After 36 years of service to City TV production, Tony Ruggieri has announced his well-earned retirement.
Tony first came to Santa Barbara in 1984 to attend the Brooks Institute of Photography. It did not take long for him to fall in love with the community and decide to make it his permanent home. He would go on to marry his wife Julie, a Santa Barbara local, and raise two children here.
Tony has worked with Santa Barbara City TV for 36 years and has been providing consulting services to the City of Goleta since 2005. When Tony first began to work with the City, the Council meetings were held in two different locations. Tony’s team had to work quickly to keep up with the Goleta City Council’s unique needs.
“The afternoon session was held at the Goleta Valley Community Center and the evening session was held at the Goleta Union School District” said Tony. “After the first session, Council would take a quick dinner break so we would take the equipment down and move it over to the school district and set it up to finish the next meeting at the school district.”
As the City TV Production Supervisor for the City of Santa Barbara, Tony was responsible for televising all meetings for the City on Cox Communications Channel 18 as well as manage all video production. “From information videos to PSA’s and documentaries, we were doing it all” says Tony.
Tony held a demanding and important job with the City of Goleta, in a position that required a unique skillset which few possess. The managing of the equipment and Control Room in the City Hall Chambers is imperative for the City in providing direct and easy to find access to all of the meetings, boards, and commissions that are televised. His hard work and expertise helped the City mitigate the challenges faced during the COVID-19 closures and remote meetings.
Tony’s last day was on March 24, 2023. He plans on take a few months off to simply enjoy life, and then return to volunteer and consulting work.
Congratulations Tony and thank you for your many years of dedicated service!
Tony Ruggieri in the control room at Goleta City Council Chambers
Tony in Council Chambers