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Fountain Valley reports improved vacancy rate to 8.8%; police recruitment remains a focus
Summary
Staff reported an overall vacancy rate drop to 8.8% as of Dec. 31, 2025 (22 active vacancies), down from 13.4% in 2024; council received and filed the AB 2561 recruitment and retention report and discussed continued hiring efforts for police and executive positions.
The city presented its annual report required under Assembly Bill 2561 on vacancies, recruitment and retention. Senior HR Analyst Maria Salas told the council that as of Dec. 31, 2025 Fountain Valley had 250.5 budgeted full‑time positions and an 8.8% vacancy rate (22 active vacancies), a notable improvement from the 13.4% vacancy rate reported in 2024.
Salas credited the decline to streamlined recruitment processes, modernized job announcements, and promotional recruitment that filled roughly half of 2025 vacancies. She said 9 police officer positions remained open at the end of the reporting period, with seven recruits enrolled in the Police Academy expected to graduate and be sworn in by June 2026; subsequent voluntary resignations reduced the new‑hire total by three but staff planned renewed recruitment efforts.
Isaac Marquez, president of the Fountain Valley Police Officers Association, thanked council for prior support but urged continued attention to competitive compensation and retention to maintain public safety staffing levels.
Outcome: Council voted to receive and file the AB 2561 report. Staff said they will continue targeted recruitment for police officers and finalize several executive appointments to reduce administrative vacancies.
