A. 
All cities chosen to affiliate with the city of Richland as sister cities must be located in countries that have established diplomatic relations with the United States.
B. 
Preference shall be given to a city requesting a sister city relationship with the city of Richland where such city has no other sister city in the United States.
C. 
The city of Richland and the proposed sister city shall be of similar size and role, either absolutely or in relation to their regions.
D. 
The city of Richland shall have cultural, educational, economic, governmental or social interests in common with the proposed sister city.
(Ord. 8-92)
In recognition of the people-to-people philosophy underlying the sister city program, the city of Richland shall establish no sister city without the following criteria being met:
A. 
There exists in the Richland community substantial, long-term, broad-based interest in establishing the relationship; interest that transcends transitory, political or social concerns which reflects on-going community involvement with the sister city's region or people.
B. 
An organization, acting as a nonprofit entity under Washington laws, will be prepared to undertake the financial and staffing requirements necessary to properly administer such a relationship.
C. 
The organization will present a plan of action for the first year of such a relationship that demonstrates, whether through volunteer or professional time commitment, the ability to respond in a timely fashion to overtures from the sister city, to work with the council and with other community organizations in furthering the relationship, and to represent the city of Richland with thorough-going competence and integrity.
D. 
The organization will demonstrate a financial capability sufficient to fully fund its operations and the various visits, receptions, delegations, and other similar functions such a relationship entails, without financial contribution from the city. Financial capability need not mean exclusively cash-in-hand, but may include commitments to contribute material, services or time.
E. 
Every year each organization shall submit a summary of programs held, successes, shortcomings, and a plan of action for the next year to the council.
F. 
Failure to meet requirements of independent funding and citizen involvement may result in the revocation of sister city status by the city council.
(Ord. 8-92)
The council shall designate the city manager as the staff liaison officer with responsibility over sister city programs. The officer shall handle communications between the council and city staff and such sister cities as are or may be established, liaison responsibilities between the council and the committee required by RMC § 2.60.020, staff support (as defined by the council to the committees), and such other duties as the council may assign.
(Ord. 8-92)
Existing sister city relationships shall continue in force and need not pass through the initial approvals process hereby set forth. Following a one-year implementation period, sister city relationships in existence at the time of passage of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be subject to all other requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 8-92)