City 10-29

Andrew DiMizio was officially named Santa Barbara city Fire Chief on 10/27 after serving as interim chief for the past year. A 30-year veteran of the city’s Fire Department, DiMizio worked as a firefighter with the Forest Service in the Los Padres Forest prior to his tenure with the city. He was named chief only after city officials opened the post up to competitive applications. As chief, DiMizio may face up to $800,000 in additional budget cuts next year. Should that occur, one of the options under discussion will be whether the department should shut down individual stations for periods of 99 days.

•••

After more than 32 years of service with the City of Santa Barbara, Assistant City Administrator Joan Kent announced that she will end her career with the city on 12/10 in order to spend more time on personal interests. Kent works directly for City Administrator Jim Armstrong and served as the city administrator in his absence. She was appointed to the position in 2000 and has worked on major projects and programs, including the Teen Center as well as solid waste and interdepartmental initiatives.

•••

Santa Barbara Harbor Master Mick Kronman was honored recently as California’s Harbor Master of the Year. An annual award given out by the California Harbor Masters and Port Captains Association, Kronman became this year’s recipient at a ceremony on 10/22 during an annual training conference in Monterey. Honored in part for his recent work in the on-going and highly contentious Marine Life Protection Act process, Kronman also received the award in 2001.