City Of Boulder Announces Department, Staffing Changes

BOULDER, CO — The City of Boulder announced staffing changes and the establishment of new departments Monday. Boulder's Public Works and Planning Departments "recently underwent a comprehensive self-assessment that resulted in several structural changes," officials said.

Boulder City Manager Jane Brautigam said the changes "will enable the city to streamline processes and provide a higher level of service to the community, with a focus on operational excellence.”

The changes include:

• Public works will now consist of two departments: Transportation and Mobility and Utilities. Both departments will "share an identity" in implementing, maintaining and operating public infrastructure, officials said.
• The formation of a Planning and Development Services Department, which will merge the functions of the former Planning Department and Public Works Development Services Division.
• The establishment of a new, stand-alone Facilities Department, which will implement, maintain and operate the city’s building infrastructure.

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To support the new departments, the city released the following overview of staffing changes:

City Manager's Office

Chris Meschuk was selected as deputy city manager in January while continuing to serve as the interim planning director. Recently, Meschuk has needed to dedicate his time fully to the City Manager’s Office and will be transitioning fully into the deputy city manager role. In his new role, Meschuk will assist the City Manager’s Office and department directors in setting strategic direction for the organization, policy development and analysis and coordinating cross-department projects.

Planning and Development Services

Mary Ann Weideman has accepted the position of interim director of Planning & Development Services while recruiting for the director position. She will guide day to day operations while the city transitions to a new department. Weideman has been with the City of Boulder since 1992. She has served as interim director for several departments and continually demonstrates her commitment to operational excellence through her work.

Facilities

Joanna Crean has accepted the new position of director of Facilities & Fleet. Crean will guide the transition of facilities and fleet to its own department, separate from Public Works. Crean has provided leadership of this area for the past three years and will oversee the development of the Facilities Master Plan as well as continued implementation, maintenance and operations of the city’s building infrastructure and fleet services.

Transportation

Bill Cowern has accepted the position of deputy director of the PW - Transportation and Mobility Department and will be filling the role of interim PW - Transportation and Mobility director while the city recruits for the director position. In this role, Cowern will oversee multimodal transportation planning, GO Boulder, capital projects, traffic engineering, transportation operations and maintenance and the Boulder Municipal Airport. Cowern has served the City of Boulder since 1994 and has extensive transportation experience.

Utilities

Tom Settle has accepted the position of deputy director of PW – Utilities, supporting Utilities Director Joe Taddeucci. Through his long career, Settle has developed a deep knowledge of water utilities. He brings 44 years of experience to the role.

“I am continually inspired by the levels of dedication and service these professionals bring to their roles at the city,” Brautigam said.