HomeMy WebLinkAboutLTC 194-2026 Appointment of Planning Director194-2026
MIAMI BEACH
OFF ICE OF TH E CITY MANAGER
LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO : Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members oft e City Commission
FROM :
/': C'
Eric Carpenter, City Manager ~ K...
DATE: May 8, 2026
SUBJECT : Appointment of Planning Director
The purpose of this Letter to Commiss ion (L TC) is to announce the success ion in leadership in the
Planning Department for the Director pos ition . As you know , the current Director of Planning ,
Thomas Mooney, has announced his ret irement to take place in July 2026 , after 33 honorable
years of service to the city with the last 12 as Planning Director. We are grateful for Tom 's service
and wish him well in his much-deserved retirement!
We are blessed to have a very strong and talented group of current Department employees that
are prepared to build on the progress tha t the Department has made over the past few years . After
an internal selection process and significant deliberation , I am happy to announce the appointment
of Deborah Tackett as Planning Director fo r the city. Deborah is a proven , dedicated servant
leade r and extremely competent and respected in her profession . We have benefitted from her
dedication to the field of urban plann ing and historic preservation throughout her twenty-two year
career with the City . As the Director , Deborah is qualified and uniquely pos itioned to leverage her
experience , skills , and substantive knowledge in the field to lead our city into the future through
smart and sustainable deve lopment.
Deborah started her career with the city as a Planner in the Department in 2003 . After a brief stint
in the private sector, she returned to the city in the position of Senior Planner, later Princ ipal
Planner, in 2006 . As the city's Principal Planner, Deborah was responsible for the development
of master plans for city neighborhoods , providing zon ing analysis for all development projects , and
reviewing all proposed major development within the city 's historic distr icts . In 20 14 , Deborah was
appointed as the city 's Historic Preservation and Architecture Officer, a role she fulfills to this day.
As the Historic Preservation and Architecture Officer , Deborah has been directly involved in laying
the very foundation of our city 's urban fabr ic through her part icipation in drafting the legislation
governing the city 's planning , land use , and historic preservation laws . Deborah 's comprehensive
understanding of departmental operations , proven leadership , and commitment to excellence
make her an ideal candidate to lead the Planning Department.
Deborah will be subm itted for confirmation during the May 20 , 2026 Commission meeting.