FROM: Christina Cintron, Chief of Member Services
SUBJECT: Returning Retiree Certification: Sidney Hultquist
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the request to extend the employment of Sidney Hultquist from August 12, 2025, through December 26, 2025, in accordance with SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, “Retirees Returning to Work.” The request meets the policy criteria for extensions beyond the 18-month employment limit, based on the employer’s demonstration of extreme necessity and the time-limited scope of a defined project.
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BACKGROUND:
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) sets forth limitations for retirees returning to work in the same retirement system from which they receive a pension. Under SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, extensions beyond 18 consecutive months of re-employment must be approved by the Board of Retirement and are allowed only under conditions of extreme necessity for a limited duration.
Sidney Hultquist retired from the Barstow Fire Protection District on August 21, 2017. He was re-employed as Assistant Fire Chief beginning September 3, 2019, to support ongoing departmental operations. During this time, he served as Acting Fire Chief under a COVID-19 emergency authorization from March 24, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Following expiration of that authorization, the Board approved an extension through December 31, 2021.
Most recently, at its January 9, 2025 meeting, the Board approved Chief Hultquist’s re-employment from January 11, 2025, to August 11, 2025. This seven-month appointment was intended to support the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District in completing an after-action review of the Line and Bridge Fires-two major natural disasters that required significant emergency response coordination.
CURRENT REQUEST:
Due to the complexity of the review and the time-intensive nature of the tasks involved-including data collection, stakeholder interviews, field visits, and evaluation of mutual aid responses-the employer is requesting an extension of Chief Hultquist’s re-employment through December 26, 2025. He is currently working an average of 18 hours per week in a specialized capacity as an incident commander and project lead.
According to the Department, Chief Hultquist possesses institutional knowledge, technical fire service expertise, and established working relationships with multiple District and County stakeholders that make him uniquely qualified to complete this project. No current staff possess equivalent skills or experience, and onboarding an external consultant would introduce delays and increase costs, as a consultant would need to learn District protocols and reinitiate work already underway.
The department affirms that this request is time-limited and that the project is anticipated to conclude within the requested extension period. The Fire District has confirmed this is a one-time extension and does not anticipate further requests. If the extension is denied, the Department risks incomplete documentation of critical lessons learned, potentially affecting future emergency preparedness and response effectiveness.
LEGAL AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS:
Pursuant to SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032 and applicable PEPRA provisions, Board approval for employment beyond 18 consecutive months requires:
1. Extreme Necessity - The employer must demonstrate that the re-employment is essential to maintain effective operations due to genuinely unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.
2. Limited Duration - The extension must relate to the completion of a specific, time-bound task or project.
The facts presented in the attached materials support that both conditions are satisfied.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the justification provided, staff recommends that the Board approve this extension request in accordance with SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032 and PEPRA.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GOAL/OBJECTIVE:
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
STAFF CONTACT:
Christina Cintron
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A: Board Summary Worksheet
Exhibit B: Certification Form
Exhibit C: Prior Certification Forms