Nestled against the face of the Rocky Mountains, twenty-five miles northwest of Denver, Boulder, Colorado is a unique community of 100,000 whose name has become synonymous with excellence, thoughtful planning, concern for the environment and respect for the opinion of individual citizens. Today's Boulder is a mixture of historic, well-preserved buildings, vibrant retail and commercial businesses and numerous art galleries. The City has over 300 restaurants and entertainment establishments, walking/biking paths and unsurpassed beauty. Boulder's citizens are well educated, informed on local and world issues and "just plain friendly". The City offers an eclectic life style, appealing to a wide variety of people from the most physically active to those seeking culture, higher education and even solitude.

As a community, Boulder has evolved as the result of careful and thoughtful planning. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, strategic visioning efforts and community surveys are utilized to frequently reinforce concerns for maintaining a high quality of life. Boulder City Council and staff constantly deal with quality of life issues, including open space acquisition and management (over 42,000 acres preserved for recreation, natural habitat protection and buffering against uncontrolled growth), affordable housing, alternative modes of transportation, growth management, congestion management, neighborhood issues, community oriented policing programs and support for the arts and human services.