Other/Miscellaneous Request Template (Appointments; ROW; Code Changes; Zoning Action, etc.)
Date Submitted: 5-9-2022
Requesting Agency: Mayor’s Office/Councilman Herndon
Division:
Subject Matter Expert Name: Skye Stuart
Email Address: Skye.Stuart@denvergov.org
Phone Number:
Item Title & Description:
(Do not delete the following instructions)
These appear on the Council meeting agenda. Initially, the requesting agency will enter a 2-3 sentence description. Upon bill filling, the City Attorney’s Office should enter the title above the description (the title should be in bold font).
Both the title and description must be entered between the red “title” and “body” below. Do not at any time delete the red “title” or “body” markers from this template.
title
A bill for an ordinance modifying Section 18-142 of the Revised Municipal Code of Denver by adding Juneteenth as a designated holiday beginning in the year 2023, and repealing Section 2-6, D.R.M.C., which established Juneteenth as a commemorative day of observance.
Amends Denver Revised Municipal Code Section 18-142 to formally designate June 19th (Juneteenth) as a legal holiday for the City & County of Denver beginning in 2023 and repeals Section 2-6 to remove the previous commemorative holiday designation. The Committee approved filing this ordinance by consent on 5-17-2022. The last regularly scheduled Council meeting within the 30-day review period is on 6-20-22. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 5-17-22.
body
Affected Council District(s) or citywide? Citywide
Executive Summary with Rationale and Impact:
Detailed description of the item and why we are doing it. This can be a separate attachment.
This proposed addition to the DRMC would recognize Juneteenth (June 19th) as an official city holiday/paid holiday for city employees, beginning in 2023. In 2021, Mayor Hancock and CM Herndon advanced a bill designating the Saturday closest to June 19th as a “commemorative” holiday for the City of Denver. Following that action, the Federal government and the State of Colorado have moved to make Juneteenth a formal holiday, as have several peer cities and neighboring jurisdictions. As required by Charter, Office of Human Resources determined the “generally prevailing” practice around city holidays through a survey and have recommended the addition of this holiday. This bill adds Juneteenth to the current list of city holidays, making this the 12th paid holiday. The bill also repeals the designation of Juneteenth as a commemorative holiday to make clear the holiday is now formal.
Juneteenth recognizes the end of slavery in the United States and has been celebrated in Denver since 1953, where the first events were held in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood.
Address/Location (if applicable):
Legal Description (if applicable):
Denver Revised Municipal Code (D.R.M.C.) Citation (if applicable): Denver Revised Municipal Code Section 18-142
Draft Bill Attached?