The Costa Mesa City Council voted unanimously at the Tuesday, Dec. 2 meeting to name Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, a 30-year veteran of local government and urban planning, as the new City Manager.

Gallardo-Daly has served as the interim City Manager since June.

“This appointment is a testament to the steady leadership Cecilia has provided the city these past five months,” Mayor John Stephens said. “Cecilia is respected by the council and city staff. She is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to running a city efficiently and smoothly. Cecilia speaks straight and follows through. Costa Mesa’s future is bright, and in good hands.”

Gallardo-Daly first arrived in Cosa Mesa as the Assistant City Manager in December of 2023 and has been instrumental in managing several large city initiatives such as the future of the Fairview Developmental Center and property acquisition in the Shalimar neighborhood for a future park expansion.

“Thank you to the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem and the City Council for trusting me to be your next City Manager,” Gallardo-Daly said. “I look forward to continuing to lead this very talented and capable Costa Mesa team as we continue to problem solve and seek out opportunities to benefit our residents and businesses in the months and years ahead.”

Prior to her arrival in Costa Mesa, Gallardo-Daly served the City of San Clemente as the Assistant City Manager, and prior to that as the Community Development Director, where she was responsible for implementation of San Clemente’s vision and policy as it relates to land use, economic development, environmental and historic preservation and coastal resiliency. She also worked as a Planning and Environmental Permitting Consultant for local agencies from 2001 to 2013.

She also served in several capacities with the City of San Diego, holding the titles of Deputy and Assistant Director of the Development Services Department, Program Manager for the City Planning and Community Investment Department and Senior Planner. She has also held planning roles for the cities of Austin, Texas and Rancho Cucamonga, Rosemead and Sierra Madre in California.

Gallardo-Daly has a Master of Arts Degree in Urban Planning and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science both from UCLA.

Due to the observation of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no residential street sweeping Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday Nov. 28.

The street sweeping hiatus coincides with residential trash collection being pushed back one day due to the Thanksgiving holiday. This results in residential gutter lines being cluttered with trash cans making it impossible for street sweeper operators to do an efficient job.

Street sweeping will resume back to normal schedule the week of Dec. 1.

In lieu of street sweeping, the following is a list of tasks that clean streets operators will be conducting during this time:

• Citywide alley street sweeping
• Sweeping of park parking lots and other city owned facilities
• Accident call outs and special request
• Night route sweeping on all arterial streets

For more information, residents can call the city’s street sweeping hotline at (714) 327-7471, which has been updated with this information.

City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presented the City Manager Leadership Award for November to Senior Code Enforcement Officer Mike Brumbaugh at the monthly Meet and Greet celebration.

This is Brumbaugh’s second time earning this award, as he was previously honored in August of 2016.

“Mike is to be commended for the work he does to help the less fortunate in Costa Mesa as well as keep our streets safe and improve conditions for our local businesses and residents,” Gallardo-Daly said. “I admire his dedication to the city and his job and we are lucky to have him. I am honored to present him this award.”

Brumbaugh starts his day at 4:30 a.m. as part of the Neighborhood Improvement Task Force, partnering with our Community Policing Unit and Community Outreach teams.

He conducts patrols throughout the city, performing welfare checks for those on the streets and evaluating possible needs and forwarding individual to outreach to help get people sheltered and ultimately housed.

Brumbaugh was first hired in December of 2012, along with two other Code Enforcement Officers, to be part of what was then the newly created Community Improvement Task Force, working from the City Manager’s office.

One of Brumbaugh’s signature achievements came in 2014 when we was assigned to “Apartment Stabilization” to perform property inspections for the multi-family housing units located in Mission Mendoza, Coolidge Fillmore, and Baker Street areas.

He then worked with owners/landlords and the residents to repair and bring up to code apartment units that were deteriorating.

Brumbaugh was assigned to the Network for Homeless Solutions and Neighborhood Improvement Task Force in 2015.

This role provided him an opportunity to work with local businesses and residents to deter many negative impacts caused by some on the streets experiencing homelessness.

He has worked with businesses to inspect their properties to provide suggestions to deter camping, trespassing and vandalism and he has formed many great community partnerships.

During his early morning patrols, he is able to contact individuals who are camping or trespassing on business or residential properties before the business opens or the residents wake up.

This also provides an opportunity to speak with those on the streets to offer them help to leave the streets and hopefully get into shelter.

With the recent Fentanyl crisis, Brumbaugh has encountered many individuals overdosing and has been able to get them the needed help so that they may survive.

Brumbaugh lives in Costa Mesa’s Halecrest neighborhood with his wife Linda, and he has a deep love and interest in keeping this the best city ever.

Beginning Saturday, Nov. 1, Costa Mesa City Hall will become the second Vote Center in the city for the Nov. 4 Special Election. The Vote Centers will remain open until the polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Residents can drop off their ballots in the City Hall parking lot or vote in person in the Community Room. City Hall’s address is 77 Fair Drive. 

The first Vote Center opened Oct. 25 at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, located at 695 W 19th St. That Vote Center will also remain open until the polls close of Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Voters have four options for voting in the Special Election:

1. Mail your ballot by Election Day (no postage needed)
2. Use a secure ballot drop box
3. Drop off your ballot at any OC Vote Center
4. Vote in person at any OC Vote Center

For additional information or questions visit ocvote.gov or call 888-OCVOTES (888-628-6837).

Fire Chief Dan Stefano announced the promotion of Andrew Harris as the new Battalion Chief for the Fire & Rescue Department as well as Chief Building Inspector Ryan Bohr to Fire Marshal and Assistant Chief of the Fire & Rescue Department.

“Chief Stefano continues to build a stellar Fire & Rescue team with a deep bench of talented staff and these promotions just solidify that,” City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly said. “I’m proud and happy for both Ryan and Andrew and look forward to working with them to enhance the public safety of the Costa Mesa community.”

Battalion Chief Harris joined the Costa Mesa team in 2009 and quickly rose through the ranks promoting to Fire Captain in 2018. Prior to his tenure with Costa Mesa, he served as an Ambulance Operator for the Huntington Beach Fire Department.

In his tenure at Costa Mesa, Harris has been as a member of several committees, the Probationary Firefighter Academy Cadre Lead, Paramedic Preceptor, a lead with the Annual Fire Service Open House Expo, took part in the Mobile Data Management Program and most recently led the Tablet Command Program development and implementation.

“Andrew’s contributions to our organization are extensive, and his noteworthy ability to effectively communicate both internal and external to the organization remains a highly valued skill set,” Chief Stefano said. “In addition, his notable competency in leading others will serve him well in his new role, and he will be an exceptional and highly valued addition to our Chief Officer team.”

Harris welcomed the challenge.

“This promotion represents more than a rank, it’s a responsibility to lead with purpose, support our people, and continue building a department that sets the standard for excellence and care in Costa Mesa,” Harris said.

Harris earned an associate of science degree in fire technology from Santa Ana College, a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public safety leadership, on track for completion in 2026.

Bohr joined the City of Costa Mesa in 2017 and served as Chief of Inspection for the past four years. He was presented with the City Manager Leadership Award in July of 2021.

Throughout his tenure, Bohr focused on improving community safety through timely inspections, consistent code enforcement and being a collaborative partner with internal and external stakeholders.

“This promotion is noteworthy on many levels and is a highly valued one for the city, the department, and the Community Risk Reduction Division,” shared Fire Chief Dan Stefano. “I have worked with Ryan and have also personally been witness to Ryan consistently answering the call for both the Fire and Police Departments as the on-call inspector during emergencies and beyond, doing so with exceptional professionalism and representing the best of Costa Mesa. There is no question that he will do an outstanding job in his new role serving as our new Fire Marshal.” 

As Fire Marshal, Bohr will oversee the Department’s Community Risk Reduction Division and his many duties will include enforcing local and state fire, life safety, property, and environmental protection standards and safety codes, reviewing building construction plans and assisting with professional trades with technical fire code requirements and department public education efforts.

“It’s an honor to serve as Costa Mesa’s next Fire Marshal,” Bohr said. “I’m excited to join the accomplished Community Risk Reduction Division to advance our shared mission: a safer community through responsiveness, transparency, and continuous improvement—delivered with a genuine customer service mindset. I’m grateful to Chief Stefano, our City Council, and my new team for their trust and support.”

Bohr has an associate’s degree in construction technology and a bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from UC Santa Barbara.

Fire & Rescue will host a community badge pinning and swearing in ceremony at CMFR’s annual year end Fire Family Breakfast, for all promotions, including Bohr’s and Harris’s. The event will be open to the community.

After a distinguished 30-year fire service career, Chief Dan Stefano announced he would be leaving his position with the City of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department at the end of December 2025.

Stefano’s 18-year career with Laguna Beach Fire and 12 with Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue culminated in him being elected as the president of the California Fire Chiefs Association and also inducted into the inaugural class of the California Fire Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2023. 

“It has been my absolute honor and a true career highlight to serve the Costa Mesa community, the City, and the Costa Mesa Fire Family, start to finish,” Chief Stefano said. “Throughout these past 12 years, I have been blessed and will always remain grateful for the many opportunities I was afforded to work alongside such incredible and dedicated professionals, partners, and stakeholders, and to be part of an organization that embodies excellence, community, and compassion in public service.”

Stefano began serving as the Fire Chief for the City of Costa Mesa in 2013, arriving from the Laguna Beach Fire Department where he held a wide range of positions and roles as he worked his way up the ranks from Reserve Firefighter through Fire Division Chief, Training and EMS Chief, and Fire Marshal. 

“Chief Stefano is a true leader who is highly regarded not only as part of our leadership team, but both in Orange County and throughout the State for his experience, leadership and courage,” City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly said. “I’m both proud and honored with the Chief’s service to our community and his leadership in the city, and also his friendship. Congratulations to Chief Stefano on this incredible career.”

Mayor John Stephens also commended Chief Stefano for his service.

“I’m very grateful for Chief Stefano’s service to Costa Mesa these many years,” Mayor Stephens said. “He is deservedly in the California Fire Chief Hall of Fame. Under his leadership, the Fire and Rescue Department has become a destination department attracting the best and brightest firefighters and paramedics who save lives every day. Chief Stefano has led our community through tragedy and extreme public health and safety crises with skill and compassion. He is our rock, our Papa Bear. We will miss Chief Stefano terribly, but we wish him well in his retirement. Costa Mesa is a better, safer place because of Chief Dan Stefano.”

Capt. Steve Cathey, who is the president of the Costa Mesa Firefighters Local 1465, had this to say about Chief Stefano.

“It has been an honor to stand beside Chief Stefano, as the Costa Mesa Firefighters President, tackling the tough issues together,” Cathey said. “His unwavering dedication to his team reflects what it truly means to be a Fire Chief. His dedication and leadership have made a lasting impact on our organization. I wish Chief Stefano a fulfilling and wonderful retirement and enjoy all the adventures that await him. Thank you for your strong leadership and friendship.”

Chief Stefano is proud of the collective team efforts and accomplishments during his tenure with the City of Costa Mesa, which include the following team highlights:

• Infrastructure improvements such as keeping Fire Station No. 6 open and the rebuild of Fire Station No. 1 completed and soon to be rebuilt Station No. 2 that is preparing for construction in 2026, a regional Fire & Rescue training facility currently under construction, a completed fleet replacement plan and a technology plan.

• Jointly established a joint Emergency Communications Center (ECC) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) between CMFR & CMPD, in collaboration with the City Manager’s Office

• Development and implementation of a new ambulance transportation program that now brings in over $7 million in cost recovery revenue annually

• Initiated and negotiated the separate assignments of three Cal OES fire engines (Type 1, III, & VI), establishing Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue as a highly respected regional and statewide wildland and “all hazard” resource

• Departmental programs focused on firefighter health and safety – peer support, fire chaplain, and health and wellness programs.

• Established active leadership, succession planning and professional development as an organizational priorities.

• Enhanced the Community Risk Reduction, Community Outreach, and Volunteer Programs, including CERT, Fire Cadets, Citizen’s Fire Academy, Fire Corps, and Fire Interns.

Stefano also played a major role in Costa Mesa during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading City teams, as well as the countywide and statewide efforts in providing information on public safety and best practices to combat the spread of the virus and increase vaccination efforts..

Beyond his professional experience, training and education, Chief Stefano holds the distinction of being the 32nd Certified Fire Chief in California history through the Governor’s Office of the State Fire Marshal and holds the designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

Chief Stefano is an engaged fire service leader including noteworthy service as a Past President for the California Fire Chiefs Association and separately, serving as an appointed member on the League of California Cities (Cal Cities) Board of Directors, representing the Cal Cities Fire Chiefs throughout California.  

He also served as the President for the Cal Cities Fire Chiefs Department and the Orange County Fire Chiefs Association, respectively. 

He has also served or currently serves on a number of regional, state and national organizations, including as a member of the Board of Directors for the California’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee (HASC), the California Fire Service Task Force on Behavioral Health, the Statewide Training and Education Advisory Committee (STEAC), the Public Safety Policy Committee for Cal Cities, the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness, the Santa Ana College Foundation, the Orange Coast College Foundation, and he is a graduate of the Orange County Leadership Tomorrow Program.  

Stefano is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. He earned his bachelor’s of arts degree from Cal State Long Beach and went on to get a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from California State University, Long Beach and a second master’s degree in the Executive Leadership program at the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of Orange Coast College and Santa Ana College, the latter of which he was an adjunct instructor for over two decades.  

City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly awarded the City Manager Leadership Award for October to Building Technician II Sheila Larsen.

“When I first arrived here, I did a short stint in Economic and Development Services and quickly learned that Sheila was someone I could count on to answer my questions,” Gallardo-Daly said. “She embodies the City’s core values through her outstanding customer service, reliability, and unwavering commitment to excellence. She is well deserving of this award.”

Larsen has been with the City of Costa Mesa since 2017, when she started as a Permit Technician II. Since then, she has built a reputation as one of the most approachable and dependable members of the team.

She consistently goes above and beyond to assist customers in navigating the permitting process—whether it is answering complex questions at the counter, helping applicants resolve issues in real-time, or coordinating with internal departments to ensure timely approvals.

Her responsiveness and professionalism leave a lasting positive impression on residents, contractors, and design professionals alike.

With many years of experience issuing building permits and handling over-the-counter reviews and customer interactions, Larsen brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the division.

She leverages this experience to serve customers efficiently. Her work ethic and positive attitude make her an indispensable part of her department. She approaches every interaction with courtesy, patience, and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Larsen has her associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Cerritos Community College.

COSTA MESA — The Costa Mesa Police Department announced the promotion of Captain Jason Chamness to Deputy Police Chief, a 22-year department veteran who is now second in command and will oversee both divisions of Patrol Operations and Support Services as well as the Professional Standards Bureau.

“Deputy Chief Chamness has dedicated more than two decades of service to the Costa Mesa Police Department, and I’ve had the privilege of working with him at every level during that time,” said Chief Joyce LaPointe. “His leadership, integrity, and commitment to serve our community and police department make him exceptionally well-suited to step into this role. This promotion is a reflection of his outstanding service, and I look forward to his continued success.”

Mayor John Stephens welcomed the news.

“I’ve known Jason Chamness for many years, and have always admired his talent, diligence and professionalism,” Mayor John Stephens said. “I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role as our new Deputy Police Chief.”

City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly applauded the decision to promote Chamness.

“Deputy Chief Chamness is a vital member of our City team, and I value and respect his guidance on police issues,” Gallardo-Daly said. “His experience and education elevates the already first-rate leadership of the department. I’m pleased that Chief LaPointe chose him for this role.”  

Deputy Chief Chamness began his career with the City of Costa Mesa in 2003 after graduating with honors as “Top Recruit” from the prestigious Orange County Sheriff’s Academy. 

Chamness embraced the challenge of his new assignment. 

“I am honored to be selected as the next deputy chief of the Costa Mesa Police Department,” said Deputy Chief Chamness. “The trust and confidence placed in me mean a great deal and it is a privilege I do not take lightly. I remain committed to supporting our outstanding team as we continue to work together to protect and serve this incredible community.”  

In 2017, he was promoted to sergeant, where he supervised patrol and investigative operations before transitioning to the Professional Standards Bureau in 2019. 

His leadership path continued with a promotion to lieutenant in 2021, where he was assigned to Area Command and later guided administrative functions as the Professional Standards Bureau lieutenant. 

In 2023, Chamness was promoted to the rank of captain, where he oversaw the Support Services Division.

Throughout his career, Chamness has served in a wide range of assignments. As an officer, he worked patrol, served as a field training officer, gang investigator, and a Crimes Against Persons detective. 

His expertise extended into collateral roles as well, including serving on the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, where he held progressive leadership positions ranging from operator to assistant team leader, team leader, SWAT commander, and ultimately, SWAT captain. 

He also served as a Force Tactics instructor, Firearms and Less-Lethal instructor, and an Active Shooter trainer, ensuring that officers across the department were prepared for high-risk situations. Chamness served on the Board of Directors for the Costa Mesa Police Association for six years.  

Chamness holds a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University and a master’s degree in law enforcement and public safety leadership from the University of San Diego.

MEDIA CONTACTS 

Roxi Fyad
(714) 754-5282
rfyad@costamesaca.gov 

Tony Dodero
(714) 754-5288
tony.dodero@costamesaca.gov 

Longtime Payroll Finance Officer Anna Dolewski has received the prestigious Outstanding Public Service award from the Government Finance Officer Association.

Dolewski was nominated by her colleagues for the award for her outstanding service to the City of Costa Mesa.

“Anna is a trusted colleague and an inspiring figure in local government finance,” said Interim City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly. “Her contributions to Costa Mesa has left the city’s financial operations in a strong position. I am so proud and happy for her that she was honored with this award.”

The Government Finance Officer Association represents over 20,000 finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. It is dedicated to advancing excellence in public finance and provides resources, education and advocacy for its members.

Outstanding Public Service honors individuals for their dedication to the profession, their colleagues, their organization, and their communities. It is the dedication and work of finance professionals that is instrumental in government operations, but often occurs behind the scenes.

“Anna is an outstanding public servant and her dedication to the City has been instrumental for payroll operations,” Finance Director Carol Molina said. “Anna is always willing to take on any challenge and provide exceptional customer service.”

Dolewski has worked for the City for over 36 years and has played a key role in the payroll operations for the City. She has demonstrated unparalleled commitment, precision, and leadership.

“I would like to thank the Government Finance Officer Association for honoring me with this award and the team that nominated me for this recognition,” Dolewski said. “I have spent the majority of my career with the City of Costa Mesa and it has been an honor to be part of a great organization that values its employees. I am very grateful that I have had the opportunity to grow professionally within the organization.”

As Finance Officer, she is the City’s foremost expert on payroll operations and her pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic showcased her ingenuity and reliability – she implemented digital tracking systems for cost recovery and successfully navigated federal reimbursement processes. Beyond technical mastery, Dolewski’s dedication to employee service stands out. She offers guidance through complex payroll items and ensures every payroll inquiry is met with kindness and expertise.

For more about the award click here.

Interim City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presented Recreation Coordinator Emily Pulaski with the City Manager Leadership Award for the month of September.

“Emily is the definition of a team player, collaborative, dependable, and always willing to go above and beyond,” Gallardo-Daly said. “She consistently brings positivity, creativity, and professionalism to every interaction, building strong relationships and ensuring the best possible experience for all. I am so pleased to present her with this award.”

Emily plays a vital role in coordinating athletic field reservations for both the City of Costa Mesa and Newport-Mesa Unified School District through the Joint Use Agreement. These fields host a wide variety of sports, including soccer, tackle and flag football, rugby, baseball, softball, and more.

She also leads the City’s team of Field Ambassadors, who monitor field use, regulate lighting, open and close facilities, audit residency requirements, and help resolve disputes in accordance with the City’s Field Use and Allocation Policy.

In addition, Emily oversees the City’s Adult Sports Program, which provides year-round recreational leagues for the community. She coordinates the adult basketball league at the Downtown Recreation Center, along with adult and senior softball leagues at the TeWinkle Park Athletic Complex.

These programs, offered in partnership with Major League Softball, showcase Emily’s ability to collaborate effectively with contractors and community partners to expand recreational opportunities.

Emily is supported by her dedicated team of Ambassadors, who not only assist with athletic fields but also play an important role in monitoring parks, supporting open-access public sites, and helping with Citywide special events throughout the year.

Emily’s journey with the City of Costa Mesa began in February 2009 as a part-time Recreation Leader II in the Teen Program. She later worked in the ROCKS and Camp Programs, steadily advancing to Recreation Leader III in 2012, Recreation Leader IV in 2014, Recreation Specialist in 2019, and finally, a full-time Recreation Coordinator in 2021.

At every stage of her career, Emily has demonstrated pride, dedication, and heart in serving the community.

Emily is a proud Costa Mesa native, a graduate of Costa Mesa High School, and received her Associates degree from Orange Coast College. Her local roots make her service to the community especially meaningful.

Due to the observation of the Labor Day holiday, there will be no residential street sweeping Sept. 1 – Sept. 5 2025.

This coincides with the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, which also observes this holiday by pushing trash collection back one day. This results in residential gutter lines being cluttered with trash cans making it impossible for street sweeper operators to do an efficient job. There should be no parking citations issued during this time.

Street sweeping will resume back to normal schedule the week of Sept. 8.

In lieu of street sweeping, the following is a list of tasks that clean streets operators will be conducting next week.

• Citywide alley street sweeping
• Sweeping of park parking lots and other city owned facilities
• Accident call outs and special request
• Night route sweeping on all arterial streets

For more information, residents can call the city’s street sweeping hotline at (714) 327-7471, which has been updated with this information.

Interim City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presented the City Manager Leadership Award for August to Fire Captain Chuck Torres.

“As Chief Stefano says, to know Capt. Torres is to love him, and we can all see why. He’s fun-loving and personable but he also has a serious side where he gets the job done well. I appreciate his leadership and dedication to our City and am happy to present him this award.”

Torres joined Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue in April 2002. He was promoted to Fire Captain in 2017 and has been active with many committees within the department, complimented with a strong passion for teaching, training, and professional development.

He has provided notable leadership in developing, managing, coordinating, and/or guiding a number of key programs and events for the department and the city including the annual CMFR Open House Fire Expo, Santa Ana College fire technology presentations.

He also served as the MC for the annual city picnic and Snoopy House events, among many other touches.

Capt. Torres became interested in the fire service after reading an article in the OC Register announcing the opening of Costa Mesa’s Fire Station 6. Soon after that, he graduated from the 96^th Basic Fire Academy at Santa Ana College.

After graduating from the academy with an A.S in Fire Technology, he worked as a reserve firefighter for the Fountain Valley Fire Department. While with Fountain Valley, he attended Saddleback College’s Paramedic program and started his career as a paramedic with AMR in San Bernardino City.

While working towards a career as a Firefighter/Paramedic, he worked as a lifeguard with the City of Huntington Beach for seven years, promoting through the ranks to a Lifeguard III supervisor.

Torres was ultimately hired as a Firefighter/Paramedic by the Monterey Park Fire Department in October 2000 before leaving that job for Costa Mesa.

Capt. Torres has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Management, and Administration from Vanguard University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was one of the keynote speakers at the commencement ceremony.