10855-22 Making Juneteenth a City Holiday

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Bill No. 18-22 ORDINANCE NO. 10855-22 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ESTABLISHING JUNETEENTH DAY AS A DESIGNATED CITY HOLIDAY AND AMENDING CHAPTER 2,ARTICLE 8,SECTION 2-120 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE TO APPROPRIATELY INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DESIGNATED HOLIDAYS FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT On June17, 2021, President Joseph Biden signed a bill which formally created a federal holiday to celebrate the freedom of the enslaved people of America at the end of the Civil War. This holiday, known as Juneteenth Day, has been known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, and Jubilee Day. It commemorates the delivery by federal troops on June 19, 1865, of the news of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln over two years earlier, to the last of the enslaved people who were then in Galveston, Texas. In creating this federal holiday, President Biden noted that the end of slavery should be celebrated, but that Juneteenth Day should also be "a day of reflection and action." It is a day to remember, in President Biden's words, that: "We can't rest until the promise of equality is fulfilled for every one of us in every corner of this country." By recognizing Juneteenth Day as a designated holiday within the City of South Bend,officers and employees of the City can celebrate the end to the dehumanizing practice of slavery in the United States, while committing themselves anew to the eradication of prejudice and to principles of equality, equity, and freedom for every person throughout this city, State, and nation. It is fitting and appropriate that officers and employees of the City of South Bend observe Juneteenth Day as a paid holiday on June 19 of each calendar year. When June 19 falls on a Saturday as °it will in 2022, it should be observed the immediately preceding Friday,June 18. When it falls on a Sunday, it should be observed the Monday that immediately follows, Monday,June 20. Because this holiday will increase the City's existing designated holidays from nine (9) to ten (10), an amendment to the South Bend Municipal Code at Chapter 2,Article 8, Section 2-120 is required. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED AND DECREED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA as follows: SECTION I. Commencing on June 19 in calendar year 2022,Juneteenth Day shall be observed and established as a designated paid holiday for officers and employees of the City of South Bend. When June 19 falls on a Saturday as it will in 2022, it shall be observed the immediately preceding Friday, June 18. When it falls on a Sunday, it shall be observed the immediately following Monday,June 20. SECTION II. Chapter 2, Article 8, Section 2-121(a) of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be and hereby is amended to read in its entirety as follows: Sec. 2-120. Holidays. (a)Officers and employees shall receive ten 10 nine494 designated holidays as approved by the Board of Public Works and one (1) additional non-designated holiday which can be any day of the calendar year selected by each officer or employee. (b) In those years when New Year's Day falls on a Saturday the Board of Public Works shall substitute the preceding day as the destinated holiday, and such holiday shall be treated as if it fell in the same year as January 1 of the New Year for purposes of the ten (10) designated holidays of subsection (a).