Aurora City Attorney Dan Brotzman announced his retirement Monday after 38 years in municipal government, much of it spent serving Aurora. 

Brotzman worked five years with the Aurora City Attorney’s Office, with four of those years spent serving as the city attorney, one year as the interim city attorney and his first year as the deputy city attorney. His last day will be in late June, according to a news release.

In a letter to the Aurora City Attorney’s Office announcing his retirement, Brotzman said he was fortunate to have worked in Aurora and proud of the actions the city has taken throughout those years.

“For the past 38 years I have been fortunate to serve leaders, citizens and the community in Colorado municipal government,” Brotzman said in the release. “I am also very proud of actions that Aurora has successfully undertaken to protect and provide redress to the citizens.”

Throughout his time in Aurora, Brotzman has overseen the city’s legal matters and supported the council in developing and implementing city policy. 

He was involved in creating the city’s integrated uniform development code to help the city grow with proper planning and in adopting the city’s first operator agreements for oil and gas, setting the city up as a model for other cities, according to the release. 

Prior to his tenure with Aurora, he was the city attorney for the city of Englewood for 28 years. 

Brotzman has also seen Aurora through conflict, providing legal counsel in 2022 when the council terminated censure proceedings against Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky in a closed-door meeting, which was later found to be in violation of Colorado’s Open Meetings Law after the council was ordered to provide a recording of the meeting to The Sentinel Colorado. 

In his letter to the Aurora City Attorney’s Office, Brotzman said he is grateful to have worked with over a dozen mayors, councilmembers, board and commission members, attorneys and legal staff. 

“I have found the attorneys in my office to be bright, hardworking, caring people with their hearts and intentions in the right place,” Brotzman said in the release. “I am eternally grateful to my wonderful team.”

The Aurora City Attorney’s Office is staffed by about 65 people, and Brotzman’s position is one of four positions appointed by the mayor and city council. 

Plans to fill his position when he retires in June are “pending,” according to the news release.