HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN 2022-03-28 Item 1A - Ordinance - Juneteenth HolidayTO:
FROM:
CC:
DATE:
City of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Finance and Governance Committee
Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator
Mayor Ekberg
March 7, 2022
SUBJECT: Adding Juneteenth to the List of Legal Holidays
ISSUE
On June 15, 2020 the City Council adopted Resolution 1992, commemorating Juneteenth of
each year as an annual celebration of African American emancipation. Since then, many
jurisdictions including the Federal and State governments, King County, City of Seattle and
other smaller jurisdictions in the State and around the country have added Juneteenth as a paid
holiday. Collectively, these jurisdictions have designated Juneteenth as a way to commemorate
the end of slavery in the United States and the profound impact of slavery and subsequent
emancipation on generations of Americans.
BACKGROUND
Current City paid holidays are codified in the Tukwila Municipal Code (TMC) 2.52.030, which
could be amended by ordinance. State law allows for local legislative bodies to determine local
holiday schedules pursuant to RCW 1.16.050(6) which states, in pertinent part:
(6) Nothing in this section may be construed to have the effect of adding or deleting the
number of paid holidays provided for in an agreement between employees and employers
of political subdivisions of the state or as established by ordinance or resolution of the
local government legislative authority.
DISCUSSION
Any changes to City paid holidays would need to be bargained with the City's labor partners. It
is unlikely that any labor group would agree to replace Juneteenth with another holiday. The
City conceded adding the Juneteenth holiday to the Commanders, Sergeants and United
Steelworkers contracts at their request during this past bargaining cycle.
In drafting the proposed ordinance, staff noticed that the TMC is not current with the number of
floating holidays provided to staff. The TMC indicates one floating holiday, but collective
bargaining agreements and years of past practice afford staff two floating holidays. It is unclear
why this change was not made when the second floating holiday was enacted, but staff
recommends making this change to the TMC now.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
While there is a financial impact associated with adding another paid holiday to the City's
offerings, it is difficult to determine the actual cost. There would be hard costs associated with
the Police (largely the Patrol division, with minor impact on Records) and Fire (Suppression
only) Departments as those departments collectively cannot take specific days off in the same
way as other City employees. In addition, there would be a small increase in standby pay for
Public Works staff. For the other unions there could be soft costs associated with the loss of
those hours, and that is variable across departments and individuals. Staff estimates the
financial cost to be under $100,000 per year.
1
INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee is being asked to approve the proposed ordinance and send the item for
discussion at the Committee of the Whole on Monday, April 11, 2022. Should the Council
agree, the item could be adopted at the April 18, 2022 Regular Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
Proposed ordinance adding Juneteenth to the list of City holidays
2
DRAFT
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1663 §1,
SUBPARAGRAPH A, "LEGAL HOLIDAYS," AS CODIFIED AT
TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.52.030.A, TO ADD THE
NINETEENTH OF JUNE, RECOGNIZED AS JUNETEENTH, TO THE
LIST OF LEGAL HOLIDAYS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY;
AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature recently passed House Bill 1016, effective
July 25, 2021, and codified as RCW §1.16.050(f), establishing the Nineteenth of June,
recognized as Juneteenth, or "Juneteenth Independence Day," as a state legal holiday. This
holiday memorializes when news of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil
War reached Galveston, Texas and all enslaved persons were freed; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the sentiments expressed in City of Tukwila Resolution No.
1992, passed June 15, 2020, Juneteenth celebrates African American emancipation, provides
an opportunity to celebrate freedom and liberty, and serves as a reminder of our collective
history and our responsibility to never stop advocating for, and working towards, true racial
equality; and
WHEREAS, to recognize this important day, the City Council desires to amend the
Tukwila Municipal Code to establish Juneteenth as a legal holiday for the City; and
WHEREAS, clarifying language regarding floating holidays is needed to align with current
City practice, policy, and agreements;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. TMC Section 2.52.030.A Amended. Ordinance No. 1663 §1, as codified at
Tukwila Municipal Code Section 2.52.030, subparagraph A, "Legal Holidays," is hereby
amended to read as follows:
A. Unless otherwise provided in applicable collective bargaining agreements, all
employees shall receive the following holidays off with 8 hours' compensation at their
regular straight -time hourly rate of pay:
CC: Legislative Development\Juneteenth as a Legal Holiday strike-thru 3-9-22
KS:bjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton
Page 1 of 2
3
New Year's Day January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 3rd Monday of January
President's Day 3rd Monday of February
Memorial Day Last Monday of May
Juneteenth June 19
Independence Day July 4
Labor Day 1st Monday of September
Veteran's Day November 11
Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday of November
Day after Thanksgiving Day Friday
Christmas Day December 25
One Two (2) Floating Holidays At employee's choice
Section 2. Corrections by City Clerk or Code Reviser Authorized. Upon approval
of the City Attorney, the City Clerk and the code reviser are authorized to make necessary
corrections to this ordinance, including the correction of clerical errors; references to other
local, state or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations; or ordinance numbering and
section/subsection numbering.
Section 3. Severability. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase of this ordinance or its application to any person or situation should be held to be
invalid or unconstitutional for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity
or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions
of this ordinance or its application to any other person or situation.
Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance or a summary thereof shall be published in
the official newspaper of the City and shall take effect and be in full force five days after
passage and publication as provided by law. Consistent with Washington State House Bill
1016, Juneteenth shall be first recognized as a City holiday on June 19, 2022.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at a
Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2022.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk Allan Ekberg, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Published:
Effective Date:
Ordinance Number:
Office of the City Attorney
CC: Legislative Development\Juneteenth as a Legal Holiday strike-thru 3-9-22
KS:bjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton
4
Page 2 of 2