Council creates Duane and Kelly Roberts "extraordinary achievement" award, names Roberts as inaugural recipients

Councilmember Chuck Conder proposed creating a new city award recognizing longtime civic contributions and asked the council to name Duane and Kelly Roberts as the inaugural recipients for their work restoring the Mission Inn.

"So what I'm asking the city council to do today is to approve the creation of the Duane and Kelly Roberts City of Riverside extraordinary achievement award ... and select Dwayne and Kelly Roberts ... as the first selectees for the award," Conder said. Multiple councilmembers praised the Roberts family’s leadership in reopening and restoring the Mission Inn, recalled the 1993 reopening and thanked community partners involved in the restoration.

Council discussion was supportive and the motion to create the award and name Duane and Kelly Roberts as the first honorees passed by unanimous vote. Councilmembers noted Duane Roberts died on 11/01/2025 and that Kelly Roberts could not attend the meeting; the council said it will arrange a private time to meet with Kelly Roberts and unveiled a plaque planned for the wall outside the council chambers.

The council did not attach any financial award to the recognition; the item authorizes creating the award and installing a commemorative plaque and programming to honor recipients.