Kenmore council honors City Manager Rob Carl Lindsey with proclamation and community awards

The Kenmore City Council on March 17 honored outgoing City Manager Rob Carl Lindsey with community awards, speeches from council members and a mayoral proclamation marking March 17, 2025, in his honor.

The meeting included presentations of four “super cocreator” awards, presented by the city manager and council as recognition of volunteer contributions. Recipients called forward and acknowledged in the meeting were Suzanne Greathouse, Tracy Bonashinsky, Maura Query (with collaborator Lucy), and Sherry Baker. The presentations highlighted volunteer-led stream restoration, community events, youth programming and waterfront activation.

Council tributes and proclamation: Multiple council members praised Lindsey’s leadership, citing projects completed during his tenure. Council member Lutzis said Lindsey’s work is “among the best in the profession” and credited him with mentoring public servants and supporting large infrastructure and community projects. Other council members cited the hangar and town square, park reopenings, walkways and waterways improvements, climate and human-services initiatives, and the city’s pandemic response.

Mayor Nigel Herbig read a proclamation on behalf of the council: “Now, therefore, I Nigel Herbig, mayor of the city of Kenmore, on behalf of the Kenmore City Council, do hereby proclaim 03/17/2025 as Rob Kerlinsey Day,” the mayor said during the meeting transcript. Lindsey accepted the recognition and addressed the council, thanking staff, council members and his family for support during his 13 years with the city.

Consent agenda and other business: Earlier in the meeting the council approved the consent agenda as published. A motion was made, seconded and the mayor said the consent agenda “is approved unanimously.” The consent agenda vote was the only formal recorded vote taken that evening.

Why it matters: Council members and residents credited Lindsey with leading large capital and community initiatives, supporting civic volunteers and establishing a “get to yes” culture in city government. The council’s remarks framed the recognition as a formal capstone to Lindsey’s tenure; he will depart to become city manager of another jurisdiction (announced in remarks), and the council recorded its appreciation with the proclamation and presentations.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda — Motion to approve consent agenda as published; moved and seconded; approved unanimously (no roll-call tally provided in the transcript). • Proclamation — Mayor read proclamation declaring March 17, 2025, as Rob Kerlinsey Day; proclamation presented and accepted (no formal roll-call vote recorded).

Ending: The meeting closed with additional council remarks and adjournment. No policy votes or ordinance adoptions were recorded in connection with the farewell items.