Around Town: Costa Mesa names new finance director

The city of Costa Mesa announced Thursday that Stacy Daugherty will become the new director of the city Finance Department on Jan. 2.

Daugherty, who currently leads the Fiscal Services Division of the city of Pasadena, will replace interim Finance Director Steve Dunivent, who is leaving the city after four years.

“We are extremely lucky to have found someone with Stacy’s experience and background,” City Manager Tom Hatch said in a statement. “She has it all. She is bright, talented and personable, and her last role gave her significant experience comparable to what her responsibilities will be here. She is a great fit for this important position.”

In Pasadena, Daugherty supervised the purchasing, accounts payable, budget and accounting teams and managed all city financial policies and procedures. She also advised city leaders on long-range financial planning, labor negotiations and special projects.

“To be a part of a stellar organization is a wonderful opportunity,” Daugherty said in a statement. “Embarking on the next chapter of my career with the talented staff of the city of Costa Mesa and supporting its citizens, mayor and council is an ideal pairing. I look forward to our future success.”

Before her work in Pasadena, Daugherty was a senior financial analyst for Southern California Edison and an accounting financial analyst for Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

Author Katherine Schwarzenegger to sign books in Newport

Author Katherine Schwarzenegger will be in Newport Beach on Saturday for the release of her children’s book, “Maverick and Me.”

The book is about the importance of pet adoption.

Schwarzenegger, the eldest daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, will be at Charlie and Me, 3505 Via Oporto, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The book signing is from noon to 2 p.m.

Dogs will be present for adoption.

RSVPs can be sent to morgan@moxagency.com.

UC Irvine receives record number of undergraduate applications for fall 2018

A record-breaking 116,192 freshmen and transfer students have applied to attend UC Irvine in fall 2018, the university said Thursday.

That’s an increase of about 12,000 applicants over last year’s 104,000 and a 41% increase in the past five years, according to a news release.

UCI is third in total first-year applications among University of California campuses, with 94,866, behind UCLA and UC San Diego, the release said.

Coast Community College District board chooses new officers

The Coast Community College District board of trustees this week chose new officers for 2018 from among its members.

The board unanimously approved Mary Hornbuckle as president, Lorraine Prinsky as vice president and Jim Moreno as clerk.

Costa Mesa launches new budget website

The city of Costa Mesa has launched a new website, openbudget.costamesaca.gov, geared at making its financial data easier to access and understand.

Along with detailed breakdowns of revenues and expenses, the website includes a search function for residents to explore specific areas of interest.

“We are happy to provide the residents of Costa Mesa with this online tool that will make our city budget more user friendly,” said Mayor Sandy Genis, in a statement Thursday. “Residents can now create their own charts, graphs and spreadsheets to pursue their own budget research and interests and do it during a set time frame.”