NUMB
990612
VERS:
SUBSTITUTE 1
REF
XXBY
ALD. HENNINGSEN
TITL
Substitute resolution establishing a sister city relationship between Milwaukee and Athlone, Ireland.
ANLS
- Analysis -
This resolution establishes a sister city relationship between Milwaukee and Athlone, Ireland.
BODY
Whereas, Athlone, Ireland, is a town of 20,000 located in the central region of Ireland; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee has a long history of citizens of Irish descent beginning in 1847 when there were 2,000 of them in the City; and
Whereas, Many of these Irish citizens became involved in politics and local business, notably Cornelius Corcoran, who served for more than 40 years on the Common Council; and
Whereas, According to the 1990 U.S. census, 8.4% of the City population is of Irish ancestry; and
Whereas, Irish Fest is a major ethnic festival in Milwaukee with a record-setting high of 120,000 attendees in 1999; and
Whereas, At least 45% of these attendees are from outside of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, A sister city relationship between Athlone and Milwaukee may lead to increased tourism from Ireland and Irish-Americans in the United States who currently do not visit Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee is committed to a sister city program that enhances global understanding, encourages mutual education, and develops cultural exchanges; and
Whereas, The Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 881299 on November 1, 1988, which increased the number of sister city relationships that the City may enter into within a 2-year period to 2; and
Whereas, The 2 most recent sister-city relationships were created in 1997; and
Whereas, The City currently has 6 sister-city relationships and is permitted to have a maximum of 10 relationships as set by in Resolution File Number 881299 adopted on November 1, 1988; and
Whereas, The Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 871178 on May 17, 1988, which established criteria for the selection of sister cities; and
Whereas, Representatives of the Irish-American community in Milwaukee have expressed their desire to develop a sister city relationship between Milwaukee and Athlone; and
Whereas, There is evidence of strong local community support for this prospective sister city relationship in order to assure a strong financial base and interest in exchanges; and
Whereas, Commercial ties exist between the citizens of Athlone, Ireland and Milwaukee; and
Whereas, There will be consultation and communication between the 2 cities during the process of establishing a sister city relationship; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the establishment of a sister city relationship between the City of Milwaukee and the Town of Athlone, Ireland is authorized; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Mayor of the City of Milwaukee is requested to invite the Town of Athlone, Ireland to join with the City of Milwaukee in establishing a sister city relationship; and, be it
Further Resolved, The City of Milwaukee commits itself to pursuing increased understanding and cooperation between the 2 governments.
ZDPT:
DFTR:
99264-1
lme
9/13/99