Monterey Fire Chief San Mazza, who became Pacific Grove’s fire chief when the two departments began a shared services agreement a little more than a year ago, has announced his retirement effective December 17, 2010.

Mazza, 59, has more than 32 years of fire service experience including service with the California Department of Forestry.

He has no concrete plans for his retirement, though he says he plans to stay in the area. He lives in Salinas with his wife and middle school-aged daughter. “I want to be helpful somewhere,” he said. “I’m open to anything.

Mazza said he hopes to see a decision, even an interim one, on the JPA for fire services for the Monterey Peninsula before he retires. He’s willing to stay on as a consultant to help it happen.

His successor is former Pacific Grove Fire Department Chief Andrew Miller, now Assistant Chief of Monterey Fire Department.

Miller is 51. He has more than 30 years in the fire service, 25 with Pacific Grove and nearly two with Monterey, and brief stints with Cal Fire and Tri County Fire.

He lives in Pacific Grove with his wife and four children; Maryn, John, Eric and Zack.

Fred Meurer, Monterey City manager, made the public announcement Nov. 5.