After more than a decade, Sammamish City Manager Ben Yazici announced he would retire next year.

Yazici, 55, first joined the city as public works finance director in January 2000, just six months after the city incorporated.

He chose to step down February 2016 in the hopes of seeing some larger city projects completed — like the community center, the Klahanie annexation and Mars Hill Church.

“That’s probably  a good, clean time to say goodbye,” he said.

He looks forward to spending more time with his family, he said.

Yazici made the announcement during city council’s Tuesday executive session.