Following an executive session Tuesday, the Sammamish City Council unanimously named Deputy City Manager Lyman Howard as the next city manager, replacing Ben Yazici in 2016.

Howard will start March 1, 2016, pending contract negotiations.

“I’m very honored,” Howard said in an email. “Sammamish is a special place with involved citizens, a strong city council and dedicated staff. I strongly believe in the community and look forward to investing more time and effort to assist in building a firm legacy for current and future citizens.”

Howard was named deputy city manager in 2011 after joining the city as its finance director about a decade ago.

Yazici, who has been city manager for 14 years, announced his retirement at the April 7 council meeting and recommended Howard as his replacement at the April 21 meeting; the council voted April 21 to conduct an internal search.

Yazici recommended Howard because of his strong finance background.

Yazici pointed out the importance of having a city manager who has a firm grasp on the city’s contracts. Sammamish partners with various groups to provide residents with services; for example, the city contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office to provide Sammamish with its police force.

“We are a unique city for how we deal with services,” Yazici said. “(Howard) understands the contract model of management.”