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) nonprofit 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 thirteen (13) Sister Cities affiliated with the City including (1) Alrnonte, Spain; (2) Basel, Switzerland; (3) Brampton, Canada; (4) Cozumel, Mexico; (5) Fortaleza, Brazil; (6) Fujisawa, Japan; (67 Ica, Peru; (8) Krumlov, Czech Republic; (9) Nahariya, Israel; (10) Pescara, Italy; (11) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; (12) Santa Marta, Colombia; and (13) 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 to address challenges and  solve problems.

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. The composition of the Council would consist of nine (9)  members. Eight (8) of these members would be direct appointments, with two (2) appointments made by the mayor and one (1) appointment made by each commissioner. One (1) member would be appointed at large and be a representative of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.

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

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 become more engaged in a meaningful and methodical manner, more activity and costs will be generated.

Although approved at First Reading, the Mayor and City Commission also referred the item to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) to discuss the potential fiscal impact of transitioning administration of the Program back to the City.

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 had been offset through donations and leveraged resources garnered through the Chamber.

On February 23, 2026, the FERC discussed the Program and offered a favorable recommendation to transition administration of the Program back to the City and to prioritize enhancing the existing Program budget by an additional $15,000 (for a total of $40,000) through the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget process.

BUSINESS IMPACT ESTIMATE:

In accordance with Section 166.041(4), Florida Statutes, the City of Miami Beach is required to assess whether a Business Impact Estimate is required for the subject ordinance. As noted in the attached, a Business Impact Estimate is required for the subject Ordinance. The City of Miami Beach estimates that no businesses are likely to be impacted by the proposed Ordinance. The Business Impact Estimate was published on the City’s website (https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/) on March 1, 2024.

LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE:

In accordance with Resolution No. 2023-32857, adopted by the City Commission on December 13, 2023, the following information has been provided by the primary item sponsor as it relates to the subject ordinance amendment:

1. Was the Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

2. If so, specify name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): N/A

As the existing $25,000 in Program funding for Fiscal Year 2024 currently remains with the City, the Administration will inquire with the Chamber about any Program-related expenses incurred by the Chamber during Fiscal Year 2024. If expenses exist, it is recommended that the Chamber invoice the City for these expenses, with any balance to remain with the City to cover Fiscal Year 2024 Program costs incurred by the City. For Fiscal Year 2025, the total fiscal impact would be $40,000 should the Program budget be enhanced by $15,000 through Fiscal Year 2025 budget process.

The Administration supports transitioning administration of the Sister Cities Program back to the City with staff support for the Program to be provided by the Administration. Should responsibilities for Program administration return to the City through the Administration via the Economic Development Department, existing staff resources could initially absorb the transition during Fiscal Year 2024. However, through the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget process, the Administration recommends augmenting staff resources with a part-time position no later than one (1) year following the transition (mid-year Fiscal Year 2025), when Program activity is anticipated to have increased substantially. The recommended staff resource would serve to generally support the Economic Development Department in managing its current and anticipated workload. Support and coordination for the Program through the Administration would include an annual work plan with measurable goals and deliverables. 

Without a reliance on Chamber-leveraged donations and sponsorships, the City may incur expenses not currently impacting Program administration under the Chamber. Therefore, the Administration, in alignment with the recommendation of the FERC, also recommends a $15,000 increase to the annual Program budget for a total of $40,000 beginning in Fiscal Year 2025, subject to appropriation by the Mayor and City Commission through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget process.