After a 42-year career in public service spanning multiple states, City Manager Jim Twombly will retire on April 7.
“I have six grandchildren, none of whom are in Colorado, who are very involved in school and sports activities, and I want to be able to be more present for them,” Twombly said in a letter to Aurora’s roughly 3,700 employees on Friday. “I thoroughly enjoy my work for the city of Aurora and appreciate the professionalism and dedication you demonstrate every day. Although there have been unexpected challenges along the way, I am proud of how much we have accomplished together, the caliber of service we provide the community, and the many initiatives to support our employees we have put in place.”
The Aurora City Council appointed Twombly in 2018 after the city conducted a national search that yielded 195 applicants and four named finalists. Twombly not only navigated Aurora through the COVID pandemic while maintaining quality services for residents but also led the city in coming out sound and strong. He launched and steadily advocated for the city’s ongoing, comprehensive public safety changes and established the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Twombly also recognized the need for a sustainable future for Aurora, and along with the mayor and council, was a champion for industry-leading water conservation measures.
“Jim has done an extraordinary job during a very difficult chapter in the history of our city, and he will be missed,” said Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman.
“I’ve appreciated Jim’s steady leadership for the city of Aurora and its residents,” said Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Gardner. “He led the city through an unprecedented pandemic and ensured we continued to provide services to our residents. It’s been a pleasure working with Jim and I am thrilled he’ll have the opportunity to enjoy retirement with his family.”
“In my time working with City Manager Twombly, I've found him to be professional, communicative and responsive to council and community concerns,” said City Council Member Juan Marcano. “He acknowledged the status quo with our civil service was unacceptable and supported entering the consent decree with the state, helped residents access vaccines and financial support through a deadly pandemic, and has navigated a divided council with patience and grace. I am grateful for his service to Aurora and wish him the best in his retirement.”
“I've worked alongside Jim Twombly over the course of his time at our city,” said City Council Member Françoise Bergan. “He's a consummate professional who has led the city through some challenging and exciting times. I truly wish him the very best in his retirement and having the time to enjoy what is most important in life, his family.”
Twombly served as the director of administration/city manager for the city of Tulsa from 2009 to 2017. Prior to working for the city of Tulsa, he served as the city manager for the city of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, from 2004 to 2009, and the city administrator for the city of Pella, Iowa, from 1994 to 2004. He also served in multiple positions for the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, between 1982 and 1994, including as assistant to the city manager from 1989 to 1994.
City Council will meet in an executive session on Monday, Feb. 13, to discuss the next steps to fill the city manager’s position.
Aurora has a council-manager form of government. The city charter requires City Council members to appoint a city manager who serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the city.