CITY MANAGER' S REPORT ITEM 5. 3
JUNE 9, 2025 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
ITEM: PUBLIC HEARING ( PUBLISHED NOTICE) TO
CONSIDER STATUS OF CITY OF LATHROP EMPLOYEE
VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
EFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.)
RECOMMENDATION: City Council to Consider the Following:
1. Hold a Public Hearing; and
2. Adopt Resolution Accepting the Status of City
of Lathrop Employee Vacancies and
Recruitment and Retention Efforts as Required
by Assembly Bill 2561 ( Government Code
Section 3502.)
SUMMARY:
In September 2024, Governor Newsom approved Assembly Bill 2561 which requires public employers to present the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts at a public hearing at least once per fiscal year, prior to the adoption of the budget. This bill also entitles the recognized employee organizations to be present at the hearing. Representatives for the recognized employee organizations, Service Employees International Union ( SEIU) 1021, Lathrop Mid - Manager' sand Confidential Employee' sAssociation ( LMCEA) and Lathrop Police Officer' sAssociation ( LPOA) were notified of tonight' sPublic Hearing. If they elect to, a representative for bargaining units have the right to make a presentation during the Public Hearing. Additionally, if the number of vacancies within a single employee organization meets or exceeds 20% of the total number of authorized full- time positions, the City, upon request of the recognized employee organization, is required to include additional information about the vacancies during the public hearing.
This presentation is for informational purposes only regarding the status of the City' s vacancies, recruitment and retention efforts. Council may identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures and recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process.
BACKGROUND
Assembly Bill 2561 added section 3502. to the Government Code. This section mandates the following:
1. Public Agencies shall present the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts during a public hearing before the governing board at least once per fiscal year.
2. If the governing board will be adopting an annual or multi -year budget during the fiscal year, the presentation shall be made prior to the adoption of the final budget.
CITY MANAGER' SREPORT PAGE 2
JUNE 9, 2025 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CONSIDER STATUS OF CITY OF LATHROP EMPLOYEE VACANCIES AND
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 ( GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.)
3. During the hearing, the public agency shall identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process.
4. The recognized employee organization for a bargaining unit shall be entitled to make a presentation at the public hearing at which the public agency presents the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts for positions within that bargaining unit.
Additionally, if the number of job vacancies within a single employee organization meets or exceeds 20 percent of the total number of authorized full- time positions, the City is required to notify the appropriate bargaining unit and, upon request, include additional information during the public hearing. The vacancy rate did not exceed 20% for any of the bargaining units during 2024. We are currently at an overall vacancy rate of 7. 92%
Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention Efforts
The position information and vacancy rates for each of the recognized employee organizations as of 12/ 31/ 24are as follows:
Budgeted
FTE
Active
FTE
Total
Vacancies
Vacancy
Rate
Part Time Positions 9. 45 9. 45 0 0%
Unrepresented 18 18 0 0%
SEIU 72 67 5 6. 94 %
LMCEA 49 44 5 10. 20%
LPOA 41 36 5 12. 20%
TOTAL 189. 45 169. 57 15 7. 92%
Changes to Policies and Procedures
There are no changes being recommended to policies or procedures which would have an impact on recruitment and retention efforts at this time for any of the recognized employee organizations.
CITY MANAGER' S REPORT PAGE 3
JUNE 9, 2025 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CONSIDER STATUS OF CITY OF LATHROP EMPLOYEE VACANCIES AND
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 ( GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.)
Recruitment and Retention Efforts
All City positions are posted on the City website and Governmentjobs. com. The City has been utilizing Governmentjobs. com as a platform to post recruitments and accept applications for all positions since 2019. Additionally, the City posts open positions on industry specific job boards such as American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Works Association, Parks and Recreation Association and the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training ( POST), as appropriate to the recruitment.
Currently, the City contracts with CaIPERS to offer medical plans to our employees and retirees. Vision and dental plans are offered through Principal Insurance.
Currently, the City provides $ 2, 093/ month towards medical, dental and vision premiums. This amount is determined by the negotiated Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU) with each of the bargaining units. In January 2025, staff began looking into other options for medical, dental and vision plans to seek out plans with comparable coverage and lower premiums. However, we do not expect to have all final data to consider until July 2025. Lowering the cost of medical premiums would lower our employees' out-f- pocket costs, aid our recruitment efforts to attract top talent, maintain employee morale and assist with retention efforts for all the bargaining units.
Additional recruitment and retention incentives advertised with all job postings include $ 3, 000 tuition reimbursement per calendar year, the ability to convert up to 40 hours of sick leave to vacation per calendar year, vacation cash out options for both exempt and non- exempt employees and post -retirement medical benefits.
We have various recruitment efforts in place for our sworn positions. The following recruitment incentives are currently being utilized and advertised in the sworn job position postings.
Resolution 23- 5245 was approved by the City Council on April 10, 2023 and provides for the following recruitment incentives to be utilized at the discretion of the City Manager.
Vacation accrual hours shall include years of service at the agency the employee was employed with as a sworn officer prior to being hired by the City.
Newly hired sworn personnel will be provided an initial vacation and sick leave bank of 40 hours upon hire.
Classic CaIPERS members receive an annual contribution to their Deferred Compensation plan based on their position title.
o Chief: $ 5, 000 ($192. 31 per pay period)
o Captain: $ 4, 000 ($153. 85 per pay period)
o Lieutenant: $ 3, 500 ($134. 62 per pay period)
o Sergeant and Lateral Officer: $3, 000 ($115. 39 per pay period) Signing Bonus Sworn personnel hired will receive a cash bonus of $5, 000 upon hire.
CITY MANAGER' SREPORT PAGE 4
JUNE 9, 2025 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CONSIDER STATUS OF CITY OF LATHROP EMPLOYEE VACANCIES AND
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 ( GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.)
Resolution 24- 5469 was approved by the City Council on February 12, 2024 and provides a forgivable loan of $ 10, 000 to encourage public safety personnel to live within the City. The funds are to be used for a down - payment on a home in the City and the loan is forgiven at rate of 10% each year if staff retains their primary residence in Lathrop and remains a full- time employee of the City.
REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION:
As of January 2025, annual reporting is a requirement of Government Code Section 3502.. This report is being provided to meet this requirement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff time to prepare this report.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Resolution to Accept the Status of the City of Lathrop Employee Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention Efforts Required by Assembly Bill 2561 Government Code Section 3502.)
CITY MANAGER' S REPORT PAGE 5
JUNE 9, 2025 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CONSIDER STATUS OF CITY OF LATHROP EMPLOYEE VACANCIES AND
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS AS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 ( GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.)
APPROVALS:
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Julia Burns Date
Director of Human Resources
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Directo T. f Finance
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Salvador Navarrete Date
City Attorney
St> sphen J. Salvatore Date
City Manager
RESOLUTION NO. 25-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LATHROP TO ACCEPT
THE STATUS OF THE CITY OF LATHROP EMPLOYEE VACANCIES AND
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS REQUIRED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 ( GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.)
WHEREAS, in September 2024, Governor Newsom approved Assembly Bill AB) 2561 which requires public employers to present the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts at a public hearing at least once per fiscal year; and WHEREAS, AB 2561 requires that if the governing board will be adopting an annual or multi - year budget during the fiscal year, the presentation shall be made prior to the adoption of the final budget; and
WHEREAS, during the hearing, the public agency shall identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process; and
WHEREAS, AB 2561 requires that the recognized employee organization for a bargaining unit shall be entitled to make a presentation at the public hearing at which the public agency presents the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts for positions within that bargaining unit; and
WHEREAS, if the number of job vacancies within a single employee organization meets or exceeds 20 percent of the total number of authorized full- time positions, the City is required to notify the appropriate bargaining unit and, upon request, include additional information during the public hearing; and WHEREAS, a Public Hearing notice was published with the Manteca Bulletin on May 28, 2025; and
WHEREAS, representatives of Service Employees International Union ( SEIU) 1021, Lathrop Mid - Manager' sand Confidential Employee' s Association ( LMCEA) and Lathrop Police Officer' sAssociation ( LPOA) were notified of the Public Hearing; and WHEREAS, the vacancy rate does not meet or exceed 20% for any of the bargaining units; and
WHEREAS, the City has identified recruitment and retention efforts; and WHEREAS, the presentation was made during a public hearing prior to the adoption of the final budget for the Fiscal Year 2025/6.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Lathrop does hereby accept the status of the City of Lathrop employee vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts as required by Assembly Bill 2561 ( Government Code Section 3502.)
Resolution 25-
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this 9th day of June 2025, by the following vote of the City Council, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Paul Akinjo, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Teresa Vargas, City Clerk Salvador Navarrete, City Attorney Resolution 25-
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