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City reports lower vacancy rates and new retention efforts under AB 2561 reporting
Summary
Human Resources reported vacancy rates below the 20% statutory threshold for bargaining units, outlined recent hires, recruitment steps, and a $320,000 investment to boost recruitment and retention; unions expressed support and urged continued investment.
Under the requirements of Assembly Bill 2561, Human Resources Manager Anna Torres Mondragon presented the city's vacancy and recruitment status on May 20. She reported bargaining-unit vacancy rates of 12.12% (POA), 15% (MEA) and 12.97% (SEIU), all below the 20% trigger for additional mandatory disclosures.
Torres Mondragon summarized recent steps to recruit and retain staff, including a targeted marketing strategy, paid and free job-board advertising, LinkedIn outreach, quarterly enhanced new-hire orientation, and a council-approved sign-on/retention bonus program for hard-to-fill positions. She noted a prior city investment of $320,000 (approved Sept. 2023) to support HR capacity. MEA and SEIU representatives thanked staff and encouraged continued attention to classification and salary studies to sustain retention gains.
MEA representative Kevin Lewis emphasized ongoing high workloads despite improved staffing and urged investments to sustain experienced staff, while SEIU's chapter leader Janet Nunez praised recent collaboration and recommended continued proactive work on classification and contracts. Councilmembers praised HR's recent progress and asked staff to continue focused recruitment for specific roles such as part-time van drivers; HR confirmed the driver classification is included in the sign-on program and recruitment will be posted soon.
