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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2013-010 Sponsored by: City Clerk him CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2013 -010 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE 40 ANNIVERSARY OF THE SISTER CITY STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM WITH OBIHIRO, JAPAN BY ALLOCATING A TRAVEL EXPENSE STIPEND OF $1,000 EACH FOR UP TO TWO STUDENTS IN 2013, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS WHEREAS, in 1968, the City of Seward, Alaska and the City of Obihiro, Japan established a Sister City relationship to create a cultural exchange and promote good will; and WHEREAS, since 1973, which was the first year that Seward and Obihiro began exchanging high school students for three weeks every summer, 125 Seward students have been able to visit Japan; and WHEREAS, students participating from Seward have always been responsible for paying their own travel expenses, and have conducted various fund raising activities to raise money; and WHEREAS, since 2008, the cost of airfare to Japan has increased tremendously, and is now considered to be so cost - prohibitive that it may be impacting student interest in the program; and WHEREAS, 2013 marks the 40 Anniversary of the student exchange program; and WHEREAS, at the January 28, 2013 regular meeting, the City Council directed the City Clerk to bring forward a resolution authorizing the use of a portion of council's contingency fund to provide a stipend of $1,000 each for up to two selected students to help offset travel cost; and WHEREAS, while it was suggested at that meeting that there be certain criteria met by the students in order to receive the stipends, the clerk recommends council rely on the criteria already established for the student selection process, which includes scoring on the following: application submission, letters of reference, a written essay, parental consent and participation in an interview. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA that: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Seward supports the student exchange program between Seward High School and our Sister City of Obihiro, Japan. Section 2. Funding in the amount of $2,000.00 will be transferred from the City Council's Contingency account 101 -1110 -5690 to the City Council's Sister City account 101 -1110 -5560 to provide travel stipends of $1,000.00 each for up to two students selected to participate in the 2013 CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA RESOLUTION 2013 -010 awl student exchange program. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 1 l day of February 2013. THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA David Seaward, ayor Nal AYES: Valdatta, Keil, Shafer, Casagranda, Terry, Seaward NOES: None ABSENT: Bardarson ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: ,` /, - /- Johanna KiCMC • ty Clerk (City Seal) �3air.e�: O • ✓ o..A . ��w At, ,9 ,; 4 s �� i u O e - a Y a f e R ^fin y'k • y�'nY GAD+ '1"1, /s'-+ `.� F :: :4 Agenda Statement , ,to Meeting Date: February 11, 2013 To: City Council From: Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Agenda Item: Appropriating $2,000 for the 2013 Sister City Student Exchange Program with Obihiro, Japan BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION: Nearly 50 years ago, while on a business trip to Alaska from Japan, Yasuhiko Ohsono, a high school teacher from Obihiro, was asked by the mayor of Seward, Bob Richardson, to create some sort of cultural exchange between the two cities. On March 21, 1967, the mayor of Obihiro sent a photo album and other materials to introduce the people of Seward to Obihiro. In return, the mayor of Seward sent a coat -of -arms and a medal. The exchange continued with Seward receiving a wood carved bear. Finally, on November 20, 1967, the Seward City Council passed Resolution 1967 -666 to recognize and accept Obihiro as a Sister City. On March 27, 1968, the City of Obihiro created an in kind resolution, and the Sister City relationship was born. Nearly every summer since 1973, Seward and Obihiro have `exchanged' high school students. That is, over the course of approximately three weeks each summer, high school students from Obihiro come to Seward for a 10 -day visit. They homestay with host families (often the families of the Seward exchange participants), are introduced to the community via a city council meeting, enjoy Alaskan activities like kayaking, hiking and glacier viewing from a tour boat on Resurrection Bay, attend parties thrown in their honor and generally have a great time experiencing the wonders of Alaska. Following the Japanese students' return home to Japan, the Seward students hop aboard an airplane and fly over to Obihiro for about a week. Every year from August 14 -16 Obihiro holds their annual Heigen Festival, and the students visiting from Alaska are generously included in the celebration. Awaiting each student upon their arrival in Obihiro is a gift of an authentic kimono and shoes, which they don to attend the annual Bon Dance during the festival. They also experience a real Japanese tea ceremony while they are visiting, homestay with Japanese families, and are generally treated like royalty. Through 2012, there have been 125 high school students from Seward who have taken part in the exchange program and have been greatly enriched by the experience. In 2011, due to concerns over potential health issues arising from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that shook Japan, the participants who would have been involved in the exchange to represent Seward withdrew their applications. Although the City of Seward sent no representatives to Japan in 2011, we did enjoy hosting four Japanese students on our soil. In 2012, interest in the exchange program appeared to wane, and the clerk's office responded to the lack of interest by having to re- advertise the program and extend the deadline for applications. The feedback received by the clerk's office from the public was that potential applicants were put off by the daunting financial commitment, an estimated $2,800 price tag for airfare alone. Although the Seward International Friendship Association (SIFA) assisted the students with fundraising efforts, the cost of airfare had so greatly increased by 2012 that it became necessary for the students to borrow money in order to take part. 2013 will mark the 40 anniversary of this student exchange program, something that Seward can be very proud of. The deadline for applications for this year's exchange was January 15, 2012, and although there were several applications handed out, there were none turned in. On January 28, 2013, council discussed the exchange program and heard comments from Deb Bond, Seward's Sister City Coordinator, and Jim Herbert, President of SIFA, about the challenges they have been facing in recent years. As a result of that discussion, council requested a formal resolution be brought forward to appropriate $1,000 per student for up to two students to offset the airfare expense for the 40 anniversary in 2013. The City Clerk is re- advertising this program with a new deadline of February 20, 2013 in the hope that we will receive applications. INTENT: To appropriate $1,000 per student for up to two students selected to participate in the City of Seward's Student Exchange Program with Obihiro, Japan to be applied towards airfare and travel expenses for the 2013 exchange. CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A 1. Comprehensive Plan (document source here): X 2. Strategic Plan (document source here): X 3. Other (list): • Resolution 1967 -666 Proclaiming Obihiro, Japan as Sister City X to Seward, Alaska FISCAL NOTE: Funding in the amount of $2,000.00 will be transferred from the City Council's Contingency account 101 -1110 -5690 to the City Council's Sister City account 101 -1110 -5560 to provide travel stipends of $1,000 each for up to two students selected to participate in the 2013 Student Exchange Program. Approved by Finance Department: ga ArK ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No X RECOMMENDATION: City Council approve Resolution 2013 -010, to appropriate $1,000 per student for up to two students selected to participate in the City of Seward's Student Exchange Program with Obihiro, Japan to be applied towards airfare and travel expenses.