City presents AB 2561 vacancy report: 13.8% average vacancy rate in 2024, 296 hires that year; council asks for more granular vacancy lists
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Summary
Under Assembly Bill 2561 reporting requirements, city staff reported a 13.8% average vacancy rate in 2024 (roughly equal to 226 positions), 296 hires during the year and ongoing recruitment challenges; council asked for detailed vacancy lists and updates on subsequent fills.
As required by Assembly Bill 2561, city staff presented a public report on workforce vacancies, recruitment and retention covering calendar year 2024. The report showed an average vacancy rate of 13.8% during 2024 (equivalent to roughly 226 positions based on budgeted full‑time positions) and described hiring and separation patterns for the year.
Human Resources staff told council that the city filled 296 vacancies in 2024. Those hires were a mix of sources: 34 hires from existing eligibility lists with an average fill time of about 127 days, 156 from open or promotional recruitments averaging 164 days, and 106 from promotional-only recruitments averaging about 77 days. The report described the city’s annual turnover rate as 4.9% and listed common retention pressures such as market competitiveness, rising health care costs and evolving candidate expectations.
The presentation disaggregated separations and noted categories such as retirements, involuntary separations and voluntary resignations. HR and GWP were asked to pay special attention to a bargaining unit with vacancy rates near or above 20% (IBEW was identified in the staff remarks). The council and HR staff discussed how internal promotions accounted for a substantial share of vacancies and how the city has pursued hiring improvements — from new applicant tracking tools to paid bonding leave and other benefit changes — to reduce vacancy durations.
Councilmembers asked for and staff agreed to provide a detailed list of the positions that were vacant as of Dec. 31, 2024, and to indicate which of those vacancies have been filled since that date. Several members also sought clarification that the presentation was informational (as required by the statute) and did not, on its own, commit the council to freezes or other hiring restrictions; staff clarified that budget adoption decisions would govern funded positions and any hiring freezes.
No public speakers provided comments on the vacancy report during the hearing; staff will supply the requested position‑level vacancy list and any updates to the council ahead of the next study session.
