3.7 Establishing Juneteenth as a City Holiday
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Administration Assistant City Administrator/Human Resources Hille June 12, 2023
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty 3.7 - Juneteenth
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative
communication.
Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and
expectations in a cost-effective manner.
X Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution establishing Juneteenth as a City holiday.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Juneteenth is to recognize the date on which slavery was abolished in the United States. Juneteenth has
recently been adopted at the state and federal level to be observed as a holiday.
The City follows Minnesota Statute §645.44 for observed holidays. State statute defines public business to
not be conducted on state holidays. The State of Minnesota recently passed Juneteenth as a state holiday,
which was set to go into effect August 1, 2023. On May 26th, a new law made provisions to have the
effective date to make the new holiday effective before June 19th of this year, and specifies the holiday to
be observed in 2023.
The Planning Commission meeting was cancelled to observe the holiday, and no other public business will
be conducted except for emergency services. City offices will be closed, and City staff will observe
Juneteenth as defined in Section 6-2 of the Personnel Policy. Staff will bring Personnel Policy amendments
to Section 6-2 to add Juneteenth as an observed holiday at a later date.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Resolution 2023-39
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to adopt Resolution 2023-39 establishing Juneteenth as a City holiday.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
N/A
N/A
CITY OF OTSEGO
COUNTY OF WRIGHT
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO: 2023-39
ESTABLISHING JUNETEENTH AS A CITY HOLIDAY
WHEREAS, Juneteenth has been recognized as a new federal holiday celebrating freedom from slavery
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota outlines holidays in State Statute; and effective for 2023, Minnesota
has officially recognized Juneteenth as a holiday; and
WHEREAS, the City of Otsego will also establish Juneteenth as a City holiday to commemorate the end
of slavery in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the date and rules of observance of Juneteenth shall be as specified in Minnesota Statute
§645.44; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OTSEGO, MINNESOTA:
1. That the City establishes Juneteenth (June 19) as a City Holiday with the closure of City offices.
2. That policy changes to Section 6-2 of the City’s Personnel Policy will be amended to reflect the
establishment of the Juneteenth holiday.
ADOPTED by the Otsego City Council this 12th day of June, 2023.
MOTION BY:
SECONDED BY:
IN FAVOR:
OPPOSED:
CITY OF OTSEGO
__________________________________
Jessica L. Stockamp, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Audra Etzel, City Clerk