Agenda Item Wording:
title
Vacancies, Recruitment and Retention Efforts - Public hearing on vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts pursuant to California Government Code ? 3502.3
body
Agenda Date: 04/20/2026
Prepared by: Amy Powell, amy.powell@visalia.gov, 559-713-4575 Shonna Oneal, shonna.oneal@visalia.gov, 559-713-4053
Department Recommendation: It is recommended the City Council conduct a public hearing on position vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts as mandated by California Government Code ? 3502.3
Summary:
Assembly Bill (AB) 2561 requires local public agencies to hold an annual public hearing before adopting their budget to report on job vacancies and efforts to recruit and retain employees. The law aims to address staffing shortages that can negatively affect public services, increase workloads, and contribute to employee turnover.
The following reflects the City's represented and unrepresented bargaining units' vacancy rates as of February 28, 2026:
BARGAINING UNIT
BUDGETED
VACANCIES
VACANCY RATE
Police Managers & Supervisors Association (Group A)
26|10 10|0.0%
Visalia Police Officers Association (Group B)
140|1010|2.9%
Miscellaneous Supervisors & Managers (Group E)
112|1010|7.1%
Visalia Firefighters Association (Group G)
77|1010|6.5%
Northern California Carpenters Regional Council (Group M)
339
26
7.7%
Unrepresented Confidential
19|1010|10.5%
Unrepresented Department Heads
10|10 10|0.0%
Total
723
45
6.2%
No vacancy rates within any of the City's five bargaining units meet or exceed 20 percent of authorized full-time positions in that bargaining unit.
Background Discussion:
AB 2561 of 2024 requires public agencies to hold a public hearing to address the status of job vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts prior to the adoption of the agency's annual budget.
The legislature's intent of AB 2561 is to address the issue of job vacancies in local government, which can adversely impact the delivery of...
Click here for full text