By Coral Gables Gazette staff

With over 20 consulates and foreign government offices located in Coral Gables, and as home to numerous international events, the City Beautiful has an enviable reputation in South Florida as a gateway to much of the rest of the world. At its July 20 meeting, the city’s International Affairs Coordinating Council (IACC) agreed to recommend that the city use those bona fides to create a new event bringing together the city’s six Sister Cities beginning next year to capitalize on its international appeal.

“There is a lot of interest in these types of events,” said council member Vicky Rua, who brought up the issue. Fellow council member Estrellita Sibila agreed.

“They love it here,” Sibila said, of the international partners located in the city, “We need to capitalize on that.”

Rua envisioned the event starting small in its initial year, although other members said they wanted to make it bigger and invite all the consulates and foreign governments that call the Gables home.

City staff cautioned against taking on such a large-scale event because of possible budget implications, especially since the Gables is – like every other government in Florida – staring at huge revenue declines if the November property tax referendum passes. Staff said that a smaller event made more sense initially, with a larger event planned for the future if warranted.

Council eyes Coral Gables Museum plaza for a scaled-back debut event

Several locations for the event were suggested with soon-to-be renovated Ponce Circle Park and the rooftop of the soon-to-be-built Mobility Hub mentioned, but eventually those venues – both of which are 2 years away at the best – discarded for the inaugural event. Instead, members agreed that the plaza in front of the Coral Gables Museum made sense because of its size and characteristics.

The council agreed that the event should take place in February 2027, with staff saying that should give it enough time to align partnerships with Sister Cities, consulates, and the like to help defray the cost of the event, organize performers, and help plan a successful event.

Despite the agreement about the merits of the event, the council did not take any official action, including not officially forwarding a recommendation for City Commission approval.

Council looking to recharge relationships with three Sister Cities

The council also received updates on several of Coral Gables’ Sister City relationships, with members reporting renewed momentum in partnerships with Cartagena, Colombia; Aix-en-Provence, France; and San Isidro, Argentina.

For Cartagena, members announced they had received a response from Mayor Dumek Turbay after Gables Mayor Vince Lago sent a June 4 letter reaffirming Coral Gables’ commitment to the longtime sister-city relationship.

Cartagena officials expressed interest in strengthening ties and designated staff to serve as points of contact. Council members agreed to arrange a virtual meeting to explore joint initiatives, including cultural exchanges, tourism promotion, artisan exhibitions and a possible Colombia-themed “Sip & Shop” event in partnership with the Colombian Consulate.

The council also discussed its support for Aix-en-Provence’s bid to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. Lago recently submitted letters endorsing the French city’s application, citing its commitment to arts, culture and international collaboration. Members said the two cities also hope to revive discussions about a student exchange program involving the University of Miami after an earlier effort stalled when a planned meeting during a French delegation’s visit had to be canceled.

Council members also said they would explore the possibility of sending a Coral Gables delegation to France for future sister-city events, emphasizing the importance of reciprocating international visits.

Meanwhile, the partnership with San Isidro continues to focus on collaboration in smart-city technology, urban forestry and cultural programming. Council members said they are working to schedule virtual meetings between city staff in Coral Gables and their Argentine counterparts. They also proposed developing an Argentine cultural festival in Coral Gables, modeled after other international events the city has hosted.

Mayoral participation key in relationships

Council members stressed that Coral Gables should try to increase Lago’s involvement in its sister-city program, saying mayor-to-mayor relationships are often key to keeping international partnerships active. They pointed to Lago’s recent letter to the Cartagena’s mayor as evidence of the potential impact.

The issue came up again as the council discussed future trips to sister cities, with members saying the Gables should do more than host visiting delegations and instead send its own officials abroad. They acknowledged that Lago’s schedule was busy and difficult to play around, even though he was supportive of international initiatives.

Members said having the mayor participate in sister-city visits sends a strong message of commitment and carries significant weight with foreign governments. The council agreed to look for opportunities for Lago to join future delegations, including the possibility of using his daughter’s studies abroad in Spain as a way to include Lago as part of a delegation.