CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Justin J. Martin, Assistant City Manager
DATE: March 19, 2024
SUBJECT:
anual on ay Che sure 22024, for city of rains a sary 2 and Regular City Council Meetings
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the holiday closure schedule for City office facilities and services during June 2024, July 2024 and December 2024; and,
2. Cancel the Regular City Council meetings scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2024, November 5, 2024, and January 7, 2025.
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 - 2023, 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, 2024 and January 1, 2025. The additional proposed closure dates in which City office facilities and services will be closed are Monday, December 23, Friday, December 27, Monday, December 30, Thursday, January 2, and Friday, January 3.
Additionally, City employees also receive July 4 as an observed holiday. July 4 falls on a Thursday in 2024. As such, staff proposes the additional closure date of Friday, July 5 for City office facilities and services as it is projected that business activity will again be minimal. It is also recommended to close City office facilities on Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19.
ANALYSIS
As has been done in past years, the proposed holiday closure schedule includes the closing of City office facilities and services from Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3. City offices would reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. Full-time employees would use accrued leave time for December 23/27/30 and/or January 2/3, or may elect to work with approval from their supervisor.
The table below illustrates the proposed December holiday closure schedule from Monday, December 23, 2024 - Friday, January 3, 2025:
Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday, Thursday,
3 December 23 December 24 December 25 December 26
Proposed Closure, Christmas Closure, Day after
Closure, Christmas Eve
Day Observance Christmas Observance
Closure Observance
Friday, Saturday, * Sunday, Monday.
December 27 December 28 December 29 December 30
Proposed Weekend Day Weekend Day Proposed
Closure City Facilities City Facilities Closure
Closed Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday, (Thursday, Friday,
December 31 January 1 January 2 January 3
Closure, New Year's Closure, New Year's Proposed Proposed Eve Observance Day Observance Closure Closure
Public safety services including Police and Fire Services will not be impacted by the proposed December 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.
Additionally, it is proposed to close City office facilities and services on Juneteenth (Wednesday, June 19), and on Friday, July 5. This proposal would allow full-time employees to also use accrued leave time, or they may elect to work with approval from their supervisor.
If approved, staff will coordinate with all departments to ensure effective communication with the public of the holiday closure schedules (June, 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 2, 2024, November 5, 2024, and January 7, 2025.
• July 2, 2024 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with past practice of cancelation of the first City Council meeting in July, which is scheduled during the week of the July 4 holiday.
• November 5, 2024 Meeting: This meeting is scheduled for election night, therefore warrants a cancellation.
• January 7, 2025 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.
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 June 2024, July 2024 and December 2024; and,
Cancel the Regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 2, 2024, November 5, 2024, and January 7, 2025.
Samar Shetousneau Audia, Martin
Tamara S. Letourneau Justin J. Martin'
City Manager Assistant City Manager