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Highland Park swears in four council members; council honors outgoing member Kim Stone for 12 years of service
Summary
The council recessed to administer oaths of office to newly elected and reelected members and spent significant time recognizing outgoing Council member Kim Stone's 12 years of service, highlighting sustainability, historic preservation and public‑facility projects she led.
The Highland Park City Council recessed on May 12 to administer oaths of office to newly elected and reelected council members and then returned to the dais for remarks honoring outgoing Council member Kim Stone, who concluded 12 years of service.
Oaths administered: Judge Sharmila Manek and the mayor presided over the oaths for newly elected and reelected members. The council paused the meeting for ceremonial swearing; names administered included Varissa Bruckman, John Center, Annette Littleworth and Andres Tapia (oaths were given in alphabetical order, and the clerk recorded each as present after the recess).
Tribute to Kim Stone: The council and community speakers gave extended remarks recognizing Stone’s work. Mayor Nancy Rotering and multiple council members credited Stone with advancing Highland Park’s sustainability agenda — including a complete streets policy, dark‑sky lighting standards, support for electric vehicle readiness and curbside composting — and for stewarding historic‑preservation initiatives and other community programs. Council members described Stone as a meticulous reviewer of meeting materials who raised design, environmental and process questions in service of long‑term community goals.
Stone’s remarks: Stone summarized accomplishments during her tenure and credited staff, volunteers and community partners. She noted projects ranging from warm‑mix asphalt specifications for street repaving to efforts that led to Highland Park’s designation as a bike‑friendly community and steps to expand renewable energy and EV readiness. “I hope our city council will continue to lead on sustainability,” she said, according to the transcript.
Why this matters: The oaths complete an electoral transition and the tributes mark a substantive handoff of priorities on sustainability, public infrastructure and design oversight — topics Stone repeatedly emphasized during her council tenure.
Next steps: After the recess and swearing‑in, the council resumed its meeting and proceeded to regular business. New and returning members signaled readiness to collaborate on prioritized topics including downtown development, events planning and ongoing capital projects.
