaluate Raleigh’s five current sister cities, to adopt criteria for future partnerships and to proceed toward formalizing the Seoul district affiliation. Council members stressed that Raleigh Sister Cities would remain an independent nonprofit while the city provided staff support, event space and some financial assistance for delegations.
The council’s action directs staff to return with implementation details for an internal commission and to work with the nonprofit to align the affiliation process with city priorities. When asked about timing, staff said specific bylaws and appointment processes would be brought back for council consideration.
