Paso Robles City Council
June 3, 2025

Status of Vacancies and
Recruitment and Retention
Efforts Pursuant to AB 2561
June 3, 2025
Background
• AB 2561 went into effect on January 1, 2025, to address concerns over staffing shortages in public agencies
• The law requires agencies to:
• Present the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts during a public hearing at least once each fiscal year before the governing board
• Identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead to hiring obstacles
• Provide recognized employee organizations for a bargaining unit to make a presentation at the hearing
Background
• If the vacancy rate within a bargaining unit exceeds 20%, the agency may be required to report:
• The total number of job vacancies
• The total number of applicants for vacant positions
• The average number of days to complete the hiring process • Opportunities to improve compensation and working conditions Vacancy Rates
Data as of May 1, 2025
Employee Group Budgeted FTEs Number of Vacancies Vacancy Rate SEIU 131 17 12.98%
IAFF 35 1 2.86%
POA 70 9 12.86%
Unrepresented Management 55 3 5.45%
Total 291 30 10.31%
2024 Separations by Employee Group
0 2
4 6
8 10
12 14
16 POA IAFF SEIU MGMT
2024 Reasons for Separation
0 1
2 3
4 5
6 7
8 Family/Childcare
Needs
Attained a Position
at Another
Government Agency
Transitoned to the
Private Sector
Pursue Additional
Education
Resigned Without
Securing Alternative
Employment
Involuntary
Termination
Retirement
Recruitment Activity
2024
• 34 new recruitments launched
• 102 employees hired or promoted
• 71 full-time / 31 part-time
• 26% increase from the 2023 calendar year
• 1781 employment applications received / reviewed
Current Status
• 18 open recruitments to fill 57 positions
• 16 recruitments with scheduled launch dates in the coming months Recruitment and Retention Efforts
• City-wide hiring and referral program
• Employee recognition program
• Alternative / flexible work schedules
• Expansion of employee benefit programs
• Three-year contracts with competitive wage increases and modifications of MOU provisions
• On-going professional development
• Wellness programs for first responders
• Initiation of a classification and compensation study SEIU Local 620 Presentation
Recommendation
Hold the public hearing and receive and file this report as required by AB 2561.