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MIN CC 04/18/1991CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 18, 1991 BOOK "O" 366 MINUTES OF THE HUNTSVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 18TH DAY OF APRIL, 1991 IN THE CITY HALL Ca1NCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, COUNTY OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 4:00 P.M. The Council met in a regular session with the following members present: W. H. Hodges, Mayor William B. Green City officers present: 0. Eugene Barrett William H. Knotts, Jr. Gary Bell Ronald L. Lange James L. Carter Charles Robinson Gene Pipes, City Manager Ila G. Gaines Scott Bounds, City Attorney Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary FORMAL MEETING WELCOME OF OFFICIALS FROM SISTER CITY, NIIHARU VILLAGE, GUNMA PREFECTURE. JAPAN Mayor Hodges called the formal meeting to order. He noted on behalf of aLL the citizens of Huntsville, it is his pleasure to officially welcome the official delegation from Niiharu Village, Japan to the City, consisting of the Mayor of Niiharu Village, Kazuo Suzuki; Mr. Kiichiro Sato, Supervisor, Board of Education; Mr. Taichi Honda, City Staff member who is on the Board of Education and member of the Niiharu Village sister city committee; and Ms. Tame Takamiya, Niiharu Village staff member [City Secretary] and members of the Niiharu Village sister city committee; and Mr. Toshiro Nakamura, Deputy Director, 2nd Import Division, Central Procurement Office, Japan Defense Agency, Tokyo and advisor to Niiharu Village sister city committee [here on his fifth visit; primary instigator of the sister city program]. He said the Huntsville City Council joins him '.. in welcoming them to Huntsville. Mayor Hodges noted it is indeed an historic day in the life of the city. Niiharu Village, Japan will be Huntsville's first Sister -City, he said. He said the City feels it is extremely important for cities in the United States to form sister city relationships with cities throughout the world to promote "Peace through People." Mayor Hodges noted the City is committed to establishing a strong bond between the two communities through meaningful sharing and exchanges. Mr. Hodges said the City is delighted that they have chosen to visit Huntsville, Texas during the 4th Annual General Sam Houston Folk Festival, when the opportunity exists to showcase for them the full spectrum of Huntsville's rich heritage and to involve many more citizens in their visit. The festival allows the City to highlight for Huntsville citizens their culture, history, arts and crafts at the Sister City booth, the Mayor noted. He said the City is very excited about their visit to Huntsville and hope they will enjoy the activities that are planned for them. He then thanked them very much for coming. Mayor Hodges then asked the Council to join him at the lectern. He said three are three people who had a tremendous impact on making this day possible. He said former Mayor Jane Monday has been instrumental in making this day possible. He said Margi Carey and Col. Ed Smith are the co- chairs of the Sister City Committee, and without their help, none of this would have been possible. Mayor Hodges then introduced former Mayor Monday who then presented, on behalf of the citizens of Huntsville, the "Key to the City of Huntsville" to Mayor Kazou Suzuki and the people of his Village. She said it is presented with a great deal of affection and warmth for the City's new friends. Mayor Hodges then introduced Margi Carey, Co -Chair of the Sister Cities of Huntsville, Texas Association, who then presented the appreciation of the Co- Chair, Col. Ed Smith and members of the Sister Cities Association, through the gift of a Texas Flag. Mayor Hodges then introduced Col. Ed smith, Co -Chair of the Sister Cities of Huntsville, Texas Association, who then presented to each of the visiting dignitaries an Certificate signed by the Mayor designating them as "Honorary Citizens" of Huntsville. ' Welcome from County Judge. Frank Robinson County Judge Frank Robinson noted on behalf of all the citizens of Walker County, it is his pleasure to officially welcome them to the County. He said Walker County is proud to join with city officials on this historic day in the life of the city as it confirms its formal relationship with Niiharu Village, Japan as its I' '-first" Sister -City. He said the County shares the city's enthusiasm and dedication to this international 'I relationship and concurs with the Sister Cities motto: "Peace through People." The County commits its support i I CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 18, 1991 BOOK "g" 367 Judge Robinson said a friend of his always wanted to own a foreign car dealership. Just the other day he said, he informed him he will finally realize his wish as he will open a Chrysler dealership in downtown Tokyo. The Judge said Walker County was established in 1844 out of an area known as Montgomery County. The County is governed by a Commissioners Court of four Commissioners with the County Judge presiding over this court. Walker County, a rural farming community, has an economy based on education, state employment and Lumbering. He said the 1990 census for the county was 50,917, an increase of 21.8 percent since 1980. The Texas Almanac designates Livestock, hay, blueberries, and timber as principal sources of agricultural income for Walker County, the Judge noted. Judge Robinson said the headquarters for the Texas Department of CriminalI! Justice and four of its main units are located in Walker County. The County is very proud of Sam Houston State University which reported a fall 1990 enrollment of 12,750 aspiring students and a spring 1991 enrollment ofI, 11,643 students. Judge Robinson said "as we say in Walker County, Sam Houston State University is where people "go to Learn,- and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is where people 'Learn not to go. "' Sam Houston National Forest covers 53,461 acres of Walker County, he noted, and Huntsville State Park, located on the outskirts of Huntsville, attracted 478,000 visitors in the 1989 -90 season. The Sam Houston � Memorial Museum located within the City limits attracts tourist income, the Judge said and nearby Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe also provide recreational facilities for residents and visitors. As our guests travel about the county during their stay, he said, he hopes they will enjoy the beautiful spring flowers and lush green forests. He then welcomed them to take this opportunity to relax in this beautiful rural county setting and small a few flowers along the way. On behalf of the Commissioners Court and the citizens of Walker County, he asked them to please enjoy their stay and come often. Response Mayor Kazuo Suzuki then expressed his appreciation and formal address through his translator. He presented an appreciation certificate to Mayor Hodges which states: "You strived to implement the sister city relationship between Huntsville, State of Texas, USA, and Niiharu Village, Gunma Prefecture, Japan thereby attaining trust and friendship and recognition for your distinguished service. On behalf of Niiharu Village citizens, I hereby send sincere appreciation on signing ceremony of sister city relationship, April 18, 1991, Gummma Prefecture, Japan, Kazuo Suzuki, Niiharu Village Master." Mayor Suzuki then presented the following speech, translated by Mrs. Yoshiko Smith: 9 am Kazuo Suzuki, Mayor of Niiharu Village, Japan. It is my great pleasure and honor to visit the prosperous City of Huntsville and to meet Mayor Hodges and many dignitaries. The purpose of this trip is to finalize our perpetual sister city relationship. "As you know, Japan is a small country consisting of four main islands. Under these circumstances, Location and national characteristics, 1 feel we are not so international. So, 1 have been looking for a sister city with which we can promote our village's international interests. I decided it should be a city in the United States which influenced Japan greatly and brought Japan of today to be a democratic society. "Fortunately, one of my intimate friends, Mr. Toshiro Nakamura, who works for the Japan Defense Agency, introduced me to Colonel Smith in May of 1989. This was my first meeting with Col. Smith. I asked Col. Smith to find sister city for Niiharu Village. In June, 1990, Col. and Mrs. Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Moore visited our village and introduced us to the beautiful City of Huntsville. 1 asked them to match up our sister city relationship. Because of the dedicated work of Col. Smith and his wife, Yoshiko, Mr. and Mrs. Moore, former Mayor Jane Monday, and the understanding of many city officials, I received a letter from Mayor Monday ' agreeing upon establishing the sister city relationship. "1 formed the Niiharu ViLLage International Relations Committee, totaling 30 members. I explained the sister city program to the village officials. They voted unanimously to approve it. "According to Mayor Monday's letter, Margi Carey, Mayor W. H. Hodges, and many others worked hard to set up the sister city. I appreciate aLL of you. CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 18, 1991 BOOK "D" 368 I am impressed with the magnificent United States of America and the beautiful City of Huntsville. I al overwhelmed by your warm hospitality. "Let me introduce our Niiharu Village briefly. Niiharu Village is located in the middle of Japan. 111 takes one hour and ten minutes by New Toksido Line from Tokyo or two hours drive by car. Around the villags there are many well known resorts such as Nikko where 10,000,000 tourists visit each year. And there is Naebs International Ski Resort only 30 minutes away which has about 3,500,000 tourists a year. "The beautiful lake Akaya is in our village and there are several hotels and bed and breakfast placesi We have five hot springs with hotels. There are 5000 visitors a day in our village. The village owns ank manages two golf courses, Japan's biggest cycle sports center, a family ski resort, and a "Takumi -no- Sato" which is an area for traditional arts and crafts workshops. "The area of Niiharu Village is 182 square km but 80 percent of it is forest. Population is 8,300 which{ is a small village. People live 400 to 700 meters above sea level, but in the north Mt. Mikuni is 2000 mnter.4 high and has snow on it half of the year. About one -half of the village is devoted to agriculture; applh orchards and cattle business. Industry there is a construction machinery manufacturing factory which has 356 employees. "Basic to the village administration is to make the whole village neat and pretty just like a park, antj enhance our way of living through agriculture and tourism. The village's budget is 5.8 billion yej (842,300,000). "AS I mentioned, one of my slogans is to make village people international. We send 15 delegates for ten days to Europe in the past two years. I am thinking, if you permit, it will be wonderful to send these delegates to Huntsville and also wonderful to exchange home stay students. "I am very happy to establish sister city relations between Huntsville and Niiharu Village today. I strive to contribute peace and prosperity as well as people's well -being in two nations, Japan and USA, through Lasting friendship, exchange of culture, education, industry, sports, and so forth. "We are looking forward to seeing Mayor and Mrs. Hodges, all of Huntsville people in our village. I'. assure you that they will enjoy their stay there and learn different customs, culture, traditions and beautiful. nature. "To fellow Huntsvillians, especially the committee for the sister city program, I thank you very much and appreciate from the bottom of my heart everything you have done for us. I take this opportunity to pledge our lasting trust and friendship. Thank you very much." CONSIDER CONTRACT ESTABLISHING THE SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP Mayor Hodges thanked Mayor Suzuki for his comments. He then presented the agreement, which is reproduced below: AGREEMENT OF THE SISTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CM OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, USA AND NIIHARU VILLAGE, GUNHA PREFECTURE, JAPAN The City of Huntsville, Texas, USA and Niiharu Village, Gunma Prefecture, Japan hereby agree to enter into a "sister relationship" for the purpose of increasing the happiness of their peoples. Both the City and the Village hall pledge to actively implement their exchanges and other means based on friendship between their peoples thereby attaining peace and prosperity for their nations as well as for their City and Village and contributing to the furtherance of their peoples' well - being. ' Through the sister relationship, both the City and the Village shall be involved in cultural, educational, industrial, sports and other exchanges, and strive to deepen the mutual understanding and trust of each other so that lasting friendly relations will evolve in the years ahead. ri L CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 18, 1991 BOOK "G" 369 This _ agreement: _ NIIIHIRII VILLAGE GUNK PREFECTURE JAPAN Kazuo Suzuki, Mayor CITY OF HUITSVILLE STATE OF TEXAS LIMITED STATES OF AMERICA N. N. Hodges, Mayor Councilmember Ida Gaines made the motion to adopt this agreement on the sister relationship between the City of Huntsville. Texas. USA and Niiharu Village. Gurme Prefecture. Japan and Councilmember Bell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the nation passed unanimously. Both Mayors than affixed their signatures to two copies of this document in English and two copies of it in Japanese. Sister City Association Co- Chairmen, Col. Ed Smith, advised there is a group of fellow citizens waiting at City hall in Niiharu Village for the announcement of this momentous occasion to occur and as soon as the contract is signed, Mayor Suzuki wants to FAX a copy of the contract to City Hall to let that group know the treaty has been signed. Mayor Hodges then presented Mayor Suzuki with a walnut and brass plaque commemorating in engraving the key words of this agreement and the date signed. Mayor Hodges noted there will now be a photo session, followed by a reception where refreshments will be served, and then individual gifts will be presented by Councilmember Its Gaines from the City Council. RECEPTION ADJOURNMENT Respectfully submitted, Ruth DeShaw, City Secretary April 18, 1991