Miami Herald Logo

Merrett Stierheim named interim city manager of Doral | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Latest News

Merrett Stierheim named interim city manager of Doral

By Paradise Afshar

    ORDER REPRINT →

December 06, 2012 04:13 PM

Former Miami-Dade county manager Merrett Stierheim has added another title to an already lengthy resume: He’s now the interim city manager of Doral.

The city council unanimously approved the veteran bureaucrat this week, just a few days after new mayor Luigi Boria was sworn in.

Stierheim will serve as the temporary replacement following the departure of City Manager Yvonne Soler-McKinley, which was announced at a meeting Tuesday.

Boria, who knew of the manager’s decision late last week, nominated Stierheim after interviewing other candidates over the weekend.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“I studied his resume then I realized he was really a capable person to get the job,” said Boria to the Miami Herald.

Stierheim is a 45-year veteran in the public sector and first served as manager of Miami-Dade County from 1976 to 1986, where he supervised a nearly $5 billion countywide infrastructure expansion including the construction of Miami Metro Zoo, now Zoo Miami, the downtown library and cultural complex, the government center and several regional parks.

He also served as interim city manager of the City of Miami in 1996 and in 1998 was asked to return to Miami-Dade County where he worked until 2001.

Stierheim was named superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools in October 2001 where he served until June 2004. Among other public sector positions, he also served as interim town manager of the newly incorporated Miami Lakes in 2001.

“My purpose here is to bring what professional experience and judgment I have to the city of Doral, which is a wonderful city and very progressive city,” said Stierheim , 79, who will be paid $9,500 a month for his services.

The Pinecrest resident added he has no interest in taking on the role for good, and will be helping the council and mayor in finding a permanent replacement.

In her letter, which was read during a special council meeting Tuesday, Soler-McKinley explained she’d made a commitment to former mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez that she’d stay on as manager until the end of his term.

“As the end of my commitment to Mayor Bermudez was approaching, I had an opportunity to examine the future,” wrote Soler-McKinley, who was not at the meeting.

Soler-McKinley said later she approved of the mayor’s choice for a temporary replacement.

In a text message to the Miami Herald she wrote: “I am honored the mayor chose the iconic Merrett Stierheim to replace me. I know the city is in good hands and he will continue the good work we set in motion over the last four years.”

Speculation about the city manager’s fate provided plenty of political fodder during mayoral campaign, contributing to a relatively heated election season for a young town who until last month had only had one mayor since it incorporated less than a decade ago.

Former councilman and mayoral candidate Pete Cabrera, who had publicly clashed with Soler-McKinley as well as the chief of police, lost a spot in the run-off but endorsed Boria.

The endorsement was criticized by Boria rival Frank Bolaños, who accused Cabrera of trading his endorsement for a promise that Boria would sack the city manager and chief.

Both Boria and Cabrera denied any deal was struck.

Soler-McKinley, who does not have another job lines up, said she is proud of the work she and her staff accomplished during her time with the city, including the development of parks and municipal buildings within the city.

Boria, himself a former councilman, noted he worked with Soler-McKinley for about two years and said she was “outstanding.”

“I don’t have any complaints about her job,” said Boria in an interview following the meeting.

“It’s her decision and I have to applaud her that she is looking for other challenges,” said Boria in an interview following the meeting Tuesday, adding it’s normal for "people in high levels to step down and look for new horizons."

Soler-McKinley is leaving the city with a severance package that includes six months’ salary, totaling $88,364.64, six months of retirement contribution at 12 percent of salary and three months health insurance.

The council unanimously approved the severance package.

  Comments  

Videos

Baby born on a JetBlue flight

The Cuban government didn’t allow a cruise ship from the Port of Palm Beach to dock in Havana Friday (IN SPANISH)

View More Video

Trending Stories

Military planes carrying 180 tons of aid for Venezuelans fly from Miami to Colombia

February 16, 2019 08:00 AM

Here are some of the worst mistakes immigrants make applying for legal papers

February 15, 2019 11:26 AM

Dolphins hire ex-Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, the league’s 2016 executive of year

February 16, 2019 04:27 PM

Panic at the Orlando airport when a man alarms passengers at security checkpoint

February 16, 2019 02:52 PM

Mark Walton, former Canes star now with the Cincinnati Bengals, arrested in Miami

February 16, 2019 11:05 AM

Read Next

Did the rock star unzip it on stage in Miami? Fifty years later, let’s take a look

Entertainment

Did the rock star unzip it on stage in Miami? Fifty years later, let’s take a look

By Miami Herald Archives

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 17, 2019 09:41 AM

Did Jim Morrison expose himself in Miami? After the Doors played Dinner key on March 1, 1969, the criminal justice system went to work. The Lizard King was arrested and put on trial for indecent exposure.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE LATEST NEWS

Herbal water for babies with tummy discomfort recalled for possible choking hazard

Health & Fitness

Herbal water for babies with tummy discomfort recalled for possible choking hazard

February 17, 2019 09:35 AM
Haitian prime minister breaks silence on violent protests

Haiti

Haitian prime minister breaks silence on violent protests

February 17, 2019 12:07 AM
One dead in shooting near South Beach’s Ocean Drive

Miami Beach

One dead in shooting near South Beach’s Ocean Drive

February 17, 2019 06:47 AM
It needed overtime, but Palmer Trinity boys’ soccer will defend its state title

Miami-Dade High Schools

It needed overtime, but Palmer Trinity boys’ soccer will defend its state title

February 16, 2019 07:59 PM
LaSalle boys’ soccer will play for a state title — and made school history along the way

High School Sports

LaSalle boys’ soccer will play for a state title — and made school history along the way

February 16, 2019 11:20 PM
For the first time in eight years, Varela boys’ soccer returns to state title game

Miami-Dade High Schools

For the first time in eight years, Varela boys’ soccer returns to state title game

February 16, 2019 07:56 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story