Bob Stowe, Mill Creek’s city manager since 1995, will leave his post in December to assume the same position in Bothell.
Stowe was confirmed as the new city manager by a 4-3 vote of the Bothell City Council on Monday. His new job begins Jan. 17. His last day with Mill Creek will be Jan. 14.
Stowe is the second high-ranking city official in Mill Creek to leave in the past month. Recreation supervisor Lynn Devoir resigned in October to accept a similar position in Shoreline.
in Bothell, Stowe will have an assistant city manager, Manny Ocampo, who has been serving as interim city manager since February. Former Bothell city manager Jim Thompson left to accept the same position in Casa Grande, Ariz.
“I hate to see him go,” Mill Creek Mayor Terry Ryan said.
Bothell’s population of approximately 31,000 is more than double that of Mill Creek. In addition, Bothell has its own fire department and utility departments. Mill Creek contracts with outside agencies for fire, water and sewer services.
Stowe will be in charge of a city that has 260 employees, compared with Mill Creek’s 60, 11 of whom are part-time. The proposed two-year budget for Bothell is $123 million. Mill Creek’s proposed two-year budget is $28 million.
In addition, Bothell has some light industry, which Mill Creek does not. The city is home to several biotech firms, as well as the University of Washington-Bothell and Cascadia Community College campus. Bothell is also unusual in that it lies in two counties, Snohomish and King.
“I look forward to that,” Stowe said about working with both counties. “It allows me to build on the relationships I’ve built in Snohomish County and establish new ones in King County.”
In Mill Creek, Stowe supervised the process that has brought about Mill Creek Town Center. He was involved in recruiting businesses including Central Market, University Book Store and LA Fitness. Stowe also oversaw two annexations and development of the 4.75-acre Mill Creek Sports Park.
Stowe was selected by Bothell from an initial national pool of 20 candidates.
Ryan said Tuesday that no discussion had yet taken place on finding a successor.
Before Mill Creek, Stowe was city administrator in Lake Stevens.
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