Director Ratcheman presented a recruitment status report during the Oct. 22 committee meeting, saying applicant counts have risen for many positions since the lows of the COVID era but that certain roles—including bus drivers and other specialized positions—remain difficult to fill.

Ratcheman said the applicant pool for bus drivers dipped when one candidate declined because of the size of the vehicle, but the pool has since recovered, in part because Valley Transit General Manager McDonald’s media outreach generated renewed interest. The HR director said the committee has not yet decided on incentives but is exploring a citywide employee referral bonus and a sign‑on bonus for targeted roles; any bonus costs would come from vacant salary dollars rather than a new appropriation.

When committee members asked about overall hiring trends, Ratcheman pointed to a department graph showing applicants per position have spiked back up and said some highly qualified applicant pools now contain dozens of candidates, though specialized positions still require targeted recruitment strategies. Alder Hayden urged HR to publish internship opportunities early in 2026 and asked committee members be notified so alder offices can help recruit local candidates.

No formal action was taken; recruitment status was presented as an information item.