City Manager Rorie Watt To Retire Following Thirty Year Career With CBJ

City Manager Rorie Watt has announced his intent to retire at the end of September 2023, following a distinguished thirty year career with the City and Borough of Juneau.

“We have been extremely lucky to have a City Manager with Rorie’s depth and breadth of expertise,” said Mayor Beth Weldon.  “Time and time again, his deep understanding of the history and complexities of our community, as well as of the needs and wants of our residents, has allowed him to navigate difficult decisions while never losing sight of the prime directive of what is right for Juneau’s long-term future.”

Watt began his career with CBJ as a seasonal technician in the Engineering Department, quickly working his way up the ranks to full-time technician, project manager, chief engineer, and ultimately to appointment in 2008 as Engineering Director. Watt proved an adept director, bringing to the position not only technical aptitude but consummate skill in relating to others—recognizing that logic is the beginning of the wisdom, not the end. His leadership of the department culminated, in 2015, in overseeing the milestone transition to today’s combined Engineering & Public Works Department.

Watt was named City Manager in April 2016. His tenure is significant for a long and successful track record of negotiations with the tourism and cruise industry. Faced with the seemingly impossible challenge of managing major corporate negotiations, strengthening the local economy and protecting quality of life, Watt consistently repudiated the idea of a no-win scenario. His bold and enterprising approach led to achievements such as successful settlement negotiations regarding the use of Marine Passenger Fees—an outcome that will benefit cruise ship port communities in Alaska for decades.

The Assembly will begin the recruitment process for the next City Manager in the coming weeks. Watt will remain in office through September 30, 2023.