San Gabriel receives first AB 2561 staffing report; police and fire vacancies highlighted

Human Resources and Risk Management Director Edward Macias presented San Gabriel's first compliance report under Assembly Bill 2561 on June 3, showing point-in-time vacancy rates for recognized bargaining units and unrepresented positions and describing recruitment and retention steps the city has taken.

Macias said AB 2561, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2025, requires agencies to report full-time position vacancies annually and to detail remediation efforts for any unit with a vacancy rate of 20% or more. "The agency must also report recruitment and retention efforts for the year, challenges experienced for the year, and any outstanding policies, procedures, and or practices that may be hindering the hiring and retention process," Macias said.

The report included two point-in-time snapshots. For Jan. 1, 2025, the presentation showed the Firefighters Association (FFA) had 30 authorized full-time equivalents and six operational vacancies (a 20% rate). By the May 31, 2025…