CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Justin J. Martin, Assistant City Manager
DATE: March 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Annual Holiday Closure Schedule for City Office Facilities and Services and Cancellation of the July 1, 2025, September 2, 2025 and January 6, 2026 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 2025, November 2025 and December 2025; and,
2. Cancel the Regular City Council meetings scheduled for July 1, 2025, September 2, 2025 and January 6, 2026.
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 since 2016, 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 eight 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, 2025 and January 1, 2026. The additional proposed closure dates in which City office facilities and services will be closed are Monday, December 22, Tuesday, December 23, Monday, December 29, Tuesday, December 30, and Friday, January 2.
Additionally, City employees also receive November 11 (Veterans Day) as an observed holiday. November 11 falls on a Tuesday in 2025. As such, staff proposes the additional closure date of Monday, November 10 for City office facilities and services as it is projected that business activity will be minimal. Further, it is also recommended to close City office facilities on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19. Given this proposed Thursday closure, staff also proposes the additional closure date of Friday, June 20 for City office facilities and services as it is projected that business activity will 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 Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2. City offices would reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026. Full-time employees would use accrued leave time for December 22, 23, 29, 30 and/or January 2, or may elect to work with approval from their supervisor.
The table below illustrates the proposed December holiday closure schedule from Monday, December 22, 2025 - Friday, January 2, 2026:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
December 22 December 23 December 24 December 25
Proposed Proposed Closure, Christmas Closure, Christmas Day Closure Closure Eve Observance Observance
Friday, saturday, Sunday, Monday,
December 26 December 21 December 28 December 29
Closure, Day after Weekend Day Weekend Day Proposed
Christmas Observance City Facilities City Facilities Closure Closed Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
December 30 December 31 January 1 January 2
Proposed Closure, New Year's Closure, New Year's Proposed Closure Eve Observance Day Observance 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, as was forementioned, it is proposed to close City office facilities and services on Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19), Friday, June 20, and on Monday, November 10. 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, November, and December). Notice of the holiday schedule will be posted at all impacted facilities, as well as communicated via the City website and social media outlets.
Additionally, staff also recommends the cancellation of three regular City Council meetings:
July 1, 2025; September 2, 2025; and, January 6, 2026.
• July 1, 2025 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with past practice of cancellation of the first City Council meeting in July, which is scheduled during the week of the July 4 holiday.
• September 2, 2025 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with last year's cancellation of the regular City Council meeting, which fell the day after the City observed Labor Day holiday. In 2025, City employees receive Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day) as an observed holiday. • January 6, 2026 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with past City practice of the cancellation 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 2025, November 2025 and December 2025; and,
Cancel the Regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, 2025, September 2, 2025, and January 6, 2026.
Jamara Setoriseau get late
Tamara S. Letourneau Justin J. Martin
City Manager Assistant City Manager
Dorna Farhadi
Human Resources Manager