Austin City Council named Spencer Cronk, city coordinator from Minneapolis, its lone finalist for Austin's city manager position on Tuesday, marking a crucial step in occupying the long-vacant office by early 2018. Cronk edged out fellow finalist Howard Lazarus, city administrator from Ann Arbor, Michigan and former director of Austin's Public Works Department. Although the City Council identified Cronk as its preferred candidate, no appointment will be fully secured until a contract is negotiated. According to city spokesperson Bryce Bencivengo, the city manager is expected to earn a salary between $350,000 and $400,000. City officials estimate the contract will be negotiated by February. It has been 14 months since former City Manager Marc Ott moved to Washington, D.C., for a new job after eight years as Austin’s top executive. City officials originally anticipated the task of filling the vacancy to take six months. Austin's Chief Financial Officer Elaine Hart has served as interim city manager since Ott's departure. City spokesperson David Green said Hart "fully intends" to return to her role as CFO upon Cronk's takeover. The city manager search process has attracted much attention due to delays and the city’s initial efforts to keep the candidates’ identities confidential. Last week, Cronk and Lazarus met with the public and community stakeholders through a town hall meeting and a press conference. The city has delayed several executive hires until a permanent city manager is in place. This has resulted in a long list of vacancies, highlighted by the chief of police, which has been filled in the interim by Assistant Chief Brian Manley since former Chief Art Acevedo took over as Houston’s chief in November 2016.