Staff Report. Juneteenth Holiday
PREPARED BY: Bridgette Falconio
Administrative Technician
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/01/2022 ITEM NO: 7
DATE: October 19, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Introduce an Ordinance, By Title Only, to Amend Town Code Section
1.10.075, “Official Town Holidays – Designated; Exceptions,” to Add the
Juneteenth Holiday
RECOMMENDATION:
Introduce an ordinance, by title only, to amend Town Code section 1.10.075, “Official Town
Holidays – Designated; Exceptions,” to add the Juneteenth Holiday.
BACKGROUND:
On June 16, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by the Senate and House to officially
recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
This additional holiday was agreed to in the Town’s 2022 labor negotiations with its bargaining
units and the July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) contain this
holiday.
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring
the slaves in Confederate territory free, paving the way for the passing of the 13th Amendment
which formally ended slavery in the United States. The communication of the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation was delayed by two and a half years, to June 19, 1865, in reaching
authorities and Black/African American people in the South and Southwestern United States.
June 19th is called "Juneteenth" combining the words June and nineteenth and has been
celebrated by the Black/African American community for over 150 years.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Adding Juneteenth Holiday DATE: October 19, 2022
CONCLUSION:
In recognition of Juneteenth, staff is recommending that the Town Council introduce a
proposed amendment to Section 1.10.075, “Official Town Holidays – Designated; Exceptions,”
of the Town Code to add Juneteenth to the list of the Town’s observed holidays. If introduced
by the Town Council, this proposed ordinance will return to the Town Council for adoption at a
subsequent meeting and will take effect 30 days after adoption.
COORDINATION:
The Town Attorney’s Office and Town Manager’s Office coordinated this report.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This agenda item will add one new paid holiday to the Town’s official holiday calendar.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Draft Ordinance