City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison presented Maintenance Supervisor Daniel Jojola with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet on Dec. 12.

“I have heard nothing but great things about Daniel,” Farrell Harrison said. “His dedication to his work here in Costa Mesa is well known and respected by his co-workers and I personally want to thank him for all the work he has done over the last few weeks to help us prepare Snoopy House for the community. It’s a job well done and recognition well earned.”

Jojola is responsible for effectively planning, organizing, supervising and participating in the work of subordinate staff members engaged in all aspects of building maintenance operations. Jojola has exhibited excellent leadership, dedication and hard work to see that work is completed on time, within budget and to the highest standards.

This time of year, Jojola transforms into an event planner helping create Snoopy House. He is in charge of loading in the various props, stringing of the various Christmas lighting and electrical circuits. When the event is over, he is in charge of breakdown and load out of all things Snoopy House. The residents of Costa Mesa have come to love this annual tradition.

Jojola began his career with the City of Costa Mesa in 2007 as a Building Maintenance Technician. In 2015, Jojola was elevated to his current position of Building Maintenance Supervisor.

Jojola attended Long Beach City College where he earned an Associate of Science Degree with an emphasis on Electrical Science and theory. It is at Long Beach City College where he learned about the job opening at the City of Costa Mesa.

In addition to honoring Jojola, Farrell Harrison congratulated several new hires, the newly promoted and two retirees.

New hires include Genesis Jimenez a new Office Specialist working in the City Clerk’s office, Zihui Lei a new Intern working in the Planning division of our Development Services Department, Naomi Oosterhof a new Permit Processing specialist working in the Building division of Development Services.

From Fire & Rescue Amy Ellard is a new Office Specialist II assigned to Community Risk Reduction and Herlinda Flores is a new Intern also assigned to Community Risk Reduction.

In Parks & Community Services, Joseph Murguia is a new Community Services Leader II working in Youth & Sports, Maria Pascua is a new Community Services Leader III working at the Downtown Community Center, Crystal Pineda is a new Community Services Leader II also assigned to our Downtown Community Center, Stephanie Smith is also a new Community Services Leader II assigned to the LEAP program, Clayton Vranic is a new Community Services Leader II assigned to Youth & Sports and Stefanie Da Silva is a new Community Services Leader III assigned to the ROCKS program.

Finally, Albert Ricci is a new Police Aide at the Police Department.

Those promoted include Ines Galmiche to Assistant Planner in the Development Services Department, Jason Arita to Community Services Specialist at the Police Department and Elena Polyakova White as the new Engineering Technician I in Public Services.

Those retiring include Bart Mejia, who started with the City in July 1991 as Contract Administrator and in June 2016 assumed the role as City Engineer. His accomplishments as City Engineer included Fire Station 1, Lions Park Library, City Council Chambers, and Arlington Bioswale and Trail.

Also, Code Enforcement Officer Barbara Zwart is retiring after being part of the Costa Mesa family for over 11 years. She started her journey with the city as a temporary worker in the Development Services Department in 2007.