PSEM #1 Donation of Fire Trucks to Cuernavaca Motion by Cano

Cano moves to amend the resolution to read as follows:

Committing to fire truck donation in 2020 to the City of Cuernavaca, Mexico, a Sister City to the City of Minneapolis donate two fire trucks to Minneapolis’ Sister City of Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Whereas, according to the Minnesota Compass project, the Minnesota Latino population has grown from 54,000 in 1990 to 271,000 in 2013 and today, one in twenty Minnesota residents identify as Latino; and

Whereas, 40,000 Latinos call Minneapolis home with the Mexican community standing as the largest immigrant group in our state; and

Whereas, in the early 1990s, Mexican business owners, many of them from the state of Morelos, had a strong vision for Minneapolis and through dedicated investment and perseverance revitalized one of our city’s major commercial corridors known as Lake Street; and

Whereas, in 2008, the City of Minneapolis passed a resolution agreeing to enter into a Sister City relationship with Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico; and

Whereas, in April of 2019, the Mayor of Cuernavaca, Mr. Antonio Villalobos, made a formal request to the City of Minneapolis to seek a donation of two fire trucks for the City of Cuernavaca; and

Whereas, a donation of this kind is consistent with the City values of Equity, Safety, and Stewardship and the public purpose to which we all endeavor to uphold; and

Whereas, the financial implications of the donation are minimal to the City of Minneapolis and the benefits to the Cuernavaca, Mexico are profound; and

Whereas, this donation will help us to further affirm our connection and commitment with our Sister City Cuernavaca, Mexico and will allow them to address issues that are fundamental to the health and safety of their city; and

Whereas, the City of Minneapolis has supported similar donations to its Sister City of Eldoret, Kenya and Bosaso, Somalia; and

Whereas, the City of Minneapolis does not incur transportation costs, tariffs, taxes, or other fees associated with the delivery of these donations;

Now, Therefore, Be lt Resolved by The City Council of The City of Minneapolis:

That the City of Minneapolis intends to offer a fire truck donation in 2020 after standard city procedures for safe and efficient delivery are met.

Be lt Further Resolved that the City of Minneapolis shall not incur any transportation costs, tariffs, taxes, or other fees associated with the fire truck donation to the City of Cuernavaca, Mexico.

That the City of Minneapolis hereby donates two fire trucks to our Sister City of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico to support Mexican firefighters and strengthen their community’s vitality and resiliency.

Be lt Further Resolved that the City of Minneapolis will work in partnership with the Minneapolis- Cuernavaca Sister City Association, Meet Minneapolis, the City of Cuernavaca, and Fundación Comunidad to establish an efficient, safe, and successful delivery of the donation in the year 2020.