Fife city officials have hired a Florida search firm to find their next city manager at a cost of $23,500.

The City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday night to select Colin Baenziger & Associates, of Wellington, Fla. The other finalist – favored by the other three council members – was Bellevue-based Prothman Co.

The Fife position will be Baenziger & Associates first city manager search in Washington state, said Fife City Manager Steve Worthington. The contract covers all costs, except travel for candidates.

Worthington, 56, announced plans last month to resign after working for the city for 12 years, the last five as Fife’s top administrator.

Worthington plans to work as city manager through the end of the year, and could continue two more months after that in a transition role, according to his contract. He is the city’s highest-paid employee, earning an annual salary of $130,000.