Communication & Engagement

2025 Budget

2025 Budget:

$3,898,646

33.00 FTE

Department Overview:

Guided by a North Star of “Creating Connections for a Thriving Community and Democracy,” the Communication & Engagement Department provides both strategic and tactical communication and engagement support to the City Manager’s Office, City Council, the organization as a whole, and the city’s more than 20 diverse departments. The department is centralized to foster consistency in best practices, continuous learning and innovation, better collaboration among professionals in similar fields, and flexibility to support the city’s greatest needs. Several members, however, are embedded within the department they support to promote close relationships with subject matter experts and the development of specialized areas of knowledge. The Communication & Engagement Department supports several focus areas in the Sustainability, Equity and Resilience (SER) Framework, as well as key priorities in the citywide strategic plan, and strives to center equity, innovation and authenticity in its work.

The 2025 Communications & Engagement budget changes focused on continuing support of our Creative Services team, growing our support for community engagement, and realigning expenses into the Administration program. Key enhancements and realignments include:

Realignment of professional development expenses from all programs into one cohesive program, Administration ($120,000 realignment).
Additional funding for professional development within the Administration program to meet the current amount of employees ($20,000).
Enhancing the Community Connectors in Residence within the Community Engagement program through additional operating funding, including professional development and mental wellbeing ($40,000).
Continuation of fixed-term employee to support Community Connectors in Residence within the Community Engagement program which extends the fixed-term position for one more year ($38,000).
Continuation off a part-time coordinator position within the Creative Services program to support livestreaming and recording management for City Council and Board and Commission meetings ($30,000).

Department Programs:

Operating Budget (FY2023-2025)

Expenditure by Program

Program Overview

Administration

This program area supports general department-wide operations. These operations include budget and fiscal tracking and management; ensuring staff has an appropriate workplace environment, equipment and supplies; providing clarity around city policies and requirements; supporting internal communication and enhanced collaboration within the department; and fostering a thriving and healthy organizational culture.

Communications

This program area is responsible for sharing timely, accurate and relevant information to the public from the city, City Council and the organization’s many departments. The team distills sometimes complex information to reach a large and diverse audience through a variety of communication platforms, including the city website and social media channels, as well as a bi-annual print edition and frequent electronic newsletters. The team also cultivates positive working relationships with media and coordinates responses to inquiries.
The program area also includes an internal communication focus, with a goal of ensuring that all city employees remain informed about issues that affect them and help them thrive in their work.

Community Engagement

This program area fosters inclusive and meaningful public participation and relationship-building between the Boulder community and local government. The team supports departments in creating and implementing transparent and inspiring opportunities for the public to provide input; seeks to build trust, increase civic confidence and co-create effective engagement strategies with historically excluded populations; champions innovation, equity and language access; and promotes productive dialogue and participation.

This program area also houses Neighborhood Services and a strategic senior program manager who supports the Volunteer Cooperative. Neighborhood Services empowers residents to build community and leverage grant-funding to enhance the parts of the city they call home. The Volunteer Cooperative strives to ensure that volunteer opportunities across the city are rewarding and welcoming to all.

Creative Services

This program area, previously known as Multimedia/Video Services or Channel 8, is responsible for creating visually based information, content and stories through video production, podcasts, graphic design, animation, brand guidance, and other techniques and specialties that foster effective external and internal communications. The team is also responsible for providing live and/or on-demand video coverage for City Council and boards and commissions.