Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara County Fire Department
On March 21st, 2019, after 33 years of service, Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Officer Captain Dave Zaniboni will be retiring. Captain Zaniboni served the county Fire Department in many capacities rising through the ranks from Firefighter Paramedic to Captain and finishing his career as the departments Public Information Officer.
Dave represented the department during several significant incidents including; Sherpa Fire, Whittier Fire, Thomas Fire and the Montecito debris flow. His knowledge, compassion and connection with the community helped us stay informed and engaged. Captain Zaniboni will be greatly missed by his co-workers and those he impacted throughout his career.
Captain Zaniboni’s replacement will be Captain Daniel Bertucelli who has worked for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department Since 2005. Daniel Started as a Firefighter Paramedic and worked his way through the ranks. Captain Bertucelli has been assigned throughout the county and has been an active member of the departments Water Rescue, USAR, Air Support, and HazMat teams. Daniel has been a resident of Santa Barbara since 1993. Daniel is excited about embarking on the new challenges the PIO position will offer.
Also retiring will be Division Chief Steve Oaks and Engineer Randy Harris who both served the department for 32 years, and Captain Peter Ysebrands who served the department for 33 years.
yep, those boys love that OT at the taxpayers expense. so rigged.
2017 was the Thomas Fire…I can only imagine how many overtime hours they all worked during what was the largest wildfire in California history. I, for one, am thankful for their service to our community during that, and numerous other disasters.
Why shouldn’t someone who has worked hard, and worked their way up the ranks for 30-some years, earn that much money and have a healthy pension? These guys help people and save lives while risking their own. Check out how much other high-ranking city, county and state officials make and their pensions. I would much rather it be earned by people like Zaniboni, rather than given to lame, lazy paper-pushers.
Congratulations Sir and Thank You for your service….
Next time there is a big forest fire will call you to put it out remember Firefighters are on call 24/7, 7 Days a week so make sure there is nothing else in your life that will get in the way of your new responsibilities…
spare me, they are not 24/7/7. I personally know a local Fire Captain, these guys get more annual vacation time and “sick time” than you can imagine.
I don’t know his age but it’s likely under 60 and at 33 years he’ll get less than 60%. I retired at 53 with 30 years and am getting 50% which is fine as we were DINKs and bought when houses were cheap instead of renting.
Will good for them I’m glad they do and maybe the higher ups are not 24/7 except when the shit hits the fan they are all out there fighting the fires. They are not on vacation time then and no one is crying about how much they make they are all praising them for saving their butts then when the danger is over the complainers come out and complain Spare yourself maybe you should volunteer instead of being so bitter.
Capt. Zaniboni did an excellent job as a public information officer during the Thomas Fire and Montecito mudslides. Although he kept his composure, it was evident in his eyes and his voice, the toll these disasters were taking upon him. I’m not surprised he, our fire Chief, and no doubt other firefighters have chosen to take early retirement. Some sights just can’t be “unseen”. Congratulations Captain Zaniboni, on your retirement, and thank you for your service.
Congratulations Dave. Job well done! Enjoy retirement.
How much do taxpayers pay our county fire chief: David Zaniboni
Fire Captain Staff (2017)
Regular pay:$109,464.00
Overtime pay:$92,885.00
Other pay:$48,365.00
Total pay:$250,714.00
Benefits:$101,318.00
Total pay & benefits:$352,032.00
“Transparent California” is neither transparent, nor California. It is just one of the many names used by the tax-exempt “free-market think tank” Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI). NPRI refuses to provide its own funding sources, stating, “NPRI respects the privacy of our donors, which includes the amount of a donor’s gift”.
NPRI’s primary funding source, as determined by The Conservative Transparency Project, is Donors Capital Fund, a dark-money source of funding for conservative groups. Its donors also include The Cato Institute, co-founded by the Koch brothers, and organizations affiliated with the climate change denial movement.
NPRI spends 75% of its revenue on six-figure salaries and benefits. Its goal is to undermine support for employee unions nationwide, thereby decreasing salaries and increasing corporate profits.
The ethics of the website don’t change the facts.
Another volunteer…
How many lives did he save and facilitate saving? How many homes? Businesses? Schools? How many millions / billions was that? How many priceless lives? How many tens of thousands could not even do this job? How many hours sacrificed by his family? This was such a heartless and thankless thing to say especially in this town with all we have been through. With the cost of living here he could have been much better off someplace else. You know some of those homes that he saves every year have cars that cost more than what he gets paid a year. Just a sad comment.
Thank you for all your years being of service to SB and hope you have many happy and healthy years ahead!
That is quite a bit of payroll . According to Transparent California for 2017 Zaniboni made $352,032 pay & benefits, Bertucelli $258,076, Oaks $370,664 & Ysebrands #355,470…. now that is some serious compensation. What is their pension 90% for life….no wonder SB has a unfunded pension liability. Most of them retire and get other high paying jobs. This insanity has to stop.
LOL!!!!!!
33 years is a huge chunk of a person’s life doing a stressful job. Who gives a hoot how old he is at retirement.
Last time the SB fire department did a recruitment, 100s of young mostly men descended on my neighborhood because they held the physical trials at La Cumbre Jr High. Why so much interest? Because if you are one of the few selected, you have hit the lottery in terms of pay and benefits. It is also pretty common for these people to take another 2 well-paying job after they retire so they can double-dip at the public’s expense. Good work if you are one of the chosen few.
Congratulations on your retirement and Thank you for your service.
However…this Firefighter game has been going on for…years. Then if you question a fire fighters pay then comes the guilt about “who are you going to call if your house is on fire”…not the point. This pay game has been going on for years. Nurses save lives, nurses work loooonnnngggg hours (perhaps the fine captain is married to a nurse?) and yet their pay is swiggleedoo comparably as the hospital knows that nurses want to work here. Who is going to take care of you in the hospital? If the guilt game is going to be played. No need to save for a rainy day if one is getting 90% for life. The pay scale ought to be looked at and like the nurses, the fire department ought to realize that firemen want to work here, therefore, such a premium salary isn’t necessary. Any smart business person knows that game.
Again, Congratulations.