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Fort Lauderdale selects Raquel Williams as city manager finalist; mayor authorized to negotiate contract
Summary
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission on Feb. 4 selected Raquel Williams as the city manager finalist and unanimously authorized Mayor Dean Trantelis to conduct contract discussions and present terms to the commission. Commissioners asked for salary benchmarks and agreed on a target calendar for returning a proposed contract.
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission on Feb. 4 voted unanimously to select Raquel Williams as the finalist for the city manager position and named Mayor Dean Trantelis to conduct contract discussions and present proposed terms back to the commission.
Commissioners voted to select Williams from the candidate pool and then to authorize the mayor to negotiate an employment agreement and bring a draft contract to the commission for approval. The motions passed on voice/roll-call votes with Commissioner Pamela Beasley Pittman, Commissioner Ben Sorensen, Commissioner John C. Herbst, Vice Mayor Steve Glassman and Mayor Dean Trantelis all voting yes.
Why it matters: The commission’s selection sets the process for negotiating terms with an incoming city manager. Commissioners discussed timing for a start date, salary benchmarks, and a schedule for returning a proposed contract so the commission can vote on formal employment terms.
What the commission said and did: Commissioners moved and seconded the motion to select Williams, then moved and seconded a separate motion naming a city official to lead contract discussions. The commission identified Mayor Dean Trantelis as the official to conduct those discussions. During the same segment, Williams addressed the commission to thank members for the unanimous vote and said she intends to lead “with integrity and authenticity and fairness” and looks forward to meeting staff and the community.
Timing and next steps: Williams said in the meeting she anticipates giving notice at her current job once she has an approved contract and that she could meet with staff in advance of starting. She said she would prefer an early start date and discussed a potential March 30/April 1 start, and the commission discussed aiming to return a proposed contract for commission consideration at a March 4 meeting. Commissioners also asked staff for a comparative analysis of city manager pay across Broward County to inform negotiations.
Quotes: “I just wanna say thank you so much for the unanimous vote of support and the trust that you have placed in me to manage the city of Fort Lauderdale,” Raquel Williams said after the vote. Mayor Dean Trantelis and commissioners emphasized a transparent negotiation process and asked staff to provide pay benchmarks to inform the contract.
Background: The commission conducted an interview and selection process for the city manager position earlier in the hiring timeline. This action creates the formal step of negotiating an employment contract with the chosen finalist before the commission takes a final vote to hire.
What’s next: The mayor will meet with Williams to draft contract terms and return a proposed contract to the commission for approval. Commissioners requested a county pay-comparison analysis to be prepared and shared with the mayor and commission prior to final action.
Ending: The commission’s motions set a clear path for concluding negotiations and presenting a contract to the full commission. The schedule discussed at the meeting targeted a contract return in the next several weeks so the new manager could begin as soon as practical.
