HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.044-22RESOLUTION # 44
(Series of 2022)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN,
COLORADO APPROVING SISTER CITIES RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
THE CITY OF ASPEN AND THE CITIES OF GARMISCH-
PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY; DAVOS, SWITZERLAND; CHAMONIX,
FRANCE; SHIMUKAPPU, JAPAN; QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND; SAN
CARLOS DE BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA; AND ABETONE-CUTIGLIANO,
ITALY.
WHEREAS, Sister Cities International (SCI) was created at President Eisenhower's
1956 White House conference on citizen diplomacy and Eisenhower envisioned an
organization that could be the hub of peace and prosperity by creating bonds between
people from different cities around the world and by forming these relationships,
President Eisenhower reasoned that people of different cultures could celebrate and
appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new
conflicts; and
WHEREAS, SCI's mission is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding,
and cooperation - one individual, one community at a time and its mission reflects our
belief in the power of personal connections and since its inception, SCI has worked to
create global relationships based on cultural, educational, and trade exchanges; and
WHEREAS, All Sister Cities' participants develop and continue to develop lifelong
friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person -to -person "citizen
diplomacy"; and
WHEREAS, Aspen Sister Cities' (ASC) mission is to share ideas and cultures through
the international exchange of students and community members throughout Aspen and
the greater Roaring Fork Valley, and in support of our mission statement we will
reinstate and energize our previously successful programs, and we will investigate the
expansion of new programs according to the agreed upon needs and interests of each
Sister City; and
WHEREAS, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany located in Bavaria in the northern end
of the European Alps, with breathtaking panoramic views and a premier summer and
winter resort industry, became Aspen's first formal Sister City on September 6, 1966;
and
WHEREAS, Davos, Switzerland, the highest town in Europe with the largest mountain
resort known for its spas, ice skating and skiing, became Aspen's second formal Sister
City on January 7, 1987; and
WHEREAS, Chamonix also known as Chamonix -Mont -Blanc, France, the birthplace of
alpinism and the mountaineering capital of Europe, boasting Europe's tallest mountain
and the site of the first Winter Olympics in 1924, became Aspen's third formal Sister
City on June 22, 1987; and
WHEREAS, Shimukappu, Japan and the ski resort area of Tomamu, both located on
the island of Hokkaido, featuring all -season adventure activities and gorgeous year-
round scenery with colorful fall foliage, became Aspen's fourth formal Sister City on
November 9, 1991; and
WHEREAS, Queenstown New Zealand, located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu in the
southern half of the South Island, with incredible indigenous flora and a vibrant
international community known for its mining, farming, skiing and other outdoor
activities, became Aspen's fifth formal Sister City on March 19, 1992; and
WHEREAS, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, located near the Andes Mountains and
surrounded by Nahuel Huapi National Park and its lake, serving as the gateway to
Patagonia and offering a large variety of year-round outdoor activities including skiing at
Cerro Catedral, the largest ski area in South America, became Aspen's sixth formal
Sister City on November 14, 2002; and
WHEREAS, Abetone-Cutigliano, Italy, located in the region of Tuscany and
encompassing the most important ski area in the Apennines Mountains, sharing a
historical bond with the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army who liberated the
region during WWII and like Aspen, is named after a beloved local tree, became
Aspen's seventh formal Sister City on May 12, 2015; and
WHEREAS, The City of Aspen has heretofore resolved to be Sister Cities, with all the
privileges and duties pertaining to such status with Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany;
Davos, Switzerland; Chamonix, France; Shimukappu, Japan; Queenstown, New
Zealand, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina; and Abetone-Cutigliano, Italy; and all
agree to recognize Aspen as one of their Sister Cities and recognize Aspen's affiliation
with SCI; and
WHEREAS, The Sister Cities listed above and including Aspen, Colorado, all of which
have similar structures and purposes, are reaffirming the relationship between mayors
and their city governments and agree to continue to develop exchanges which include:
economic stability; cultural, educational, technical and informational activities;
community participation and service; and environmental awareness; and
WHEREAS, All of Aspen's Sister Cities share a common economic base through skiing,
other winter and summer sports, the arts, diverse cultures, and all communities share a
love for the mountains and a strong concern for the natural environment which is our
greatest single resource; and
WHEREAS, Our respective city leaders recognize the value in an exchange of
friendship, concepts and ideas, and are committed to continuing a formal Sister Cities
relationship in an effort to further solidify our cities' commonalities, bonds and
commitment to future generations of youth and adults who will benefit from this cultural
unity; and
WHEREAS, Aspen and its Sister Cities pledge to mutually promote any form of
exchange benefitting the prosperity of both cities and the well-being of their citizens,
and seek to preserve the integrity and atmosphere of their culture while simultaneously
promoting a healthy economy; and
WHEREAS, The ASC committee, formed in January 1987, consists of an appointed
Board of Directors responsible for working directly with Aspen's Mayor and its City
Council to ensure our Sister City relationships and programs endure; and
WHEREAS, in Aspen, to illustrate the interests and commitment to preserve and further
Sister City relationships, the responsibility for carrying out programs with its Sister Cities
will be with the Aspen Sister Cities' Board of Directors to discuss and evaluate at
monthly meetings all aspects of its partnerships with our Sister Cities; and to make
recommendations to the Mayor and City Council of Aspen, other governmental
agencies, and/or other private organizations; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO.
That the City Council of the City of Aspen hereby approves the Sister Cities
relationships between the City of Aspen and the cities of Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
Germany; Davos, Switzerland; Chamonix, France; Shimukappu, Japan; Queenstown,
New Zealand, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina; and Abetone-Cutigliano, Italy.
INTRODUCED, READ A D ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen on the
Id Z day of 2022.
Torr , Aspen Mayor
I, Nicole Henning, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a
true and accurate copy of that a olution adopted by the City Council of Aspen,
Colorado, at a meeting held , 2022
c
Gl�- •
Nicole Henning, City Is4erk