City reports 13% vacancy rate under AB 2561; SEIU urges sustained equity and hiring efforts

Human Resources presented the City of Santa Maria’s first annual vacancy, recruitment and retention report under Assembly Bill 2561, showing a citywide vacancy rate of 13 percent and steps the city is taking to recruit and retain staff.

Graciela Reynoso, the city’s chief human resources officer, told the council the city had a budgeted 738.4 full‑time equivalent positions and 18 active limited‑service employees. For 2024 the city conducted 95 recruitments, received 3,144 applications and processed 290 hires, transfers or promotions; about 33 percent of filled vacancies represented promotions from within the organization, the presentation said. Reynoso said the city is launching a comprehensive classification and compensation study and will continue recruitment partnerships and limited use of outside recruiters for hard‑to‑fill roles.

Nicole Bryant, labor representative for SEIU Local 620 (which represents many city employees), said SEIU’s vacancy rate is 14 percent and that 20 of the union’s 52.2 vacancies had been open more than a year, with some vacant for four to 10 years. Bryant urged the city to pursue shared recruitments for classifications that exist in multiple departments, continue equity adjustments and proceed with the classification and compensation study without delay.

Council held the required public hearing on the report and voted to accept the report as required by AB 2561. The motion passed by roll call: Council member So to — Aye; Council member Flores — Aye; Council member Aguilera Hernandez — Aye; Mayor Pro Tem Escobedo — Aye; Mayor Patino — Aye.