Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.C
Meeting Date: January 14, 2026
From: Michael A. Contreras, Fire Chief
Title: Retired Annuitant Appointment - Interim Deputy Fire Chief (Stephen Tumir)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing an exception to the CalPERS 180-day waiting period pursuant to Government Code sections 7522.56 and 21221(h), thereby allowing the City to appoint Stephen Tumir as a retired annuitant in the interim position of Deputy Fire Chief, effective January 18, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
Government Code section 7522.56 generally requires a 180-day separation period before a CalPERS retiree may be employed by a CalPERS-covered agency. However, the statute allows an exception when the governing body certifies, in a public meeting, that the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed position prior to the expiration of the 180- day period, and that the retiree did not receive any retirement-related incentive. Government Code section 21221(h) further authorizes the appointment of a CalPERS retiree to an interim vacant position during an active recruitment for a permanent appointment.
Stephen Tumir retired from the City of Cathedral City effective January 9, 2026, most recently as Deputy Fire Chief. Without Council action, the Deputy Fire Chief position will remain vacant until filled without a transition. This appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed executive position and to prevent adverse impacts to Fire Department operations and public safety during an unprecedented command-level staffing crisis.
The Deputy Fire Chief position is a single, non-duplicated executive role responsible for the supervision and management of daily fire and EMS operations. Responsibilities include executive oversight of emergency response, command-level staffing, payroll coordination, administrative management, accreditation and ISO compliance, accreditation oversite, and ensuring overall operational readiness.
The Fire Department is currently experiencing significant and concurrent staffing challenges at the command and supervisory levels, including:
One (1) vacant Administrative Battalion Chief position Two (2) Suppression Battalion Chiefs on workers’ compensation leave Three (3) Fire Captains on workers’ compensation or personal leave The retirement of the Deputy Fire Chief
These six concurrent vacancies and absences at supervisory and command levels create an unprecedented operational vulnerability. The loss of the Deputy Fire Chief position without immediate interim coverage would further strain command staff, impair succession planning efforts, and jeopardize continuity of operations.
The current interim Deputy Fire Chief, Stephen Tumir, is serving under an existing limited- term employment contract that was originally scheduled to conclude on February 20, 2026.
Deputy Chief Tumir’s retirement effective January 9, 2026, prematurely ends the existing contract prior to the intended completion date. This early retirement creates an immediate and unanticipated gap in executive leadership during a critical period in which the city has already initiated recruitment for a permanent Deputy Fire Chief.
In addition to the advantages outlined above of utilizing an annuitant and retaining Chief Tumir, this approach will also provide a structured transition period, allowing the newly selected Deputy Chief to become fully oriented and operational while benefiting from Chief Tumir’s institutional knowledge, extensive experience with Cathedral City Fire & EMS, and his two years of service as an Interim/Limited-Term Deputy Fire Chief.
Without Council action, the department would lose executive-level continuity prior to the conclusion of the recruitment and hiring process, further compounding the department’s existing command-level staffing challenges.
DISCUSSION:
Approval of the proposed retired annuitant appointment will allow the City to maintain continuity of leadership during the active recruitment and anticipated onboarding of a new Deputy Fire Chief. This limited-duration appointment will bridge the gap created by Deputy Chief Tumir’s retirement on January 9, 2026, and the original contract end date of February 20, 2026, ensuring stability during the transition period.
The city has initiated and authorized recruitment for the permanent Deputy Fire Chief position, including posting of the job bulletin and development of the recruitment and testing timeline. During this recruitment period, Deputy Chief Tumir’s continued service as a retired annuitant will allow the department to:
Maintain executive oversight of daily fire and EMS operations Support command-level staffing and administrative coordination during an unprecedented staffing crisis
Complete critical departmental updates and initiatives Provide structured onboarding, mentorship, and knowledge transfer to the incoming Deputy Fire Chief
Preserve institutional knowledge essential to operational continuity, accreditation, ISO compliance, and succession planning
Deputy Chief Tumir will be limited to 960 hours, will not receive any benefits or incentives, and will serve strictly in an interim capacity during recruitment, consistent with Government Code section 21221(h) and CalPERS requirements.
Absent this appointment, the department would experience a premature loss of executive leadership during an active recruitment cycle, increasing operational risk and limiting the City’s ability to ensure a smooth and effective transition to permanent leadership.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Pursuant to CalPERS retired annuitant rules, compensation must fall within the publicly available salary range for the classification and may not include any benefits, incentives, or compensation in lieu of benefits.
The Deputy Fire Chief position has a maximum monthly base salary of $18,797.05, which equates to an hourly rate of $108.44 and will be compensated for no more than 960 hours.
The Deputy Fire Chief position is currently budgeted for the fiscal year; therefore, there is no additional fiscal impact to the City.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal A: Service the Community with Pride and Dedication Goal E: Safety
This action supports the City’s Five-Year Strategic Plan goals related to organizational excellence, continuity of operations, succession planning, and maintaining high-quality emergency services during periods of organizational transition and staffing challenges.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution Certifying Employment of Stephen Tumir – Interim Deputy Fire Chief Retired Annuitant Employment Agreement / Appointment Documents CalPERS Employment After Retirement Guidance (PUB 33)