7.16.2026 Sister Cities Committee

The City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Sister Cities Committee met on July 21, 2026, to discuss updates and ongoing activities related to their sister city relationships. Key procurement-related topics included the establishment of a special revenue fund for sister city activities, with the first donor being the ferry service, and plans to enable online donations through the city website. The committee emphasized that expenditures from this fund require committee approval and city manager authorization. Additionally, they discussed the installation of donated art light fixtures from Santa Carlo, which will be incorporated into the Von Mall reconstruction project, with DPW responsible for installation infrastructure. The committee also considered outreach and relationship-building efforts with sister cities in Hungary, Halifax, and Portsmouth (UK), including potential visits and formal communications. Other discussions involved community engagement initiatives such as a virtual cherry blossom festival tied to the sister city relationship with Nishinan, Japan, and educational outreach about the history of the cherry trees. No formal votes on contracts or budget allocations were recorded, but motions were passed to approve minutes and to send a letter regarding the art light installation.