Report to Mayor and City Council
Wednesday, June 08, 2022
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNETEENTH AS AN ANNUAL CITY OF CARSON RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation that established Juneteenth as a federal holiday after a measure doing so made it through Congress. Juneteenth, which is observed on June 19th, became the first new federal holiday since the addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Since that time many States and cities have added Juneteenth as an additional holiday.
This resolution, if adopted by the City Council, would declare Juneteenth as an annual City holiday beginning this year. This year, because June 19th falls on a Sunday, the holiday would be observed by the City for personnel purposes on Monday, June 20.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 22-120, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING JUNETEENTH AS AN ANNUAL CITY OF CARSON RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY BEGINNING IN 2022.”
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III. ALTERNATIVES
Take any action deemed necessary, subject to compliance with applicable law.
IV. BACKGROUND
On June 19, 1865, about two months after the Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia, a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform enslaved African-Americans of their freedom and that the Civil War had ended, putting into effect the Emancipation Proclamation issued more than two and a half years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln. Juneteenth Day is a holiday to celebrate freedom and to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation that established Juneteenth as a federal holiday after a measure doing so made it through Congress. Juneteenth, which is observed on June 19th, became the first new federal holiday since the addition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Since that time many States and cities have added Juneteenth as an additional holiday.
In California, AB 1655 was introduced in January of this year in the State Legislature to add Juneteenth as a public holiday for State employees. The bill is working its way through the legislature in this session after having passed out of the Assembly, and is currently pending in the State Senate. The most recent version of AB 1655 would require that cities recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday through a resolution. This provision had been maintained through the bill structuring and amendment process.
In the City of Carson, the following holidays are recognized as official City holidays, per the City’s Personnel Rules:
• January 1st (New Year’s Day)
• The third Monday in January (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• January 30th (Fred T. Korematsu Day)
• The third Monday in February (President’s Day)
• March 8th (International Women’s/Rosa Parks Day)
• March 31st (Cesar Chavez Day)
• The last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
• July 4th (Independence Day)
• The first Monday in September (Labor Day)
• October 25th (Larry Itliong Day)
• November 11th (Veteran’s Day)
• The fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day)
• December 25th (Christmas)
• Every day proclaimed by the President, Governor, or Mayor of this City as a public holiday
It should be noted that Juneteenth was not “proclaimed” as a holiday by President Biden via the action described above, and therefore is not observed by the City under the Personnel Rules. Nor is the City required to designate Juneteenth as a City holiday or grant a paid holiday for City employees for Juneteenth as a result of the adopted federal legislation making it a federal holiday or the pending state legislation. However, CMC 2402 allows the City Council to establish City holidays by resolution.
Regarding labor considerations for represented employees, the City will follow existing language in current Memoranda of Understanding with the City’s employee bargaining groups and will engage in any meet and confer obligations as necessary in accordance with the Meyers Milias Brown Act.
If this resolution is adopted by the City Council, consistent with other City holidays, City offices and facilities such as City Hall and Corporate Yard will be closed.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Juneteenth Day is a holiday to celebrate freedom and to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Resolution 22-120 (pgs. 4 - 6)
Prepared by: Robert Lennox, Assistant City Manager/Pierre N. Demian, Sr. HR Analyst