CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Justin J. Martin, Deputy City Manager
DATE: April 18, 2023
SUBJECT: Annual Holiday Closure Schedule for City Office Facilities and Services and Cancellation of the July 4, 2023, October 3, 2023, and January 2, 2024 Regular City Council Meetings
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the holiday closure schedule for City office facilities and services during July 2023 and December 2023; and,
2. Cancel the Regular City Council meetings scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, 2023, October 3, 2023, and January 2, 2024.
BACKGROUND
Historically, during the time period between the Christmas and New Year's Day holidays, City business activity is minimal. For this reason, every year from 2016 - 2022, the City of Laguna Niguel has closed its office facilities for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. No complaints have been received from the public regarding the closures since the City started this program over seven years ago. Further, many of the surrounding municipalities also close their City facilities during this same period of time.
During the holiday season, the City's Memorandum of Understanding with its bargaining units provides the following days off for City employees: December 24, 25, 26 and 31, 2023 and January 1, 2024. Due to the fact, that December 24 and 31 fall on Sundays, the next day shall be observed. With that, December 27 and January 2, 2024 shall be observed as holidays. The additional proposed closure dates in which City office facilities and services will be closed are Thursday, December 28 and Friday, December 29.
Additionally, City employees also receive July 4 as an observed holiday. July 4 falls on a Tuesday in 2023. As such, staff proposes the additional closure date of Monday, July 3 for City office facilities and services as it is projected that business activity will again be minimal.
ANALYSIS
As has been done in past years, the proposed holiday closure schedule includes the closing of City office facilities and services from Saturday, December 23 through Tuesday, January 2. City offices would reopen on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Full-time employees would use accrued leave time for December 28 and/or December 29, or may elect to work with approval from their supervisor.
The table below illustrates the proposed holiday closure schedule from Saturday, December 23, 2023 - Tuesday, January 2, 2024:
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
December 23 December 24 December 25 December 26
Weekend Day Weekend Day Closure, Christmas Closure, Day after City Facilities City Facilities Day Observance Christmas Observance Closed Closed
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,
December 27* December 28 December 29 December 30
Closure, Christmas Eve Proposed Proposed Weekend Day
Observance Closure Closure City Facilities
(for Sun. Dec 24) Closed
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
December 31 January 1 January 2** January 3
Weekend Day Closure, New Year's Closure, New Year's City Offices Reopen City Facilities Day Observance Eve Observance
Closed (for Sun. Dec 31)
*Per MOU, Wednesday, December 27 closure date is the next closure date for the regularly observed Christmas Eve holiday (Sunday, December 24).
**Per MOU, Tuesday, January 2 closure date is the next closure date for the regularly observed New Year's Eve holiday (Sunday, December 31).
Additionally, the proposal to close City office facilities and services for Monday, July 3 would allow full-time employees to also use accrued leave time, or they may elect to work with approval from their supervisor.
Public safety services including Police and Fire Services will not be impacted by the proposed holiday closures. Further, other essential City services would continue as needed for vital health/safety issues, such as building inspections and the Meals on Wheels program.
If approved, staff will coordinate with all departments to ensure effective communication with the public of the holiday closure schedules (July and December). Notice of the holiday schedule will be posted at all impacted facilities, as well as communicated via the City website and all social media outlets.
Additionally, staff also recommends the cancellation of three regular City Council meetings, July 4, 2023, October 3, 2023, and January 2, 2024.
• July 4, 2023 Meeting: July 4, 2023 will be an observed holiday based upon the City's Memorandum of Understanding.
• October 3, 2023 Meeting: Both the City Manager and Deputy City Manager are scheduling to attend the International City/County Management Association Conference (Sept. 30 - Oct. 4).
• January 2, 2024 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with past City practice of the cancelation of the first Regular City Council meeting of the year occurring after the holiday closure. January 2, 2024 will also be an observed employee holiday based upon the City's Memorandum of Understanding.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The City Council may provide staff with varying dates for a potential holiday closure service schedule.
FISCAL REVIEW
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this action, as employees will use their accrued leave time for the additional closure days.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
Approve the holiday closure schedule for City office facilities and services during July 2023 and December 2023; and,
Cancel the Regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 4, 2023, October 3, 2023, and January 2, 2024.
Jamara SEtonsseau Quatin Nate
Tamara S. Letourneau Justin J. Martin
City Manager Deputy City Manager
Dunni
Dorna Farhadi
Human Resources Manager