Grover Beach reports 7% overall vacancy rate in 2024 under AB 2561; police and many bargaining-unit positions now filled

Assistant City Manager Chris Erickson presented the AB 2561-required public hearing on city vacancies for calendar year 2024 at the May 12 meeting.

Erickson reported that, of 75 budgeted full-time positions citywide, the city had five vacancies at the end of 2024 (a 7% overall vacancy rate). He broke that total down by bargaining unit: 21 SEIU budgeted positions had four vacancies at the end of 2024 (a 19% vacancy rate), although Erickson said the city had since reduced SEIU vacancies to one open position. The Police Officers Association (POA) had 23.5 budgeted positions and zero vacancies at year-end; Erickson said the POA remained fully staffed at the time of the meeting. Unrepresented staff totaled 30.5 FTEs with one vacancy for a 3% vacancy rate.

Rob Perry, an SEIU labor representative calling in, thanked the city for quarterly meetings between administration and the union; he said the meetings helped resolve staffing issues and praised the city for improving vacancy numbers. Josh Ruiz, representing the Grover Beach Police Officers Association, credited council and administration support and a recruitment package that had helped the police department fill vacancies; he reported the department expected its latest officer to graduate from the academy in June.

No action was required by the council following the public hearing.

Key figures presented: 75 total budgeted full-time positions; five total vacancies at the end of 2024; reported 93% annual retention rate for the city’s 2024 workforce.

The council and bargaining-unit representatives noted recruitment and retention work remains ongoing and that staffing will continue to be an organizational focus for the coming fiscal year.