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Page 1 of 3 <br />Item #10 <br /> CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT <br /> <br />May 19, 2026 <br />Human Resources <br /> <br />TITLE: PUBLIC HEARING: HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND RECEIVE AN <br />INFORMATIONAL REPORT REGARDING THE CITY’S VACANCY RATE, <br />RECRUITMENT, AND RETENTION EFFORTS, PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL <br />2561 (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.3) <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br />California Assembly Bill 2561 (AB 2561), which amended the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act <br />(MMBA), requires that all public agencies hold a public hearing each fiscal year to address the <br />status of their vacancy rate, recruitment, and retention efforts. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Hold a public hearing and receive an informational report regarding the City’s vacancy rate, <br />recruitment, and retention efforts, pursuant to Assembly Bill 2561 (Government Code Section <br />3502.3). <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />Effective January 1, 2025, AB 2561 added Government Code Section 3502.3 to the <br />Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, requiring cities to conduct an annual public hearing on the status of <br />vacancies, recruitment efforts, and retention activities prior to adoption of the final budget. The <br />legislation was enacted to address the operational impacts of sustained vacancies in local <br />government agencies. <br /> <br />The statute also requires public agencies to identify policy, procedural, or recruitment-related <br />practices that may create obstacles in the hiring process and to provide additional information <br />when vacancy rates exceed 20 percent. In addition, each bargaining unit is afforded an <br />opportunity to participate in the public hearing. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br />During calendar year 2025, the City’s average vacancy rate for regular full-time positions was <br />7 percent, which was also the vacancy rate as of December 31, 2025. Throughout the year, <br />the City continued evaluating policies, procedures, and recruitment activities to support timely <br />hiring and workforce stability. <br /> <br />As of December 31, 2025, all bargaining units remained significantly below the 20 percent <br />vacancy threshold established in Government Code Section 3502.3. Vacancy rates by <br />bargaining unit ranged from 5 to 14 percent, with the highest rate occurring in the Battalion <br />Chief's Unit, which had one vacancy among seven budgeted positions due to an internal <br />promotion. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Page 370 of 908