Suspension of Sister City Relationship with Pyatigork, Russia Copyrighted
August 1, 2022
City of Dubuque Action Items # 02.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Suspension of Sister City Relationship with Pyatigork, Russia
SUM MARY: City Council to discuss the Sister City Committee's recent suspension of
Dubuque's Sister City relationship with Pyatigorsk, Russia, and their
recommendation to remove all visual and digital presence of the Russian
city in Dubuque.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Council
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Travel Dubuque Media Release on Suspension of
Pyatigorsk Relationship Supporting Documentation
Park& Rec Facility Naming Policy Supporting Documentation
Fundraising and Naming Recognition Policy for Capital Supporting Documentation
Projects
TRAVE�
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 18, 2022
Sister City Committee Suspends Dubuque's
Relationship with Pyatigorsk Russia
DUBUQUE, IA I The Sister City Committee of Travel Dubuque recently voted to suspend Dubuque's Sister
City relationship with Pyatigorsk, Russia.
Across two meetings, the Committee discussed concerns shared by members of Dubuque's Ukrainian
community about Dubuque maintaining a relationship with Pyatigorsk as Russia wages war against
Ukraine.
The Committee defined suspension as indefinitely discontinuing all communication with Pyatigorsk and
recommending removal of any visual and digital presence the Russian city has in Dubuque. All historical
information will remain intact.
Committee Chairperson Kevin Firnstahl stated that the Sister Ciry Committee will recommend to the Ciry of
Dubuque that all tourism and park signage referencing the City of Pyatigorsk be removed, including any
exhibits, photographs, and webpage information. Dubuque has had a sister city relationship with
Pyatigorsk since 1989.
Dubuque's Sister City Committee is facilitated by Travel Dubuque through Sister Cities International and is
comprised of community volunteers, Travel Dubuque staff, and City representatives. Sister Cities
International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between
U.S. and international communities to increase global cooperation at the local level while promoting
sustainable development, youth involvement, cultural understanding, and humanitarian assistance. For
information about Sister Cities International visit www.sistercities.org.
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Contact:
Kevin Firnstahl, Sister City Committee Chairperson, dbqcc2020@gmail.com
Keith Rahe, Travel Dubuque President& CEO, krahe@traveldubuque.com
CITY OF DUBUQUE
PARK & RECREATION FACILITY NAMING POLICY
The City recognizes the importance of naming its parks and recreational facilities. The name of
a park, trail, recreational facility, or natural area carries context and meaning to members of the
community as well as providing a means of identifying and utilizing the City's many public spaces.
To that end, this policy provides a consistent, systematic approach to naming the City's parks,
trails, recreational facilities, and natural areas.
I. Guiding Principles
It is the City's right to reserve the naming or renaming of parks, trails, recreational facilities, or
natural areas to serve the best interests of the City and preserve a worthy and enduring legacy
for the City's parks and recreation system. Naming requests should generally fall within one
of the following broad categories:
a. Historic events, people, and places;
b. Individuals (living or non-living) or groups who have provided exceptional service
to the City of Dubuque's park system, recreation facilities or the City as a whole;
c. Major donations, including land or other contributions for the improvement and/or
expansion of the park or trails system.
d. Geographic location, such as naming in relationship to an adjacent street.
Naming/renaming is also meant to be a permanent act to minimize confusion, encourage a
thoughtful approach to naming, and to respect our City's history. Renaming current facilities
should only be undertaken when clearly warranted.
II. Procedures
These procedures are meant to ensure that naming is approached in a consistent manner.
a. Requests for naming or renaming of parks, trails, recreational facilities or natural
areas shall be submitted to the Leisure Services Manager in writing. The request
must contain at minimum the proposed name and reasons for the proposed name.
If the request is to replace a current name, the request must contain a justification
for renaming. In addition, requests should be accompanied by documentation
attesting to community support for the proposed name, including signed letters or
petitions.
b. Upon receipt of a request for naming or renaming, the Leisure Services Manager
shall evaluate whether the request complies with the guiding principles of this
policy, authenticate supporting documents, and prepare and forward the
information for the Commission's consideration.
c. The naming or renaming request should be presented to the Commission at a
public meeting within two months of receipt of the request by the Leisure Services
Manager. The Commission is responsible for developing their recommendation
concerning the request to be presented to the City Council.
Approved by City Council 12-3-18
d. The Commission will allow for public input and comment on naming or renaming
requests.
e. At a subsequent public meeting, the City Council may consider the
recommendation of the Commission and the Leisure Services Manager in reaching
a final decision concerning the request.
The City Council approved Fundraising and Naming Recognition Policy will be used with this
policy when and where applicable.
Approved by City Council 12-3-18
Fundraising and Naming Recognition Policy THECITYOF
For Major Capital Projects DUB E
on City Lands or Under City Jurisdiction
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The City recognizes the enormous value of direct community support. The purpose of
this policy is to fairly and equitably recognize the generous contributions of donors to
capital projects constructed by the city as well as non-profits and organizations on city
lands or under city jurisdiction. The intent is to insure that philanthropic traditions are
fostered, that donors are treated consistently and fairly and that the contributions are
recognized in ways that support the city and its values.
Each project will outline specific naming opportunities to the appropriate city department
staff for review. The naming opportunities and levels will be presented and approved by
the City Council. This policy serves as the parameters of fundraising and naming to be
used by the City as well as non-profits and organizations with major capital projects on
city lands and/or under city jurisdiction. Special requests not addressed in this policy
will be considered through the approval process.
Naming Levels and Naming Amenities
Naming levels and naming of amenities will be proposed by the non-profit or
organization working on a major capital project on city lands or under city jurisdiction.
The proposal will be reviewed and must be approved by the City Council.
Donor Recognition Area
If a project has a donor recognition area proposed for listing donations in one place at
the site, the design of the donor recognition area must be approved by the City Council.
The City commits to maintain the donor recognition area for the life of the recognition
area. At end of life the recognition area will be removed.
Naming Conventions
Names that are discriminatory or derogatory will not be considered. If a name is
determined to be inappropriate, incorrect or offensive a process to identify an alternate
name will be required.
Naming shall generally be by first and last name, business or non-profit name, unless
another form is specifically requested by the donor and approved by City Council.
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Naming Commitment
Each donor or donor representative must sign a letter of agreement that clearly defines
the terms and conditions of the donation. It will be signed by the donor and a city or
organization representative. Organizations would provide all signed agreements to the
City upon completion of the project. The agreement will outline the donation and length
of time for naming right.
Length of Time for Naming Right
Naming shall last for the life of the amenity, until such time that the amenity needs to be
replaced or reconstructed through normal wear and tear.
Process for Handling Name Change
The City at its sole discretion, upon request by the donor, may make a one-time change
to the name credited on a plaque or donor area provided there is a substantive reason
for the change and the donor pays all costs associated with the name change including
staff time. It is possible that the change may not be able to happen due to the donor
recognition design. The name change would need to be approved by the City Council.
Revoking Names in Certain Situations
In certain circumstances, the City reserves the right to revoke and terminate its
obligations regarding a naming with no financial responsibility for returning any received
contributions to the benefactor. These actions, and the circumstances that prompt
them, may apply to an approved naming that has not yet been acted upon or to a
conferred naming.
A. If the benefactor's or honoree's reputation changes substantially so that the
continued use of that name may compromise the public trust or otherwise be
contrary to the best interest of the City, the naming may be revoked. However,
caution must be taken when, with the passage of time, the standards and
achievements deemed to justify a naming action may change and observers of a
later age may deem those who have conferred a naming honor at an earlier age
to have erred. Naming should not be altered simply because later observers
would have made different judgements;
B. If the benefactor fails to maintain payments on a pledge upon with the naming
was bestowed, the name may be revoked;
C. If a planned gift upon which the naming was bestowed does not result in the
value agreed upon, the naming may be revoked.
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