Coversheet

New Business and Commission Requests - R9 AG

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:	Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM:	Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE:	October 13, 2021

SUBJECT:	DISCUSSION ITEM TO TAKE ACTION REGARDING ADDING THE NEW FEDERAL HOLIDAY, JUNETEENTH, AS A PAID HOLIDAY TO BE OBSERVED ON JUNE 19 EACH YEAR FOR UNCLASSIFIED AND OTHER EMPLOYEES, AND EMPLOYEES WHOSE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WILL PROVIDE FOR THIS HOLIDAY, WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE BEGINNING IN FY 2022.

RECOMMENDATION

The Administration recommends that the Commission adopt Juneteenth Commemoration Day as an additional paid holiday effective June 19, 2022, for Unclassified and Other employees, and employees whose collective bargaining agreement will provide for this holiday.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

Juneteenth has long been an important holiday in the African American community, as a time for celebration and remembrance rather than mourning. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a bill to recognize Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the day enslaved Black people in Texas learned they were free. This occurred more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. According to the bill, federal government employees will have the day off every year on June 19th, or should the date fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they will get the Friday or Monday, respectfully, closest to the Saturday or Sunday on which the date falls.

ANALYSIS

The City currently recognizes ten (10) national holidays, three (3) floating holidays and one (1) birthday holiday each year:

· New Year’s Day – January 1

· Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday – 3^rd Thursday in January

· Presidents Day – 3^rd Monday in February

· Memorial Day – Last Monday in May

· Independence Day – July 4

· Labor Day – 1^st Monday in September

· Veterans Day – November 11

· Thanksgiving Day – 4^th Thursday in November

· Day after Thanksgiving – 4^th Friday in November

· Christmas Day – December 25

If the City were to add the Juneteenth holiday as an eleventh observed holiday for all employees, including those covered by collective bargaining, the financial impact to the FY2022 budget is estimated to be an additional $265,000, which includes essential employees who will not get the day off (e.g. police, fire, sanitation, etc.) and receive time and a half or double time for working the holiday.

While we do not anticipate any objection, any change to benefits for collective bargaining unit employees requires bargaining

SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA

The Human Resources Department has queried nine (9) local cities and counties in Florida to determine their handling of this new federal holiday. Below are the results of our survey

Municipality	Unclassified Employees	Bargaining Unit Employees
City of Fort Lauderdale	Not observed
City of Hialeah	Not observed
City of Miami	Added New Federal Holiday for Unclassified Employees
City of Miami Gardens	Added New Federal Holiday for Unclassified Employees
City of North Miami	Added New Federal Holiday for Unclassified Employees
City of North Miami Beach	Added New Federal Holiday for Unclassified Employees	Written consent was established with the bargaining units to observe and include Juneteenth as an annual holiday in future agreements.
City of Pompano	Added New Federal Holiday for Unclassified Employees	Pending Collective Bargaining for Classified Employees
Miami-Dade County	Added New Federal Holiday for Unclassified Employees	May be added per each Collective Bargaining Agreement

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Funding for the new Juneteenth holiday was adopted and approved at the final Budget hearing on September 30, 2021.

Applicable Area

Citywide

Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14?		Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
No		No

Strategic Connection

Non-Applicable

Legislative Tracking
Human Resources