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City reports lower vacancy rate in 2024, outlines recruitment and retention steps under AB 2561
Summary
Human Resources reported Garden Grove reduced its full-time vacancy rate from 8% to 5% in 2024 and described recruitment measures and retention initiatives required under Assembly Bill 2561.
Human Resources presented the city’s annual report on vacancies, recruitment and retention required by Assembly Bill 2561 (Gov. Code §3502.3). HR Director Janie Lee told the council that Garden Grove began 2024 with 568 full-time budgeted positions, added four positions to end the year at 572, and reduced vacancies from 51 to 37 by December 2024. The city’s overall vacancy rate decreased from 8% to 5%.
Lee provided bargaining-unit-level vacancy and retention figures for 2024: the Employees Association at about 10% vacancy (roughly 13 vacancies, per council math), the Employees League at 11%, Police Officer Association at 3%, Police Management at 0%, Central Management at 3%, and Middle Management at 10%. The full-time retention rate for 2024 was 97% overall; part-time retention was 88%.
Human Resources said it conducted 73 recruitments in 2024 with more than 4,700 applicants and that the average recruitment/examination process lasted about 43 days. Staff described targeted advertising, remote testing and Zoom interviews to broaden the candidate pool and maintain a pipeline, quarterly police recruitments, tri-annual community services recruitments for part-time recreation classifications, and frequent coordination meetings with major departments. Challenges cited included competition from the private sector, rising minimum wages, and candidate preference for remote/hybrid work; the city’s telecommuting policy is decided department-by-department and not guaranteed in recruitment.
Council members praised the retention rates and recognized HR initiatives such as longevity pay, tuition reimbursement and the City-University leadership partnership. The council received the informational report by unanimous vote.
Staff recommended the council hold the hearing and receive the AB 2561 informational report; council approved the recommendation by a recorded vote of 7–0.
