CC - Item 4C - Status of Vacant Positions Per AB 2561 - Local Public Employees: Vacant PositionsROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BEN KIM, CITY MANAGER
DATE: MAY 13, 2025
SUBJECT: STATUS OF VACANT POSITIONS PER AB 2561 — LOCAL PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES: VACANT POSITIONS
California State Assembly Bill (AB) 2561 was approved on September 22, 2024, and added
§3502.3 to the Government Code. This new law requires public agencies to present the status of
vacancies, and recruitment and retention efforts during a public hearing before the council at
least once per fiscal year, and before adoption of the annual budget. Staff is presenting this
report to the City Council in order to comply with AB 2561.
BACKGROUND
AB 2561 (Attachment A) imposed three requirements as follows:
1. At least once each fiscal year, and before the budget approval, the Council receives an
update on the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts at a public hearing;
2. During the hearing, identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and
recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process; and
3. Allow the recognized employee organization for a bargaining unit to make a presentation
at the public hearing for positions within that bargaining unit.
If the number of job vacancies within a single bargaining unit meets or exceeds 20
percent of the total number of authorized full-time positions, the update, upon request of
the recognized employee organization, includes information on:
(a) the total number of job vacancies within the bargaining unit;
(b) the total number of applicants for vacant positions within the bargaining unit;
(c) the average number of days to complete the hiring process from when a position is
posted; and
(d) opportunities to improve compensation and other working conditions.
AGENDA ITEM 4.0
City Council Meeting
May 13, 2025
Page 2 of 3
DISCUSSION
Update on the status ofvacancies, and recruitment and retention efforts.
As of May 1", 2025, the following is a table of budgeted and vacant positions.
Table 1
Groups
Budget
Vacant
Vacancy Rate
Positions
Positions
as of
05/01/2025
Unrepresented Executive Management*
7
0
0.0%
Unrepresented Middle Management, Professional &
29
2
6.9%
Confidential
Rosemead Employee Association AFSCME Local 321
37
5
13.5%
*Includes the appointed positions of City Manager and City Clerk
To maximize outreach and attract qualified applicants, the City posts job openings across a
variety of platforms, including GovernmentJobs.com, LinkedIn, and the City's social media
channels. For specialized roles, the City also targets industry -specific platforms. For example,
the recruitment for the Public Safety Director position included postings on the California Peace
Officers Association, PARMA, Western City Magazine, Careers in Government, the National
Latino Peace Officers Association, and the National Association for Women Law Enforcement
Executives. Additionally, a recruitment firm was hired to assist with sourcing top talent,
particularly for executive or hard -to -fill positions like Assistant City Manager, Public Works
Director, Planning and Economic Development Manager, and City Engineer.
The City of Rosemead recently undertook an initiative to enhance its recruitment and retention
efforts by conducting a comprehensive salary survey, followed by actions aimed at aligning
below -market salaries with prevailing market rates. This effort is intended to attract a more
qualified workforce, reduce turnover, and enhance the City's ability to meet its operational needs
by offering competitive wages that reflect the value of its employees and the demands of the
labor market.
Identi & any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead
to obstacles in the hiring process.
Staff have not identified any necessary changes to policies and procedures that may lead to
obstacles in the hiring process. The City continues to take steps in support of efficient and
proactive recruitment and retention of employees.
City Council Meeting
May 13, 2025
Page 3 of 3
Allow the recognized employee organization for a bargaining unit to make a presentation at the
public hearing for positions within that bargaining unit.
This item is on the public hearing agenda to receive any comments from the recognized
employee organization as it relates to the topic of the status of vacancies and recruitment and
retention efforts per AB 2561.
As noted in the prior Table 1, the current job vacancy in any of the MOU groups, including the
represented REA group, does not meet or exceed 20 percent.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the report on City of Rosemead Vacancies, and Recruitment and Retention
Efforts Pursuant to Government Code Section 3502.3.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. A notice of Public
Hearing was published on May 1, 2025, on the Rosemead Reader publication.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a "project" with the meaning of the California
Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that
it is an administrative activity that will not result in a potentially significant impact to the
environment.
Prepared by:
B an Chua
Assistant City Manager/Finance Director
Attachment A: Assembly Bill No. 2561
Attachment B: Presentation Slides -Vacancy Status and Recruitment Strategies Per AB 2561
Attachment A
Assembly Bill No. 2561
5/7/25, 1:19 PM Bill Text - AB-2561 Local public employees: vacant positions.
II LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION
Home Bill Information California Law Publications Other Resources My Subscriptions My Favorites
AB-2561 Local public employees: vacant positions. (2023-2024)
SHARE THIS:5� Date Published: 09/23/2024 09:00 PM
Assembly Bill No. 2561
CHAPTER 409
An act to add Section 3502.3 to the Government Code, relating to public employment.
Approved by Governor September 22, 2024. Filed with Secretary of State
September 22, 2024. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2561, McKinnon Local public employees: vacant positions.
Existing law, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (act), authorizes local public employees, as defined, to form, join, and
participate in the activities of employee organizations of their own choosing for the purpose of representation on
matters of labor relations. The act requires the governing body of a public agency to meet and confer in good
faith regarding wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment with representatives of recognized
employee organizations and to consider fully presentations that are made by the employee organization on
behalf of its members before arriving at a determination of policy or course of action.
This bill would, as specified, require a public agency to present the status of vacancies and recruitment and
retention efforts at a public hearing at least once per fiscal year, and would entitle the recognized employee
organization to present at the hearing. If the number of job vacancies within a single bargaining unit meets or
exceeds 20% of the total number of authorized full-time positions, the bill would require the public agency, upon
request of the recognized employee organization, to include specified information during the public hearing. By
imposing new duties on local public agencies, the bill would impose a state -mandated local program. The bill
would also include related legislative findings.
The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of
public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends
or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the
enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs
mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions for costs
mandated by the state pursuant to this act, but would recognize that a local agency or school district may
pursue any available remedies to seek reimbursement for these costs.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal Committee: yes Local Program: yes
https://Ieginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2561 r
5/7/25, 1:19 PM
Bill Text - AB-2561 Local public employees: vacant positions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows:
(a) Job vacancies in local government are a widespread and significant problem for the public sector affecting
occupations across wage levels and educational requirements.
(b) High job vacancies impact public service delivery and the workers who are forced to handle heavier
workloads, with understaffing leading to burnout and increased turnover that further exacerbate staffing
challenges.
(c) There is a statewide interest in ensuring that public agency operations are appropriately staffed and that high
vacancy rates do not undermine public employee labor relations.
SEC. 2. Section 3502.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:
3502.3. (a) (1) A public agency 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 multiyear budget during the fiscal year, the
presentation shall be made prior to the adoption of the final budget.
(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.
(b) 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.
(c) If the number of job vacancies within a single bargaining unit meets or exceeds 20 percent of the total
number of authorized full-time positions, the public agency shall, upon request of the recognized employee
organization, include all of the following information during the public hearing:
(1) The total number of job vacancies within the bargaining unit.
(2) The total number of applicants for vacant positions within the bargaining unit.
(3) The average number of days to complete the hiring process from when a position is posted.
(4) Opportunities to improve compensation and other working conditions.
(d) This section shall not prevent the governing board from holding additional public hearings about vacancies.
(e) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid,
the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision
or application.
(f) For purposes of this section, "recognized employee organization" has the same meaning as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 3501.
SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that Section 2 of this act, which adds Section 3502.3 to the
Government Code, furthers, within the meaning of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article I of the
California Constitution, the purposes of that constitutional section as it relates to the right of public access to the
meetings of local public bodies or the writings of local public officials and local agencies. Pursuant to paragraph
(7) of subdivision (b) of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution, the Legislature makes the following
findings:
It is in the public interest, and it furthers the purposes of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section (3) of
Article I of the California Constitution, to ensure that information concerning public agency employment is
available to the public.
SEC. 4. No reimbursement shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of
Title 2 of the Government Code for costs mandated by the state pursuant to this act. It is recognized, however,
that a local agency or school district may pursue any remedies to obtain reimbursement available to it under Part
7 (commencing with Section 17500) and any other law.
https://Ieginfo.legisIature.ca.gov/faces/biIINavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2561