La Cañada explores adopting a Sister City
La Cañada Flintridge City Council members voted Tuesday to begin exploring the possibility of finding an international sister city, dedicating $2,500 toward startup costs for what could be a two-year process.
The move came at the request of resident Vicki Schwartz, a self-described “semi-retired” attorney who studied as an exchange student in Regensburg, Germany, 40 years ago and still keeps in touch with her host sister today.
Schwartz, who’s been informally gauging public interest among local leaders for several months, addressed the council Tuesday. She highlighted the many benefits of engaging in a program offered by the national nonprofit Sister Cities International, a group that helps pair cities globally based on shared interests and demographics.
“If ever there was a city that is perfect for the Sister Cities International program, I think it’s La Cañada,” Schwartz told the council. “I’m very proud of my city, I’m very proud to live here and I just think that this would bring even more interesting opportunities for our residents.”
An exploratory subcommittee of city officials past and present — including council members Terry Walker and Jon Curtis, City Manager Mark Alexander and former councilman Steve Del Guercio — has been formed to help make recommendations as La Cañada moves through the early application stages put forth by the Washington, D.C.-based Sister Cities International.
Eventually, backers would need to form a public benefit nonprofit separate from the city to raise money for exchange programs. Schwartz estimated Tuesday it could take up to two years for the city and SCI to locate an ideal match.
The wait would be well worth it, she advised, as future exchange programs and public events could involve schools, community groups and people of any age and background.
“Really anybody who has a connection with our town, La Cañada Flintridge, would be welcome to join,” she told the council. “Any type of exchange can go and can work. It just depends on the willingness of the citizens and their interests.”
La Cañada Unified School Board member Ellen Multari, who along with Supt. Wendy Sinnette met with Schwartz a couple weeks earlier, attended Tuesday’s council meeting to share her support for a beneficial program she said was long overdue.
“Our students would be ripe for this kind of opportunity, both for themselves to be exchange students as well as to be host families to students coming from foreign countries,” Multari said. “I think we are the ideal kind of candidate city for this kind of a program, and I hope that you guys find favor with this.”
Councilwoman Terry Walker said she was excited to be on the exploratory committee pursuing the matter and thanked Schwartz for taking the lead on the project.
“This type of arrangement has been talked about for a long time in our community but has never come to fruition, because we’ve never had anybody like Vicki to really take it on and do all the legwork,” Walker said. “I think it’s going to be a fabulous opportunity, (and) not only for the youth in our town. I think it will be wonderful for everybody.”
City Council members voted 4-0 to move forward with the concept, dedicating $2,500 for startup costs. Mayor Pro Tem Jon Curtis, who passed along his support for the program through Mayor Dave Spence, was absent at Tuesday’s meeting due to travel delays.
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
