A sister city, county, or state relationship is a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. A relationship is officially recognized after the highest elected or appointed official from both communities sign an agreement to become sister cities.

A city may have any number of sister cities, with community involvement ranging from a half dozen to hundreds of volunteers. In addition to volunteers, a sister city organization can include representatives from nonprofits, municipal governments, the private sector, and other civic organizations.

Each sister city organization is independent and pursues the activities and thematic areas that are important to them and their community including municipal, business, trade, educational, and cultural exchanges and projects with their sister city.

Sister Cities International (“SCI”) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, that serves as the national membership association for individual sister cities, counties and states across the United States. The mission of SCI is "to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation – one individual, one community at a time.” This network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in nearly 500 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in more than 140 countries.

The City of Miami Beach is a member of SCI and currently has eleven (11) Sister Cities affiliated with the City including (1) Alrnonte, Spain; (2) Basel, Switzerland; (3) Brampton, Canada; (4) Fortaleza, Brazil; (5) Fujisawa, Japan; (6) Ica, Peru; (7) Krumlov, Czech Republic; (8) Nahariya, Israel; (9) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (10) Santa Marta, Colombia; and
(11) Odessa, Ukraine.

The program offers opportunities for the City to engage with its Sister Cities, establish partnerships, cultural exchange, promote tourism, educational opportunities and collaborative projects.

Typical areas of focus for Sister Cities includes:

Arts & Culture
Sharing cultural traditions, from music and art to food and fashion, is a powerful way for two communities to learn from each other. The types of cultural exchanges arranged by different Sister Cities are diverse --- connecting people from an array of backgrounds on a fundamental level.

Business & Trade
Sister City programs organize trade delegations, boost tourism and economic development, and create connections between a wide variety of institutions, thought-leaders, entrepreneurs and businesses.

Community Development
Officials, businesses and other community members in Sister Cities have unique opportunities to learn from each other in policy areas such as sanitation, water, health, transportation, tourism, sustainability, security, economic development and education. Sister City communities are also well-placed to provide assistance to each other in times of addressing challenges and problem solving.

Youth & Education
Youth opportunities are a critical part of many Sister City programs. Common activities include school exchanges, institutional visits and sports tournaments.
In an increasingly connected world, the ideals and collaboration are as important now as they have ever been.

Prior to April 10, 2019, the City's Sister Cities Program (the "Program") had been administered by the City, with oversight by a volunteer Coordinating Council (the "Council"). The Office of the Mayor and City Commission served as the supporting staff. On April 10, 2019, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2019-4257, removing the Council structure from the City Code, and contracting with the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce (the “Chamber") to administrator of the Program.

To provide greater transparency and direct control of the Program, Commissioner Dominguez, the ordinance sponsor, recommends re-establishing the City’s administration of the Program, with oversight by a volunteer Council appointed by the Mayor and City Commission, and augmenting the previous framework to include participation by two (2) sitting Commissioners.

As approved at First Reading on December 13, 2023, the draft ordinance provides for the Office of the Mayor and City Commission to serve as the supporting department of the council. Following First Reading, the sponsor has discussed the potential for the City Administration to manage the program and support the Council, possibly through the Economic Development Department.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the Chamber received $20,000 from the City to administer the Program. The Fiscal Year 2024 Budget includes a $25,000 allocation for the Program and, to date, the Chamber has yet to request the funds from the City. Based on recent discussions with existing Council members, it is the understanding of the Administration that many costs associated with the Program have been offset through donations and leveraged resources garnered through the Chamber.

Based on City staff recollection of prior Program administration through the Office of the Mayor and City Commission, it is understood that Program administration by the City could require significant staff resource. Though not all Sister Cities are routinely active, it is anticipated that as existing Sister Cities and elected officials are more engaged in a meaningful and methodical manner, more activity and costs will be generated.