A loss for Costa Mesa

Lolita Harper

She was a necessary cog in the return of Snow Day at Balearic Park.

She spent hours upon hours trying to uncover what Costa Mesans

wanted from their recreation department during the Recreation Master

Plan process.

She helped coordinate the wildly successful Concert in the Park

series, which brought the community together over some great tunes

and a peaceful sunset.

She was all things recreation, and now, she is leaving.

Stacia Mancini, recreation services division manager for Costa

Mesa, has left an unquestionable mark on the city. One that will

remain, although she plans to go.

Yes, as sad as it is, Mancini has been recruited right out from

under us by the City of El Segundo. She will head north to serve as

its director of parks and recreation -- a major professional

promotion.

I put a call into Mancini as soon as I heard she was leaving. She

is usually really good about getting back to me, even if it takes up

the last five minutes of her day.

I never received a call back, which disturbs me.

I remember desperately needing to talk to her about the

possibility of a skateboard park, and just before I had resigned

myself to having to write the story without her, my phone rang.

I remember her telling me how busy she was and apologizing for

getting to me so late in the day. I understood, I said, and was just

happy to have her voice in the story.

What she said next spoke volumes about the type of civil servant

she was. I can’t quote directly, but it was along these lines:

I know how important this issue is to the community and I wanted

to make sure your story had everything it needed. I would have gotten

back to you sooner, but there were a dozen things I needed to get

done first.

She could have shined me off and called me back the next day -- or

never -- shaving a good 20 minutes from her work day, but she didn’t.

She effectively conveyed to me that her job at City Hall was her

priority, but she also understood the responsibility of getting

information to the community through the local newspaper.

(Not uncommon at Costa Mesa City Hall, I might add.)

Now, I am not disturbed because I think she is ignoring me. I am

disturbed because I fear Mancini, always graciously humble, does not

see her resignation as an issue of importance.

Quite the contrary.

Mancini’s contributions to the city were highly praised by each

local leader I spoke with Thursday.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan said she is extremely saddened that

Mancini will be leaving the city, but also very happy that she has a

chance to realize her professional goals.

“She brought something to Costa Mesa that created community and

that we will forever be grateful for,” Cowan said. “We have some big

shoes to fill.”

Cowan, who has known Mancini even since before her stint at the

city, said the recreation manager had no plans to leave anytime soon,

as she had only been on board for a few years. The city manager of El

Segundo aggressively sought out Mancini. When faced with such an

offer, she simply couldn’t say no.

“When someone calls you and tells you that you are the one and

only, that is pretty hard to ignore,” Cowan said.

Former mayor Linda Dixon echoed Cowan’s sentiments, adding that

Mancini not only brought synergy to the city, but a vision that

bolstered the city’s reputation for the arts.

“Unless someone steps up to the plate and carries on the vision

and tenacity in that department, it is going to be a tremendous loss

to the city of Costa Mesa and to the people both young and old,”

Dixon said.

Dixon credited Mancini with promoting a skate park, expanding

summer programs, including teen programs, and fashioning family

sleepover nights.

“She has been an absolute ... what’s a good word to describe her

vision? Genius!” Dixon said. “She is just outstanding. I can’t tell

you how many people are going to be brokenhearted.”

Councilman Chris Steel also praised Mancini, although I caught

wind of this secondhand because he is still not speaking to me. Paul

Clinton, the Pilot’s business reporter, said Steel went on about

Mancini’s contributions to the city and urged that a story be

written.

Don’t need to tell me twice.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.