Vallejo sister city youth group outlines sister‑school plans; Ensenada delegation and budget updates discussed

The Vallejo Sister City Commission on May 16 received reports from its youth subcommittee, discussed an upcoming delegation to Ensenada and reviewed the commission’s fiscal-year expenditures and pending expenses.

Tatara Arbab, chair of the youth subcommittee and a junior at Jesse Bethel High School, said the students plan to start sister‑school connections — modeled on a program between MIT and Baguio City — beginning with local high schools to build student engagement in international exchange. Several students introduced themselves and described engagement plans and fundraising efforts.

Commissioners discussed logistics and student delegation participation for an Ensenada trip in late May, including a ribbon-cutting and a mural unveiling on May 25 that the mayor is expected to attend. Commissioners asked organizers to finalize itineraries and communicate schedules so the mayor’s office can issue official letters and mayor-to-mayor communications.

The commission’s budget report showed an adopted FY2025–26 budget of $12,609, unposted expenses of $13.32, and a remaining balance of $11,276.38. A planned sticker order (about 1,000 stickers) was cited as an upcoming $300 expense; other pending event reimbursements were noted.

Commissioners also received status updates on several sister and friendship city relationships, including Trondheim (no recent contact), Bagamoyo and Arusha (ongoing planning), Baguio (sister-school activities), and other friendship-city outreach. The commission set its next regular meeting for July 20, 2026.