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Kenmore council appoints interim city manager, approves federal agenda and selects search firm in 6–1 votes
Summary
At its meeting, the Kenmore City Council appointed Stephanie Lukasch as interim city manager, approved the city's 2025 federal legislative agenda and hired GMP Consultants to run the executive search for a permanent city manager. Roll-call votes and motions were recorded for each action.
Kenmore City Council voted to appoint Stephanie Lukasch as interim city manager, approved the city's 2025 federal legislative agenda and selected GMP Consultants to run the search for a permanent city manager during its meeting.
The council appointed Stephanie Lukasch and authorized the mayor to negotiate and sign an interim city manager services contract, which the council will ratify later on the consent agenda. Deputy Mayor O'Kane made the motion from executive session; the council approved it by roll call.
The council then approved a federal legislative agenda that includes a $7 million request for the Lake Pointe property acquisition, $1.25 million for public works operations center environmental features, support for temporary flight restriction protections for Kenmore Air, and advocacy for eliminating lead from aircraft fuel. The agenda passed 6'to'1 on a roll call vote.
Later in the meeting the council chose GMP Consultants to run the executive search for a permanent city manager. After hearing brief presentations from three firms, the council voted 6'to'1 to retain GMP to lead recruitment and outreach.
Votes at a glance
- Interim city manager appointment: Motion by Deputy Mayor O'Kane to appoint Stephanie Lukasch as interim city manager and authorize the mayor to negotiate and sign an interim-services contract; second not specified in the transcript. Roll call: Shrubnick: yes; Marshall: yes; Balutzes/Lucius: yes; Culver: yes; Sassen: yes; O'Kane: yes; Mayor Herbig: yes. Outcome: approved.
- 2025 federal legislative agenda: Motion to approve the agenda. The packet lists four priority items: $7,000,000 for Lake Pointe property acquisition; $1,250,000 for public works operations center environmental features; temporary flight restriction protections for Kenmore Air; and removing lead from aircraft fuel. Roll call: Shrubnick: yes; Marshall: yes; Sassen: yes; Lucius: yes; Culver: no; O'Kane: yes; Herbig: yes. Outcome: approved, 6'to'1.
- Executive search firm selection: Motion to retain GMP Consultants to run the city's executive search. Roll call: Shrubnick: yes; Marshall: yes; Sassen: yes; Culver: no; O'Kane: yes; Lutzis/Lucius: yes; Herbig: yes. Outcome: approved, 6'to'1.
Consent agenda
Council approved the consent agenda unanimously earlier in the meeting; the consent items were passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Why it matters
The interim appointment allows the city to maintain executive leadership while the council and its selected search firm complete a nationwide recruitment. Approving the federal legislative agenda directs the mayor and city officials to seek federal funding and advocacy on the identified priorities. Hiring a search firm begins the formal process to identify and vet candidates for Kenmore's next city manager.
What comes next
- The interim city manager contract will be negotiated by the mayor and returned to the council for ratification on the consent agenda. - The mayor, deputy mayor and city staff plan travel to Washington, D.C., to meet legislators on the approved federal priorities. - GMP Consultants will begin outreach and the recruitment process per its proposal.
