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Los Banos council creates Public Information Officer role after debate over bilingual and certification requirements
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Summary
The Los Banos City Council adopted Resolution 7076 on April 1 to add a Public Information Officer classification to the staffing plan after a lengthy discussion about bilingual ability and required certifications; the council amended the proposal so bilingualism and professional certifications remain desired, not mandatory.
The Los Banos City Council voted April 1 to add a Public Information Officer (PIO) classification to the city’s staffing and salary schedule, a role staff said is intended to centralize public outreach, improve emergency communications and upgrade the city’s online information services.
City human resources and the city manager presented the classification, outlining responsibilities including press briefings, crisis communications, social media and preparing outreach for capital projects such as water and sewer master plans. Staff said the job typically requires training under FEMA for emergency communications and noted a benchmark salary range derived from a 2024 comparative study.
Several council members and members of the public pressed staff on specific qualifications. Council Member (name recorded in the minutes as the motion-maker) said bilingual skills are important for emergency situations where many residents speak Spanish and asked whether bilingual ability should be a requirement. Human Resources Interim Director Isabelle Carlos and City Manager Niran Van said bilingualism was listed as a desired qualification in the draft, and that FEMA and related PIO certifications are typically obtained within six to 12 months if not already held. "This position has the desired quality with all those trainings," staff said, adding the city would provide training support if the new hire lacked required emergency certifications.
Council members debated whether bilingual fluency and professional certifications should be mandatory or desired. One council member argued that hiring someone already certified and bilingual would allow the city to "hit the ground running" and avoid spending salary on someone who might not be able to meet certification requirements. Others said making such credentials mandatory would significantly limit the candidate pool and that hiring and probation processes commonly allow time for staff to acquire required certifications.
After discussion, a motion was made and amended to approve Resolution 7076 while keeping bilingual ability and PIO-related professional certifications as desired qualifications rather than absolute requirements. The motion carried on a roll-call vote; the record shows at least one dissenting vote from Mayor Pro Tem Lewis.
What happens next: With the classification adopted, city staff said the city manager will move forward with recruitment and that applicants who lack certifications will be expected to obtain required emergency-management credentials (FEMA) during a probationary or early employment period. The council asked staff to return with additional benchmarking data about other cities’ PIO hiring and certification outcomes if available.
