Government

The City of Boulder has a Council-Manager form of government. Under this form of government, the elected City Council sets the policies for the operation of the Boulder government. The administrative responsibility of the City rests with the City Manager who is appointed by the City Council. The City Council consists of nine members: a Mayor, a Mayor Pro Tem and seven council members.

The City of Boulder conducts its general elections on the first Tuesday in November of odd numbered years. All city elections are administered by the City Clerk.

City Council

Nine council members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis for two and four year terms. After each election, council members select one of their members to serve a two-year term as mayor.

Every two years (odd-numbered years), five council members are elected to office. The four receiving the most votes serve four-year terms and the fifth person, receiving the least number of votes, serves a two-year term.

City council appoints and sets salaries for the city manager, city attorney and municipal judge.

Council Meetings

• Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.
• All council meetings are open to the public.

City Manager

The city manager is hired by council to handle the affairs of the city in accordance with the policies set by City Council. The position is structured so all department heads are directly or indirectly (through the assistant city manager or deputy city manager) responsible to the city manager.

Departments

There are separate departments within the city, administered by department heads who are hired by the city manager.

Divisions

• The larger departments are divided into distinct divisions, administered by directors.