City shakeup: City of Greeley’s Community Development Director resigns, Becky Safarik to take over as interim director

By Kelly Ragan

The City of Greeley will see another big shake up on the heels of city manager Roy Otto announcing his resignation. 

Brad Mueller, Greeley’s Community Development Director, is also leaving the city after 11 years with the city. His last day is Friday. 

Becky Safarik – yes, the same Becky Safarik who recently retired after 42 years as Assistant City Manager – will step in as the interim Community Development Manager for a couple months until a national search is conducted, and a replacement found for Mueller. 

“That’s actually the department she started in,” said Kelli Johnson, spokesperson for the city. “She has the capacity and the skills.” 

Safarik previously served as Greeley’s Community Development Director for more than 30 years.  

Johnson said there would likely be a national search through multiple executive recruiting agencies to fill the role. 

Mueller told the NoCo Optimist in an interview that there were a couple family health matters he needed to attend to. 

Also, he and his wife, Pepper, who serves on the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education, have plans to hike the Appalachian Trail, a trail that stretches more than 2,180 miles from Maine to Georgia. 

Mueller said he plans to stay in the community but doesn’t have a specific plan for what comes next. 

This sabbatical, he said, is a chance for him to step back and look at his other skills. 

Otto, who announced his resignation after 22 years with the city July 20, said something similar. 

“As I approach completing my 16th year as city manager, and 22 years with the city, I believe now is the time for me to transition to another chapter of my life,” Otto said in a news release. “While I don’t know exactly what this next chapter entails, I know that I am being called in a different direction. This 22 years of service to my adopted hometown has been the highest honor of my career.”

Aug. 18 is set to be Otto’s last day with the city. 

Johnson said Otto’s position has not yet been posted yet, but it would go through a recruitment process ultimately overseen by city council. 

Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry recently announced his resignation as well, with plans to take a position with Elevations Credit Union. 

In October 2020, Boulder City Manager Jane Brautigam also retired. 

“I do not think it’s uncommon to see turnover following a crisis like COVID-19,” Johnson said, noting that was her opinion and not the city’s official stance.