City Council Agenda Report
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Fernando Ulloa, City Manager
BY: Marie Guillory Jones, Director of Human Resources
MEETING DATE: May 20, 2025
ITEM NO: 7.2
SUBJECT: Receive Report on Vacancies, and Recruitment and Retention Efforts in Compliance with New Legal Obligations for a Public Hearing on Vacancies in Accordance with Assembly Bill 2561 and Government Code Section 3502.3
RECOMMENDATION
Receive report on vacancies in compliance with new legal obligations for a public hearing on vacancies in accordance with Assembly Bill 2561 and Government Code Section 3502.3.
SUMMARY
Effective January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill (“AB”) 2561 requires public agencies to hold at least one (1) public hearing per fiscal year to discuss vacancies, and recruitment and retention efforts.
This report and public hearing fulfill the City of Patterson’s (“City's”) legal obligations under the law.
BACKGROUND
AB 2561 was introduced to address job vacancies in local government, which can adversely affect the delivery of public services and employee workload. Among other requirements, the bill mandates that public agencies conduct a public hearing to present the status of vacancies, and recruitment and retention before the agency’s governing body at least once per fiscal year. The report must identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process. The bill was enacted into law and is codified as Government Code section 3502.3, effective January 1, 2025.
ANALYSIS
In compliance with the new legal obligations, the City is required to do the following:
1. Public Hearing: At least once each fiscal year, at a public hearing before the City Council, the City shall present information regarding the status of vacancies, and recruitment and retention efforts and identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process.
2. Employee Organization Participation: Allow the recognized employee organization for each bargaining unit at the City to make presentations during the public hearing concerning vacancies, and recruitment and retention efforts. The three (3) represented bargaining units at the City were notified of their entitlement to make a presentation.
3. Additional Reporting for High Vacancy Rates: If vacancies within a single bargaining unit meet or exceed 20% of authorized full-time positions in that bargaining unit, upon request of the recognized employee organization for that bargaining unit, the City must provide additional information during the public hearing, including the following: (1) the total number of vacancies; (2) the number of applicants; (3) the average time to fill positions; and (4) opportunities to improve compensation and working conditions for employees in the bargaining unit.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with conducting the public hearing required under Government Code section 3205.3. However, should there be a budgetary need to address recruitment or retention issues in the future, they will be presented to the City Council as necessary.