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Page 1 of 4 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />STAFF REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br />DATE: January 26, 2026 <br />SUBJECT <br />Utilize exception to Public Employees' Pension Reform Act 180-day waiting period for post-retirement <br />employment in order to hire retired annuitant to perform duties of Extra Help Deputy Fire Chief <br />SUMMARY <br />After 29 years of service in the Redwood City Fire Department, Deputy Fire Chief Gregory DaCunha retired <br />effective December 30, 2025, creating a vacancy in one of the City’s two budgeted Deputy Fire Chief <br />positions. The City has completed a competitive recruitment and selected an external candidate to fill the <br />vacant position, with a start date scheduled for January 20, 2026. As an external hire, the incoming Deputy <br />Fire Chief will require onboarding, training and transitional support to ensure continuity of executive <br />leadership and operational readiness. The second Deputy Fire Chief position is presently occupied by an <br />incumbent who is on an extended leave of absence. As a result, the Fire Department is operating with <br />reduced executive-level staffing during a period of leadership transition. <br />Pursuant to Government Code section 7522.56(f)(1), the City Council may approve an exception to the <br />180-day post-retirement waiting period if it determines that a retired annuitant appointment is necessary <br />to fill a critically needed position and approves the appointment in a public meeting. Subject to City <br />Council approval, the City seeks to appoint retired annuitant Gregory DaCunha as Extra Help Deputy Fire <br />Chief on a temporary basis to ensure continuity of Fire Department operations during this transition <br />period. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Adopt a resolution approving an exception to the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act 180-day waiting <br />period and appointing retired annuitant Gregory DaCunha as Extra Help Deputy Fire Chief effective <br />January 27, 2026, or upon CalPERS approval to hire, whichever is later. <br />11.C. - Page 1 of 12 <br />195