Juneteenth Holiday Presentation

City of Chandler — Work Session (2022-07-11)

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Juneteenth 
Holiday
City Council Work Session
July 11, 2022

How Do We 
Celebrate 
Juneteenth 
in Chandler?
South Chandler Self-Help
has organized Black 
History Month and 
Juneteenth events in 
Chandler since the 1980’s.

Expanded 
Events in 
2020 & 2021
• Chandler4Change
o Caravan during COVID-19 
o Festival at Folley Park in 
2021
• City facilitated Culture 
Music in the Park event in 
AJ Chandler Park

• Mayor & City Council proclaimed the 
celebration of Juneteenth in Chandler at 
the June 6 City Council meeting
• Multiple partners collaborated to 
coordinate four days of celebration from 
June 16-19, 2022
• City employees provided opportunity to 
attend informational session regarding the 
history of Juneteenth
Juneteenth 2022 Activities

Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday  
On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth the 
eleventh American federal holiday. 
The Federal government’s authority to declare holidays extends only 
to federal employees and institutions under federal control. Other 
institutions may, but are not required to, observe federal holidays. 
The Chandler City Council retains the authority to determine 
observed holidays for the City of Chandler.

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• President’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran’s Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day 
• Personal Holiday 
Current City of Chandler 
Holidays

• Avondale
• Buckeye*
• Glendale
• Goodyear
• Phoenix
• Scottsdale
• Surprise
• Tempe
Current Valley Municipalities 
Observing Juneteenth as a City Holiday

Implementation Considerations  
• Changes to the City holiday schedule require a personnel rule change, 
approved by City Council resolution
• Can be added to Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) for labor 
associations outside of meet and confer cycle 
• Estimated financial impact of adding Juneteenth holiday is $222,000

1. Keep existing City holiday schedule (no change)
2. Designate Juneteenth as a City of Chandler holiday beginning in 2023
3. Add another personal holiday for employees to use at their discretion 
Options to Consider

Next Steps
• If directed by City Council to proceed with adding a new City holiday, 
resolution amending personnel rule would appear on August 18, 2022, 
regular meeting agenda
• Direction to City Manager on operational expectations for Juneteenth 
2023 (e.g. recreation centers, aquatic facilities, libraries, etc.).
• Cost of new holiday in FY 22-23 would be absorbed through salary 
savings or other operational efficiencies, and would be budgeted in 
future fiscal years.