City Hires Planning and Development Director

The City of Boulder announced today that it has hired the organization’s next director of Planning and Development Services after an extensive nationwide search. The new director, Brad Mueller, comes from Colorado, with extensive related experience in Greeley as well as Weld and Douglas counties.

Mueller worked most recently as the Community Development director for Greeley and left there in 2021 to focus on his family’s needs during the pandemic. In addition to his public sector experience in Greeley, Mueller has previously worked in planning-related leadership roles in Weld and Douglas counties and served as a council member for the Town of Castle Rock from 2003 to 2005. In his earlier career, he served as a sales manager and operations lead for Walt Disney World.

Mueller has a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and a dual Bachelor’s Degree in English and Music from the University of Colorado Boulder. He has taught at the University of Northern Colorado and was a Teaching Assistant at Cornell.

“I am excited to welcome Brad to the city. He comes to us with a clear understanding of the balance that is required in achieving a community vision and administering the wide variety of regulations that exist in the planning world,” City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde said. “He has a reputation for superb and consistent support of staff and a commitment to stellar customer service, recognizing that the people experience is every bit as important as the process experience.”

Mueller, in his application, emphasized inclusive engagement, as well as a willingness to find what he called ‘third way’ solutions to complex issues.

“I understand the important role the City of Boulder’s Planning and Development Services department plays in this community,” Mueller said after being offered the position. “I am looking very forward to working with the incredibly talented and dedicated staff, City Council and the community itself to provide excellent service, responsiveness, innovation and expertise in this important aspect of public service.”

With the hiring of Mueller, Interim Planning Director David Gehr, previously the city’s Deputy City Attorney, will return to his retirement. The city appreciates his willingness to lead the department during this transition.