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City reports 14% vacancy rate under AB 2561; unions warn staffing shortfalls threaten services ahead of major events
Summary
Under Assembly Bill 2561 the city presented a required annual report on vacancies, recruitment and retention. Human Resources said the overall vacancy rate is 14.16%, with some bargaining units above the 20% threshold; union representatives from utility engineers, dispatch and police described operational strain and risks for services and events.
At the council’s request and to comply with Assembly Bill 2561, staff presented an annual report on staffing vacancies, recruitment challenges and retention strategies. Ashley Lancaster, deputy director of Human Resources, told the council the city’s overall full‑time vacancy rate stood at about 14.16% at the time of the report, and department‑level and bargaining‑unit details show substantial variation.
Lancaster said the report identified two bargaining units exceeding the 20% vacancy threshold required for additional reporting under AB 2561: the City’s engineers (about 15 vacant positions, near a 30% vacancy rate after the council added engineering positions during the year) and the public‑safety non‑sworn group (about 14 vacancies, 20% vacancy rate). She told the council typical civic recruiting timelines vary from three to six months, and backgrounding for some public‑safety positions can add three to four months; classified…
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