By Coral Gables Gazette staff

When Coral Gables City Manager Peter Iglesias announced his resignation on May 20, he gave the city a little more than four months to identify his successor before his planned departure on Oct. 2.

More than halfway through that timeline – roughly two months and one week later – there has been little visible progress toward finding the city’s next chief executive.

City officials confirmed this week that the Coral Gables Commission, which is responsible for hiring the city manager, has not yet discussed how it intends to conduct the search. The city has not retained an executive search firm, identified candidates or begun interviewing prospective applicants.

“No decision has been made regarding the appointment of an interim city manager should a permanent city manager not be selected prior to City Manager Peter Iglesias’ retirement,” Communications Director Martha Pantin said in response to questions from the Gazette.

The Gazette also contacted commissioners individually seeking an update on the process.

“These issues will be discussed at the next commission meeting,” Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson said in an email.

Even if commissioners begin the process next month, the timeline will be compressed. The City Commission is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 25, leaving just over a month before Iglesias’ announced departure.

According to the Florida City and County Management Association’s 2024 Search Guide, the typical search for a new city manager takes between 90 and 120 days from initiation to selection.

Commissioner Melissa Castro said she appreciated Iglesias’ decision to announce his retirement well in advance, giving the commission an opportunity to conduct a thoughtful search. But as of this week, she said she had not yet been briefed on any transition plans.

“I was supposed to have a meeting regarding this subject with the city manager this week, but it was impossible for my schedule and it’s going to be next week, so I don’t have any information really on his transition plan or what’s going to happen,” Castro said.

“The selection of the next city manager will be one of the most important decisions facing Coral Gables, and I believe residents deserve a process centered on professionalism, transparency and strong leadership for the future of our city.”

Iglesias’ departure comes just before historic election

If Iglesias leaves on Oct. 2 as planned, his successor — or an interim city manager — would take over only weeks before Coral Gables voters head to the polls for the city’s first-ever November municipal election.

The timing adds another layer of significance to the commission’s decision, as the city’s top administrator could be selected by the current commission just before voters choose the officials who will work with that manager over the coming years.

Iglesias has had an unusually eventful tenure in Coral Gables. After serving as city manager for more than five years, he was dismissed in February 2024 on a 3-2 vote by the commission, with Commissioners Melissa Castro, Ariel Fernandez and then-Commissioner Kirk Menendez supporting his termination.

The political landscape shifted over the following year. In May 2025, a newly constituted commission voted 3-2 to reappoint Iglesias, with Mayor Vince Lago sponsoring the motion and Commissioner Richard Lara casting the deciding vote. Castro and Fernandez voted against bringing him back.

In his May resignation letter, Iglesias said he was announcing his departure months in advance “to provide the city commission with sufficient time to identify a successor and allow for an orderly transition.”

City manager remains sought-after job

Despite the political tensions that have dominated city commission meetings over the past two years, the Coral Gables city manager position remains one of the most sought-after municipal leadership jobs in South Florida. Even with pending property tax reform on the horizon, the city has an enviable commercial tax base that won’t be affected by potential decreases as part of its $318 million budget.

The position’s responsibilities are outlined in Article II of the Coral Gables City Charter, which designates the city manager as “the chief executive officer of the city.” Under the charter, the city manager oversees the day-to-day administration of municipal government, directs city departments, appoints most employees and is responsible for carrying out the policies adopted by the City Commission.

The charter provides broad authority for the office but does not include a detailed job description or establish salary parameters.

Iglesias currently earns an annual salary of $305,324, exclusive of benefits, making the position among the highest-paid municipal management posts in the region.