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Nevada City holds AB 2561 hearing; staff report low overall vacancies but two police openings remain
Summary
At a public hearing under AB 2561 on June 10, city staff reported overall vacancies below 10% but identified two police positions vacant (one to be filled by a trainee, the other held vacant for budget reasons). The police chief said training and field training push a new hire to about a year before independent patrol.
Nevada City held a public hearing June 10 to satisfy AB 2561, the state requirement to present the status of vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts. City staff told the council the city's overall vacancy rate is low — under 10% — but noted two vacant police positions.
Carrie, a city staff member who presented the report, said the Nevada City Police Officers Association vacancy rate is about 20% and that one of the two open police positions is planned to be filled by an officer trainee who will start the academy in July. "Overall the city has a really incredible vacancy rate ... less than 10%," Carrie said in her summary of the staff report. She added that the second police vacancy is being proposed to remain vacant for budgetary reasons and that a final decision on that position will be made at an upcoming council meeting.
The police chief described the timeline and resource investment for hiring and fielding a new officer. "The academy is about six months," the chief said, adding that a background check before hire takes about three months and that a minimum four-month field training officer (FTO) program follows the academy. "So to hire one officer, you're looking at over a year from the time that you hire them to get them on the street," the chief said. The chief also said the city is managing coverage with overtime and shift adjustments and that there is currently "no gap in service," though staffing is "thinner" and overtime can be taxing for personnel.
Council members asked how the vacancies affect coverage, overtime and training, and staff said the city is monitoring overtime and training needs. One vacancy will be filled by a trainee and the other will be decided by the council during the next budget meeting. The hearing record was closed at the meeting’s conclusion.
No formal policy change or additional staffing appropriation was approved at the hearing; council discussion indicated budget timing will determine whether the second police position remains frozen or is filled.
