Fiscal Note
No fiscal note required.
Title
Commending Robert F. Phillips, City Engineer and Public Works Team Leader, on his retirement from the City of Madison after 33 years of dedicated service.
Body
WHEREAS, Rob has earned the respect of colleagues, City partners, residents, and elected officials during his career in public works since 1988, all with the City of Madison Engineering Division; and,
WHEREAS, Rob began employment with the City of Madison Engineering Division in 1988 as an entry-level Engineer, specifically designing street reconstruction projects after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987; and,
WHEREAS, after going above and beyond with design to streets, leading Public Works projects, managing federally-funded projects and leading the City’s Bridge Inspection and Construction Program, in 1992, Rob earned a promotion to Principal Engineer of the Division’s Transportation design section and,
WHEREAS, Rob then made tremendous impact as the Principal Engineer for the Transportation Design Section with overall management of the City’s streets, bridges and paths projects for seven years until being promoted to Assistant City Engineer in 1999; and,
WHEREAS, during Rob’s time as Assistant Engineer, he assisted in overall management of the Division, negotiated contracts for the City, directed staff in public works contracting and acted as City Engineer while the current City Engineer temporarily led another City Agency for one year. Rob then earned his promotion to permanent City Engineer and Public Works Team leader in 2010, a position Rob has held until this date of his retirement; and,
WHEREAS, Rob proudly served on the Mayor’s management team, served as the executive secretary of the Board of Public Works, Madison Metropolitan Planning Organizations Technical Coordinating Committee, Employee Relations Committee and served as the Public Works Team Leader, in addition to, his current role as City Engineer for the City of Madison; and,
WHEREAS, Rob’s approach to his work resonated with his colleagues as “professional,” “creative,” “human,” and “thoughtful,” all things that have contributed to incredible relationships that will continue for years to come for Rob personally, and will serve the City of Madison even after his retirement; and,
WHEREAS, during his tenure Rob has led or had significant involvement in numerous projects of great importance to the residents of the City of Madison such as: the construction of John Nolen Drive in conjunction with the construction of Monona Terrace, the reconstruction of East Washington Avenue, the construction of County Highway M, preservation of the Madison Municipal Building and rebuilding of most of the major streets that serve downtown; and,
WHEREAS, Rob was always a team player, who challenged, encouraged and led his team with the most respect and dedication to a community he adores; and
WHEREAS, Rob’s leadership and dedication has inspired excellence and ingenuity from his staff and throughout the Engineering Division to propel the City forward for decades to come; and,
WHEREAS, Rob’s outstanding career has earned him a happy, long, and active retirement; and,
WHEREAS, while we know Rob will miss serving the Madison community and tremendous relationships at the City of Madison, we also know that Rob will now enjoy spending his time with his wife Lori, his two children, Nicholas and Emily, extended family and his many life-long friends.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Council do hereby commend Robert F. Phillips, City Engineer and Public Works Team Leader, on his retirement from the City of Madison after 33 years of dedicated service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in recognition of his long and outstanding service to the City of Madison and as a demonstration of the high regard and affection for him among his colleagues in City Government and among the people he served, the new Wingra/Cannonball Path bridge over Wingra Creek, just east of Fish Hatchery Road shall be named the “Robert F. Phillips, Jr. Bridge.”