Committee reviews transfer portal, staffing numbers as layoff process moves forward

Committee Chair and city staff spent the meeting outlining how a citywide transfer process will be used to reduce potential layoffs and match employees to vacant positions across departments.

City officials said the transfer portal will identify vacant, funded positions and allow employees who may be affected by potential eliminations to apply or state their transfer preferences. That process, staff said, is intended to limit the number of layoffs by reassigning affected employees where feasible.

The agenda item drew detailed technical discussion from personnel, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and departmental representatives about which classifications can be filled via transfer and which are "unique" positions that require recruitment and training.

"Vamos a identificar cuáles son las posiciones cuyas tienen finanzas y están vacantes, y mientras que hacemos esto vamos a identificar los puestos cuyos se podrán eliminar y tendrán subautoridades," staff said, describing the portal and vacancy review process.

Why it matters: The city is entering a new fiscal year and staff said department budgets and vacancy lists will determine which positions stay funded. Officials said the transfer effort aims to preserve employment for people otherwise at risk of layoff…