HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-12; City Council; 11; Annual report on vacancies and recruitment and retention effortsCA Review JRT
Meeting Date:
To:
From:
Staff Contact:
Subject:
Districts:
May 12, 2026
Mayor and City Council
Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Paul Ho, Assistant Human Resources Director
paul.ho@carlsbadca.gov, 760-621-1223
Annual report on vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts
All
Recommended Action
1)Hold a public hearing; and
2)Receive annual report on the status of the city’s vacancies and recruitment and retention
efforts.
Executive Summary
Government Code Section 3502.3, enacted through Assembly Bill 2561 (2025), requires this
update on the status of the City of Carlsbad’s vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts
to be presented to the City Council each year.
Local government agencies are required to:
•Hold a public hearing every year and present information on vacancies, recruitment and
retention efforts, and identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and
recruitment activities that may lead to obstacles in the hiring process
•Present additional information regarding vacancies upon request by an employee
organization if the vacancy rate within a bargaining unit is at least 20%
•Allow employee organizations to make a presentation at the hearing
Explanation & Analysis
The current vacancy rates are:
•Citywide: 5.4%
•Carlsbad City Employees’ Association: 5.7%
•Carlsbad Police Officers’ Association: 4.3%
•Carlsbad Police Management Association: 0%
•Carlsbad Firefighters’ Association: 4.2%
May 12, 2026 Item #11 Page 1 of 2
The city’s recruitment and retention efforts include:
•Using various platforms (Indeed, LinkedIn, specialty and industry job boards) and social
media outreach to attract a wider candidate pool
•Attending multiple high school, college, military, and community events and career fairs
•Reviewing salary structures on a regular basis to remain market-competitive
•Internship program
•Promotional opportunities for advancement
Fiscal Analysis
This item has no fiscal impact.
Next Steps
The Human Resources Department will monitor vacancy rates monthly by employee association
and notify the respective association president if the vacancy rate reaches or exceeds 20%. The
city will make an annual presentation at a public hearing in accordance with Government Code
Section 3502.3.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed actions are not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality Act, or
CEQA, Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5) and do not require environment
review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) and 15061(b)(3), because the proposed
action to receive a report on vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts is organizational
or administrative government activities that do not involve any commitment to any specific
project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Any
subsequent action or direction stemming from the proposed actions may require preparation
of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA or the CEQA Guidelines.
Exhibits
None.
May 12, 2026 Item #11 Page 2 of 2
AFFIDAVIT OF MAILING
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO: CITY CLERK
DATE oF PUBLIC HEARING: _{v1 ..... a ....... ~l------+-"Ji=+,_J ...... o .... l)_,._,./ p..__ ______ _
SUBJECT: AB 1.Slol -Va11an11,,\c, re fr1A1fmeo± (A(ld {tteab{YI {Afl(IWI I upt:itru
LOCATION: [S2Ji200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008
D Other: ------------------
DATE POSTED TO CITY WEBSITE ~tJ......,...lfl~-----
DATE NOTICES MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS: ~fv~/,.....(t~------
NUMBER MAILED:
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that I am employed by
the City of Carlsbad and the foregoing is true and correct.
DEPARTMENT: ~TY CLERK'S OFFICE □OTHER _______ _
Signature Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENT TO FOR PUBLICATION VIA E-MAIL TO: □ Union Tribune on no/ Reqv1il'c/
□ Coast News on not t<Ptjl!lr('d
PUBLICATION DATE: Union Tribune ~N---~/fl~----------
Coast News ___ Af~/f/~----------
1 declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that I am employed by
the City of Carlsbad and the foregoing is true and correct.
DEPARTMENT: ~TY CLERK'S OFFICE □OTHER _______ _
Signature Date
Attachments: 1) Mailing Labels
2) Notice w/ attachments
City Employee Vacancies,
Recruitment and Retention Efforts
May 12, 2026
1
TODAY’S AGENDA
•Assembly Bill 2561
•Law’s intent and requirements
•Current & next steps
2
ASSEMBLY BILL 2561
•Effective Jan. 1, 2025
•Public agencies: vacant positions
•City must report annually on status of:
ITEM 8: VACANCIES REPORT
o Vacancies
o Recruitment
o Retention efforts
3
LAW’S INTENT
High job vacancies impact public
services
Heavier workloads leads to fatigue
and increased turnover, making
staffing problems worse
Appropriate staffing improves
retention
ITEM 8: VACANCIES REPORT
4
AB 2561 REQUIREMENTS
o Provide annual update to City Council on employee vacancies,
recruitment and retention efforts and any obstacles in the hiring
process
o Provide additional information regarding vacancies if an association’s
vacancy rate is 20% or more
o Notify associations for opportunity to make presentation to City Council
5
CURRENT VACANCY STATUS
6
5.1%5.7%4.3%
0.0%
4.2%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
100.0%
City-wide Carlsbad City Employees'
Association (CCEA)
Carlsbad Police Officers'
Association (CPOA)
Carlsbad Police Management
Association (CPMA)
Carlsbad Firefighters'
Association (CFA)
Percent Vacancy Rate
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION EFFORTS
•Use online job boards/platforms and social media to attract wider candidate pool
•Attend high school, college, military career fairs and community events
•Review salary structures to remain market-competitive
•Maintain competitive benefits
•Develop talent with training/development
•City internships
•Internal promotions (PT & FT)
7
CURRENT & NEXT STEPS
•Continue to monitor vacancy rates on monthly basis for each
employee association
•Notify individual employee association(s) if their respective vacancy rate reaches 20%
•Continue to make annual presentation at City Council meeting to
comply with AB 2561
8
PUBLIC HEARING PROCEDURES
•Open Public Hearing
•Staff Presentation
•City Council Questions of Staff
•Public Testimony
•City Council Discussion
•Close Public Hearing
QUESTIONS?
10