City Manager's Office

The City of Arvada operates within a council-manager form of government. This system of local government combines the strong political leadership of elected officials in the form of a council, with the managerial experience of an appointed local government manager.

The plan establishes a representative system where all power is concentrated in the elected council as a whole and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services.

The city manager supervises implementation of policy and procedure as directed by the city council through coordination and supervision of operations in all city departments. The city manager advises the city council on all matters relating to the planning, development, and operating status of city departments.

Arvada's City Manager is Craig Kocian, who started this term with the city on March 3, 1997. Mr. Kocian received his Masters of Public Administration in 1972 from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He was the City Manager of Arvada from 1976 to 1983, the Assistant City Manager of the City of Oakland, California from 1983 to 1993, and the City Manager of Oakland, from 1993 through February 1997, at which time he returned to the City of Arvada.