Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sunnyside council approves first-quarter hiring freeze with limited exemptions
Summary
Council adopted a hiring-freeze resolution for Jan. 1–Mar. 31, 2026, exempting the animal control officer and the code enforcement officer and authorizing refills of existing budgeted positions that become vacant without increasing staff numbers. The council agreed to revisit the policy before April.
The Sunnyside City Council approved a resolution establishing a hiring freeze for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, from Jan. 1 through Mar. 31, with specific exemptions. The resolution allows the city manager to refill existing budgeted positions that become vacant during the freeze period provided staffing levels are not expanded.
City manager introduced the item noting the freeze implements direction discussed during budget adoption. Councilors asked whether the freeze would automatically lift on April 1 or return to the council for action; staff and deputy mayor said the item will be on the agenda for review prior to March 31 and council may decide to continue, end or modify the freeze.
Exemptions stated in the resolution include the animal control officer and code enforcement officer, which were budgeted and funded at the time of the FY2026 budget adoption. Council also requested that any essential hires be communicated to the full council and public to avoid confusion.
What’s next: staff will place the hiring-freeze status for council review before the end of the first quarter and provide public notice when authorized hires occur.
