To:
CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
FROM:
Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Justin J. Martin, Assistant City Manager
March 3, 2026 DATE:
SUBJECT: Annual Holiday Closure Schedule for City Office Facilities and Services and Cancellation of the July 7, 2026, September 1, 2026, November 3, 2026 and January 5, 2027 Regular City Council Meetings
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the holiday closure schedule for City office facilities and services during April 2026, June 2026, November 2026, and December 2026; and,
2. Cancel the Regular City Council meetings scheduled for July 7, 2026, September 1, 2026, November 3, 2026, and January 5, 2027.
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 ten 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, 2026 and January 1, 2027. When one of these dates falls on a weekend day, the closest preceding day takes its place (December 23). The additional proposed closure dates in which City office facilities and services will be closed are Monday, December 21, Tuesday, December 22, Monday, December 28, Tuesday, December 29, and Wednesday, December 30.
Additionally, City employees receive Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 as observed holidays for Thanksgiving. As such, staff proposes an additional half-day closure (12:00 pm to 5:00 pm) on Wednesday, November 25 (Day Before Thanksgiving) for City office facilities and services as it is projected that business activity will be very minimal. Further, it is also recommended to close City office facilities on Good Friday, April 3 and Juneteenth, Friday, 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 21 through Friday, January 1. City offices would reopen on Monday, January 4, 2027. Full-time employees would use accrued leave time for December 21, 22, 28, 29, and 30, or may elect to work with approval from their supervisor.
The table below illustrates the proposed December holiday closure schedule from Monday, December 21, 2026 - Friday, January 1, 2027:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
December21 December 22 December23 December24
Proposed Proposed Closure, Day After Closure, Christmas Closure Closure Christmas Eve Observance
Observance
(December 26)
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday,
December25 December26 December27 December28
Closure, Christmas Day Weekend Day Weekend Day Proposed Observance City Facilities City Facilities Closure
Closed Closed
(Observed December 23)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
December29 December30 December31 Januaiv1
Proposed Proposed Closure, New Closure, New Year's
Closure Closure Year's Eve Day Observance
Observance
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 Good Friday (Friday, April 3), Juneteenth (Friday, June 19), and half-day (12:00 pm to 5:00 pm) the Day before Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 25. 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 (April, 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 four regular City Council meetings:
July 7, 2026; September 1, 2026; November 3, 2026; and, January 5, 2027.
• July 7, 2026 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with past practice of cancellation of the first regular City Council meeting in July. • September 1, 2026 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with last year's cancellation of the first regular City Council meeting in September.
• November 3, 2026 Meeting: The action to cancel this meeting is consistent with past practice of cancellation of the regular City Council meeting, which falls on Election Day.
• January 5, 2027 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:
1. Approve the holiday closure schedule for City office facilities and services during April 2026, June 2026, November 2026, and December 2026; and,
2. Cancel the Regular City Council meetings scheduled for July 7, 2026, September 1, 2026, November 3, 2026, and January 5, 2027.
� :i� Tamara S. Letourneau
City Manager
Dorna Farhadi
Human Resources Manager