04-25-2022 Common Council Meeting Minutes (Signed)

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING April 25, 2022 ordinance tonight, the next step is to present this to the board of Public Works, which will set the actual holiday with the intent to recognize Juneteenth as a city holiday. We will then follow up with Council with a resolution acknowledging the completion of the process and the hope is that this year Juneteenth will be recognized as an official holiday (this calendar year). Acknowledging the question that we got in committee about the potential budgetary impact of this ordinance and this charge and according to our estimates. Salaried workers there wouldn't be a finance component but a slight production impact. As far as the financial component, we're estimating the impact to be about fifteen to twenty thousand dollars ($15-20,000.00) which accounts for overtime and holiday pay. I will open to the council for questions. Councilmember Lee calls for Councilmembers' questions for the petitioner. Councilmember Hamann inquiries about paid holiday for full time holiday hourly workers. Kacey Gergely, responded for hourly workers, if work on holidays is given, they are paid for the holiday and then time and half. I will confirm that. Councilmember Hamann inquires if they don't work, it's paid regular time as a holiday. Kacey Gergely states I believe so. Councilmember Rachel Tomas -Morgan follows up with asking if this is a paid holiday; how many holidays does the county employees have. Kacey Gergely responds that county currently has fourteen (14) paid holidays where the city has nine (9) paid holidays and this request is to increase that to ten (10). Councilmember Lee opens the floor to public portion; Clerk Jones anyone speaking in favor in Bill No. 18-22. Clerk Jones responds Latorya Green is wishing to speak in favor of Bill No. 181822 making Juneteenth a holiday for city employees. Latorya Green, 1028 Ebeling Dr., South Bend, Indiana on behalf of the South Bend Chapter Indiana Black Expo and on behalf of our 80 plus members, we have celebrated Juneteenth annually for over twenty (20) plus years in the community. Celebrating not only the history of Juneteenth, but also the African American community. And so being able to have this holiday recognized on the federal level last year, it was truly an honor for us, especially to be able to get this final recognition. We are in favor of this being recognized as a holiday for city employees. One of the things that we did want to stress is that we encourage for it to not only be a day off, but a day on. To be able to volunteer in any local events that are taking place, something that we've had every year at LaSalle Park, but just a flow for it to be an opportunity for volunteerism. And like I said, not to have a day off, but actually a day on in the community. Clerk Jones responds with no one else expressing interest from the public. Councilmember Lee requests anyone in opposition of this bill. Public portion is now closed for Bill No. 18-22. Any Councilmembers wishing to speak? Councilmember White responds with supporting Ms. Latorya Greene comments and in support of Bill No. 18-22. This community for over twenty (20) plus years has had programs and activities for this holiday. I can recall all the work that to be done to recognize Dr. Martin Luther Kings Day as well. I would encourage all our citizens to partake in all the activities that will be held within our city. Time to recognize some past struggles but also time to recognize the progress that has been made. Councilmember Davis responds with I'm going to support but point to some inconsistencies. I never knew about Juneteenth. I went to the LaSalle Park and did not know of Juneteenth this is recent. I do want to point out that President Biden made this a federal holiday but there is a drawback that African Americans are still doing poorly in this country. African Americans have a high instance in every bad category that you can name. I want to point out what progress is and has been for us. Celebrating this being an official city holiday, the council passed a resolution for Indigenous People's Day, we still have seen that happen. We've seen reports back from the EPA about Becks Lake in that area being contaminated, but not as contaminated but still bad with a