182026 FIRE PSPRS BOARD MEETING MINUTES APPROVE.PDF
Extracted text (via pymupdf)
5782 characters
Minutes of the Tempe Fire Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board meeting hosted virtually via MS
Teams and in person at the Human Resources Conference Room located at 20 E. 6th Street Tempe, AZ 85281
on Thursday January 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Boardmembers Present (via Teams):
Boardmembers Present (in person):
Boardmembers Absent:
Andy Arredondo
Keith Burke
None
Lori Messer
Kyle Carman
Mike Scheidt
City Staff Present (via Teams):
City Staff Present (in person):
Legal Counsel Present:
Kathleen Broman, HR Manager
Tammy Milhon, HR Specialist
Lesli Sorensen (via Teams)
Chris Hansen, Risk Manager
Sarah Jenkins, Administrative Supervisor
Matt Quick, HR Specialist
Chair Keith Burke called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
1. Consideration of Meeting Minutes
Motion by Mike Scheidt to approve the November 6, 2025 Fire PSPRS Board Meeting Minutes, November 6, 2025
Fire PSPRS Board Meeting Executive Session Minutes and the November 6, 2025 Joint Fire & Police PSPRS Board
Meeting Minutes; second by Kyle Carman. Motion passed on a voice vote 5-0.
Ayes: Chair Burke; Boardmembers Arredondo, Carman, Messer, and Scheidt
Nays: None
Absent: None
2. Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session, if necessary
Motion by Kyle Carman to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of obtaining legal advice from the Board’s
Legal Counsel and to discuss confidential records by law; second by Mike Scheidt. Motion passed on a voice vote 5-
0.
Ayes: Chair Burke; Boardmembers Arredondo, Carman, Messer, and Scheidt
Nays: None
Absent: None
The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:03 p.m. The Board reconvened at 2:14 p.m.
Minutes
Tempe Fire Public Safety Personnel
Retirement System Board
January 8, 2026
Fire Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board Meeting Minutes – January 8, 2026
2
3. Hearing on the Application for Accidental Disability Benefits for Zachary Kwiatkowski
Chair Burke said this is a continuation of the hearing on the application for accidental disability benefits for Zachary
Kwiatkowski. At the November 6, 2025 meeting, the Board made a motion to table the application pending
additional medical records. The additional materials have been provided to the Board. At today’s hearing, the Board
must determine whether the documentation submitted is sufficient to conclude that the statutory requirements are
satisfied for the Board to direct Mr. Kwiatkowski be sent for an Independent Medical Exam.
Chair Burke asked Mr. Kwiatkowski if he would like to address the Board and Mr. Kwiatkowski declined.
Motion by Kyle Carman to accept the application for accidental disability benefits for Zachary Kwiatkowski and send
the applicant for an Independent Medical Exam; Second by Andy Arredondo. Motion passed on a voice vote 5-0.
Ayes: Chair Burke; Boardmembers Arredondo, Carman, Messer, and Scheidt
Nays: None
Absent: None
4. Hearing on the Application for Line of Duty Death for John Garza
Chair Burke opened the item for discussion.
Motion by Kyle Carman to approve the application for Line of Duty Death benefits for John Garza as it was clear
from the medical records and death certificate, which indicates brain cancer as the cause of death and is listed as a
presumptive cancer, that Mr. Garza’s death was a result of his work as a firefighter; Second by Andy Arredondo.
Motion passed on a voice vote 5-0.
Ayes: Chair Burke; Boardmembers Arredondo, Carman, Messer, and Scheidt
Nays: None
Absent: None
5. 2025 PSPRS Valuation Report for Tempe Fire (029)
Chair Burke asked Board Legal Counsel Lesli Sorensen to review annual valuation report. Ms. Sorensen reviewed
the Annual Valuation Report as follows:
•
The total contribution for the employer side for the pension health trust for Tier 1 and 2 members is 33.99%,
which is a slight increase from last year of 32.87%.
•
Tier 3 members’ contribution rate is also slightly going up to 8.8% from 8.33%, driven mainly by the pension
contribution.
•
The funded status for Tier 1 and Tier 2 has dropped slightly from 89.5% to 88.3%. The pension total
decreased from 89.9% to 88.7% for Tier 1 and 2; Tier 3 members decreased from 108% to 101.2%.
•
Reviewed why the contribution rate and funded status have decreased or increased.
•
From a payroll perspective, the city is seeing a downward pressure on the contribution rate because of
payroll being greater than the projected actuarial assumptions.
•
Reviewed the most significant driver of the increase to contribution rates, historical summary of rates,
development of pension actuarial value of assets, and member statistics.
6. Board Expenditures – Q3 & Q4 2025
Chair Burke asked Board Secretary Kathleen Broman to review this agenda item. Ms. Broman said that the
expenditures for the third and fourth quarters were included in the board packet. There was no further discussion.
7. PSPRS Update
Chair Burke asked Ms. Broman to review this agenda item. Ms. Broman said that the PSPRS update is also included
in the board members packet and includes information on monthly virtual training hosted by PSPRS.
8. Future Meeting Date
The next meeting is scheduled for February 5, 2026
Fire Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Board Meeting Minutes – January 8, 2026
3
9. Future Agenda Items
No future agenda items discussed.
10. Public Appearances
There were no public appearances.
Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Kyle Carman; second by Mike Schedit. Motion passed on a voice vote 5-0.
Ayes: Chair Burke; Boardmembers Arredondo, Carman, Messer, and Scheidt
Nays: None
Absent: None
The meeting adjourned at 2:37 p.m.