HomeMy WebLinkAbout18 - City Hall and Limited Off-Site Holiday Closure (Beginning Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026)Q �EwPpRT
CITY OF
s NEWPORT BEACH
`q44:09 City Council Staff Report
September 9, 2025
Agenda Item No. 18
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Grace K. Leung, City Manager - 949-644-3001,
gleung@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Tara Finnigan, Assistant City Manager - 949-644-3035,
tinnigan@newportbeachca.gov
TITLE: City Hall and Limited Off -Site Holiday Closure (Beginning
Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026)
ABSTRACT:
The City Manager's Office seeks City Council approval for the closure of City Hall and
certain City of Newport Beach facilities from Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through
Sunday, January 4, 2026. The proposed closure would not apply to public safety services
or emergency, on -call functions.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because
this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly;
and
b) Approve closing City Hall and providing limited services at certain off -site facilities from
Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The City Manager's Office proposes a holiday closure of City Hall and certain City facilities
and services from Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
All facilities and services would be open on Monday, January 5, 2026.
For the last 16 years, the City has closed certain administrative offices and programs
during this period in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. The only
exception was in 2012, when City Hall was moved to its current location. If approved,
during the closure essential services will continue to be provided to meet the community's
needs and certain departments and divisions will remain open including police, fire,
lifeguard, utilities, harbor, facilities maintenance, information technology and library
services. There will be no impact to first responder services.
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City Hall and Limited Off -Site Holiday Closure
(Beginning Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026)
September 9, 2025
Page 2
There are certain benefits to closing City Hall between Christmas and the New Year.
Historically, service demands have been low during this time period. Additionally, the City
realizes cost savings in the form of reduced utilities and fuel use and lower employer -paid
leave liability in the event employees are required to use personal leave time for a portion
of the closure. Further, the proposed closure provides an opportunity to perform annual
facility maintenance and repairs to City Hall without noise and disruption. If the closure is
approved, it is anticipated that there will be interior and exterior painting, carpet cleaning,
and replacement of fluorescent light bulbs.
Under the proposed closure, City Hall and other City facilities will be closed:
• Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026.
If the proposed closure is not approved, City Hall and other facilities will be closed in
observance of the holidays as follows:
• Wednesday, December 24, 2025 (full day closure in observance of Christmas Eve)
• Thursday, December 25, 2025 (full day closure in observance of Christmas Day)
• Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (full day closure in observance of New Year's
Eve)
• Thursday, January 1, 2026 (full day closure in observance of New Year's Day)
A list of each department's proposed hours of operation is attached (Attachment A).
Appropriate security and accountability measures will be in place for employees serving
in positions requiring them to work during the proposed closure.
The City's bargaining unit representatives agree with the proposed closure. It is
understood that employees may be required to use their own leave time for the days not
covered by paid holiday leave.
If approved by the City Council, communication regarding the holiday closure will be
coordinated by the City Manager's Office and the City Clerk's Office. The community will
receive notice of the closure through signage at impacted facilities, press releases,
social media channels, and the City's website.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The reduced operating hours over the entire holiday period will save utilities and fuel use
and may lower the City's liability for accrued employee leave time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15060(c)( 2) (the activity will not
result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment)
and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA
Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no
potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
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City Hall and Limited Off -Site Holiday Closure
(Beginning Wednesday, December 24, 2025, through Sunday, January 4, 2026)
September 9, 2025
Page 3
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Proposed Hours of Operation for City Facilities
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ATTACHMENT A
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH HOLIDAY CLOSURE 2025-26
Hours of Operation for the Civic Center and City Facilities
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Department
Hours of Operation During Closure
City Manager's Office
Closed to the public (IT will be operating normal business hours)
City Attorney's Office
Closed to the public
City Clerk's Office
Closed to the public
Community Development
Closed to the public (inspections and code enforcement on a limited basis)
Finance
Closed to the public
Open: All fire services and command staff
Fire
Closed: Administrative office
Limited Hours: 8 a.m. — noon, December 24 and December 31, 2025
Harbor
Open: Regular operating hours, December 26 - 30, 2025; January 2 - 4, 2026
Closed: December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026 (assigned staff on standby)
Human Resources
Closed to the public (risk management on -call)
Library Services
See next page
Police
Open: All police services
Public Works
Civic Center Location
Closed to the public (certain field inspectors available)
Corporate Yard Location
Limited Hours: 7 — 11 a.m., December 24 and December 31, 2025
Open: Regular operating hours, December 26 - 30, 2025; January 2, 2026
Closed: December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026 (assigned staff on standby)
OASIS Fitness Center, Marine Naturalist Interpreters, Youth Winter Camp Staff and
Recreation &
Park Patrol
Limited Hours: Misc.
Senior Services
Administrative Offices
Closed to the public
Limited Hours: 7 — 11 a.m., December 24 and December 31, 2025
Utilities
Open: Regular operating hours, December 26 - 30, 2025; January 2, 2026
Closed: December 25, 2025 and January 1, 2026 (assigned staff on standby)
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Updated July 31, 2025
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH HOLIDAY CLOSURE 2025-26
Hours of Operation for the Newport Beach Library Locations
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 through Sunday, January 4, 2026
Day
Date
Central
Library
Mariners
Branch Library
Balboa
Branch Library
Corona Del Mar
Branch Library
Wednesday
December 24
9 a.m. —1 p.m.
9 a.m. —1 p.m.
9 a.m. —1 p.m.
9 a.m. —1 p.m.
Thursday
December 25
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Friday
December 26
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday
December 27
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday
December 28
12 p.m. — 5 p.m.
12 p.m. — 5 p.m.
Closed
Closed
Monday
December 29
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Tuesday
December 30
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Wednesday
December 31
9 a.m. —1 p.m.
9 a.m. —1 p.m.
9 a.m. — 1 p.m.
9 a.m. — 1 p.m.
Thursday
January 1
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Friday
January 2
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Saturday
January 3
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
9 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday
January 4
12 p.m. — 5 p.m.
12 p.m. — 5 p.m.
Closed
Closed
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Updated July 31, 2025