Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout110221-05.7 ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF REPORT 5.7 TO: Mayor and Town Council November 2, 2021 SUBJECT: Resolution No. 72-2021, approving a Friendship City partnership with Danville, Kentucky BACKGROUND In 2017, the Town Council adopted a Friendship City Policy which outlines the process and criteria on how an organization or councilmember shall present a proposed Friendship City for consideration. The Friendship City Policy allows the Town to develop partnerships between municipalities on a less formal basis than through an official Sister City relationship organized through the guidelines of Sister Cities International. In 2017, the Town approved a Friendship City partnership with New Ross, Ireland at the request of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation. To date, that has been the only formal request received by the Town for a Friendship City partnership. DISCUSSION The Town Council has held two study sessions this year to discuss the possibility of a second Friendship City partnership, this one with Danville, Kentucky. At the October 12, 2021, study session, the Town Council heard from representatives of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (the “Museum”) that they would be willing to be the sponsor for this request. Subsequent to that study session, the Museum provided the Town with the information regarding the potential partnership, as required by the Town’s policy (Attachment B). Town staff has reviewed this information and determined that it meets the standards specified in the policy. PUBLIC CONTACT Posting of the meeting agenda serves as notice to the general public. FISCAL IMPACT None. Friendship City Partnership November 2, 2021 Danville, Kentucky 2 RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 72-2021, approving a Friendship City partnership with Danville, Kentucky. Prepared by: Robert B. Ewing City Attorney Attachments: A-Resolution No. 72-2021 B-Letter from Museum of the San Ramon Valley RESOLUTION NO. 72-2021 APPROVING A FRIENDSHIP CITY PARTNERSHIP WITH DANVILLE, KENTUCKY WHEREAS, the Town of Danville’s Friendship Cities Policy allows for the Town to develop partnerships between municipalities on a less formal basis than through an official Sister City relationship organized through the guidelines of Sister Cities International; and WHEREAS, Friendship City partnerships between the Town of Danville and other domestic or international municipalities are intended to be mutually beneficial, create an atmosphere of goodwill and initiate information exchanges; and WHEREAS, the proposed Friendship City partnership with Danville, Kentucky, meets the Town’s Friendship City criteria, including an attribute match, connection match, resource availability and ethical match; and WHEREAS, the Museum of the San Ramon Valley has committed to being the sponsor for this partnership; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, by the Danville Town Council, that the Town of Danville shall enter into a Friendship City partnership with the City of Danville, Kentucky. APPROVED by the Danville Town Council at a regular meeting on November 2, 2021, by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSTAINED: ABSENT: ______________________________ MAYOR APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST: _______________________________ ______________________________ CITY ATTORNEY CITY CLERK DocuSign Envelope ID: 223C2AEF-501E-4617-9D01-92AE4F42BD73 ATTACHMENT A Draft letter to the Town of Danville with 4 Criteria Mayor Morgan and Town Council members: The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is pleased to sponsor the Town’s participation in a Friendship City program with the city of Danville, Kentucky. Primarily because of the name connections, becoming Friendships Cities makes sense. Here is information about the four criteria which should be considered to provide a Friendship City partnership between these two Danvilles. 1. Attribute Match: Both communities honor the history of their area and their state. The California Danville prides itself on protecting heritage resources by establishing a Danville Heritage Commission and supporting its activities. It also supports the Museum of the San Ramon Valley and a Danville information center at the Museum. In addition, planning for Old Town Danville insists on height limits, traditional architecture and protection of historic buildings. Danville Kentucky was first settled in 1774 and pays tribute to its American history by having several museums, Kentucky’s oldest outdoor theater (Pioneer Playhouse) and multiple events honoring historical events. In addition, both Danvilles provide special access to some traditional forms of enjoyment: imbibing. Danville Ky. is a proud part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Danville CA is close to vineyards and tasting rooms for California wines in Livermore and Napa. In addition craft beers and beer fairs are prominent in the area. 2. Connection Match: The connection between these cities focuses on their mutual name. Daniel and Andrew Inman are recognized as the founders of Danville, California in the 1850s. One of the reasons the California Danville has this name is because the mother-in-law of founder Andrew Inman was raised near Danville, Kentucky. Daniel Inman owned the property where the first community busineses (hotel, blacksmith, wheelwright, general store) were established and the name also recognizes him. Andrew and Daniel Inman came to the Danville area in 1852 and Andrew ranched with his family while Daniel travelled back and forth from the mines. In January of 1898 the modest Dan Inman wrote an article in the Danville Sentinel newspaper which described how Danville was named. Here is the article. I reached Danville, or the site where it now stands, in June 1852. I spent the summer in the valley (Green) but returned to the mines in the fall. In the summer of 1853 I came into t he valley again and remained until 1857, when I returned to the mines. In March of the following year I came into the valley once more – this time for good – and purchased a farm, where Danville is now located, of a man named Pigmore. I went to farming and seeded the lands with wheat that winter. ATTACHMENT B In the summer of 1859 a man named Davis came along and wanted to start a blacksmith shop where the one now stands (Close’s) and I gave him permission to do so. He sold out that winter to Jim Johnson, now deceased. Johnson soon after sold to Simon Whitmore. Then a man named Long started a wheelwright shop. About the same time H.W. Harris started a hotel, and Wolff & Cohen a store. Then the people of the valley wanted a post office. Of course it had to have a name, and quite a number were suggested. At first they thought of calling it Inmanville, but my brother Andrew and I objected to that. Finally, Grandma Young, my brother’s mother-in-law, said, “Call it Danville,” and, as much or more out of respect for her, as she was born and raised near Danville, Kentucky, it took that name. 3. Resource Availability: The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, the San Ramon Valley Historical Society and the Danville Heritage Resource Commission have resources which feature the histor y of Danville, California. Activities such as Old Town Danville and Alamo Cemetery tours are available, the museum provides exhibits featuring the history and culture of the valley, and social activities from several groups can be provided to host representatives of Danville Kentucky. In addition, arts programs from the Town, the Museums at Blackhawk and the Eugene O’Neill National Historic Site would be of interest to visitors. Of course , not far away is one of the premier cities of the west, San Francisco. 4. Ethical Match: Both communities have a history of being stable with governments elected and services provided to their citizens. Danville, Kentucky is an older community, having been first settles in the 1770s while Danville, California, traces its beginnings to the decades after the California Gold Rush. Concluding paragraph. See next page for a historical summary. From Beverly Lane to Dan Dunn Oct. 22, 2021 Here is a short history of the Inman brothers, the Danville name and photographs of Josephine and Daniel Inman. The Inmans and Danville Danville was settled and named by Americans drawn here by the California Gold Rush. Two of these men were Daniel and Andrew Inman who bought acreage in the Green Valley area with their mining earnings in 1852. In 1858 Dan purchased 400 acres of property at the county road and San Ramon Creek and sold plots for a blacksmith, hotel, wheelwright and general store. Soon the business owners wanted a post office. Daniel and Josephine Inman What should the community be called? In a Danville Sentinel newspaper article years later Dan Inman wrote that quite a number of names were suggested. He and Andrew rejected “Inmanville.” According to the Dan the name was finally chosen out of respect for “Grandma” Sarah Young (Andrew’s mother-in-law) who had been raised near Danville, Kentucky. Of course it also recognized Inman, who later became an Alameda County Supervisor and State Assemblyman. B. L. Oct. 2021