Longmont Council to consider designating Juneteenth as official city government holiday
Nov. 27—Longmont would add Juneteenth to its annual set of official city-observed government holidays, under a proposal up for City Council discussion Tuesday night.
If enacted by the council at a future meeting, the city's designation of Juneteenth as a city holiday would mark Longmont's recognition of the holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who'd been enslaved in the United States.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to tell enslaved people that they were free.
Longmont's adoption of Juneteenth as an officially recognized city holiday would provide for the annual closing of most city government facilities on June 19 — or, as it might be celebrated next year since June 19, 2022 is on a Sunday — on June 20 in 2022, and add it to Longmont city employees' annual paid holidays days-off schedules.
Last June 14, then-Mayor Brian Bagley read a proclamation regarding the observance of Juneteenth and asked that the proclamation be placed on an upcoming agenda as a resolution for the City Council to consider, which it did, and adopted, last July 13.
That resolution stated that council members "recognize the historical significance of Juneteenth" and "support the continued celebration of Juneteenth to provide an opportunity for the people of the City of Longmont to learn more about the past, to better understand the experiences that have shaped the nation."
The council said in its July resolution that it encourages people in Longmont "to observe Juneteenth Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs" and that "as a governmental body, we oppose and reject any form of oppression, pledge to support our residents and local entities working to achieve equality, and protect human rights."
Joanne Zias, the city's chief human services officer, wrote the council in a memo for Tuesday night's discussion that Longmont currently recognizes 10 holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents' Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
Zeas wrote the council that the city staff is seeking direction on whether to incorporate Juneteenth as a recognized holiday in the employee benefits plan for city employees. Her memo said the holiday is being prioritized for possible incorporation due to the council's July resolution regarding annual celebration of the June 19 date.
If council agrees to move forward with the idea, staff would return, at a future meeting, with a proposed ordinance the council would have to formally approve to add the day to its current holidays list.
Longmont's staff is not proposing, as part of the city holidays list review, the addition of Columbus Day — or as some government jurisdictions have replaced it or renamed it or included it simultaneously — Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Zeas did note in her memo to the council that on Oct. 8, President Joe Biden declared that Oct. 11, 2021, would be recognized as Indigenous Peoples' Day, for the same day formally recognized as the federal holiday of Columbus Day. Neither Columbus Day nor Indigenous Peoples' Day is currently included in the City of Longmont holiday schedule.
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If you go:
What: Longmont City Council regular meeting
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Civic Center Council Chambers, 350 Kimbark St., Longmont
Agenda: tinyurl.com/4vzhxkax
