City Manager

Form of Governance & Duties

The City of Aspen operates under a City Manager form of government. The City Manager is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Council. It is the responsibility of the City Manager’s Office to ensure the public receives excellent customer service by providing guidance and support to all City departments, and by assisting City Council in defining and meeting their collective goals.

City Manager's Office Team:

Sara Ott, City Manager (she/her/hers) 

Sara Ott is the City Manager for the City of Aspen, Colorado since 2019. She oversees a $120M in annual government operations through a diverse series of community services and capital projects ranging from renewal energy utilities, downtown vitality, affordable housing development, community development, parks and recreation, police, public transit and more. Prior to joining Aspen’s management team, she spent 18 years as a public servant in a variety of Midwest local governments.

Sara has a master of public administration degree from the University of Kansas and a bachelor degree from Ohio Wesleyan University.  She is also a certified public manager by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and is a Director of the Colorado Insurance Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA). 

When Sara’s not in the office, you can find her with her husband, young children, and dog taking advantage of the beautiful outdoor amenities in the Rocky Mountains.

Diane Foster, Assistant City Manager (she/her/hers) 

Diane Foster is the Assistant City Manager, and has been in this role since 2020. The Assistant City Manager directly oversees Aspen’s Downtown Vitality and Parking, Transportation, Wheeler Opera House, Parks and Recreation, and Kids First, and Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority (APCHA). 

Diane, her husband, and two dogs, moved to Aspen from Park City, Utah, where Diane served as City Manager for seven years. She loves snowboarding and camping, and you will find her most weekends on the slopes or at a campsite.

Scott Miller (he/him/his) is the Aspen Public Works Director and has worked at the City of Aspen since 2008. The Public Works Director oversees Capital Asset, Engineering, and Affordable Housing Development.

Scott and his wife live on Cemetery lane with their cat. Scott loves to spend time with family, bike the Rio Grande Trail, and tell jokes.

Alissa Farrell (she/her/hers) is the Administrative Services Director, and has worked with the City of Aspen since 2004. The Administrative Services Director oversees Human Resources, Information Technology, and Strategy and Innovation.

Alissa and her son live in the downtown core and are true outdoor enthusiasts. You can find them on the slopes, mountain bike trails, skate park, or running around various hiking trails with their dog. 

See the City’s Organizational Chart