Costa Mesa City CEO Tom Hatch thanked Code Enforcement Officer Mike Brumbaugh for his extensive community work by presenting him with the CEO Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet employee meeting on Thursday on Aug. 25.
Brumbaugh, who has been a part of the city’s Community Improvement Division since 2012, has tackled a number of nagging issues, namely cleanup of the multi-family properties in the city’s Mission/Mendoza and Coolidge/Fillmore neighborhoods.
“Through Mike’s efforts, a number of gang and graffiti issues were exposed, as well as illegal garage conversions,” CEO Hatch said. “He organized community clean up days that restored pride to the neighborhoods and drew accolades from many who call that neighborhood home.”
With homelessness and homeless issues on the rise, Brumbaugh moved to that area and has been working with private property owners and businesses to combat the problems and provide them with the tools necessary to enhance their properties and enforce trespassing laws.
Brumbaugh has become the go-to person to locate and address illegal encampments and works with County and State authorities to resolve those matters. His duties have taken him to every corner of the City and he, along with the Community Outreach Workers, have grown to be invaluable resources for other City departments and the public in terms of successfully addressing the homeless problem.
Brumbaugh has exemplified collaboration and innovation in his approach to dealing with a very complex issue by effectively communicating with the Police Department and members of the City’s Network for Homeless Solutions.
Most recently, Brumbaugh worked with a homeless veteran to help him find housing after 15 years of homelessness.
In addition to Brumbaugh, CEO Hatch welcomed new additions to the CEO Department who will be working on homeless issues. They are Intern Dariel Flores and Recreation Leader Ameera Ghaznavi. Also recognized were new Fire Department interns Micah Gallardo, Moises Vaca and Kevin Wiggins; from the Police Department new communications officers Grace Camacho and Erin Cedillo; from new Public Services intern Linda Chun, and new Maintenance Assistant Irving Santos and newly promoted Maintenance Assistant Alejandro Martinez.