At the urging of Utah's 50,000-plus strong Italian community, the Salt Lake City Council cemented a sister city relationship with Torino, which will be announced during the 2006 Winter Olympics in the alpine town.
The relationship comes after a friendship city agreement between the cities for the past two years; the cities have been Olympic sister cities, as well. Additionally, Salt Lake County shares a sister county relationship with Torino's provincial government.
"It's going to be a great relationship for many, many years," Councilman Van Turner said Tuesday. "It's great to hear the stories of families over there in Italy — how they have family there and family here."
Salt Lake City has sister cities in Ukraine, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, Bolivia and Ireland.
Salt Lake City hosts sister city officials in tours and parties for the city; it also provides welcome and introductory letters and resolutions to recognize events important to the Utah community from the sister city.
The city does not arrange host families, special events or transportation for visitors, and the city does not pay for employees to visit sister cities unless the City Council approves.
Nancy Saxton, a council member who lives in a house formerly occupied by the Italian consulate, said Italian-American influence was pivotal to Utah.
As for her house, "It doesn't still smell like spaghetti sauce, but I wish it did," Saxton said.
E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com