5. Memo - Discussion and Consideration of Adoption of Juneteenth as a City HolidayPage 1 of 1
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N., Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433-2274 | Fax (651) 433-5112 | www.cityofscandia.com
DATE: Wednesday, June 1, 2022
FROM: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
RE: Discussion and Consideration of Adoption of Juneteenth as a City Holiday
In June 2021, the Federal Government officially adopted Juneteenth National Independence Day, as a federal
holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Specifically, the holiday commemorates June 19,
1865 when US Army Major Gen. Gordon Granger rode into the City of Galveston, Texas to inform enslaved
peoples of their emancipation as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation signed on January 1, 1863. Although
the holiday was observed informally for the years that followed, it was only officially recognized in 1980 by the
State of Texas.
Although not officially adopted by the State of Minnesota by Statute, Governor Walz has issued a Proclamation
officially recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday closing public offices. Other municipal agencies have also elected to
adopt this day including Washington County, the City of Stillwater, and other metro area cities.
The current officially observed holidays in the City Personnel Manual and Collective Bargaining Agreements reflect
the following officially 12 observed city holidays:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Third Monday in January)
President’s Day (Third Monday in February)
Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (First Monday in September)
Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
Veteran’s Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
Friday after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve (December 24)
Christmas Day (December 25)
(When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be the “observed” holiday and when a holiday
falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday will be the “observed” holiday for City operations/facilities that are closed
on holidays.
Paid holiday leave is only paid to regular full-time employees who receive regularly scheduled hours of 30 or more
hours. Full-time employees who are regularly scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week receive prorated pay.
Compensating employees for city-observed holidays is left to the individual city’s discretion. Some cities have
opted to swap existing holidays, such as Columbus Day, or add it as an additional paid holiday. A draft resolution
has been included in the meeting packet that can be amended accordingly. Changes to the Collective Bargaining
Agreement will require a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Never-the-less, it will be important that
adopted holidays of union and non-union employees remain the same to maintain consistent staffing of the Public
Works Department.
Please let me know if you have any questions.