This innovative approach to engagement aims to make public participation in decision-making more inclusive and democratic

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The City of Boulder invites community members to observe Boulder’s first Community Assembly in action on Sept. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. as part of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update.

The Community Assembly is an innovative approach to engagement that aims to make public participation in decision-making more inclusive and democratic. Boulder's first Community Assembly is tasked with exploring the definition and implementation of 15-minute neighborhoods in the Boulder Valley — places where community members can meet most daily needs within a 15-minute walk, roll or bike ride.

Community members are invited to observe a typical morning for the Community Assembly, including deliberation activities as well as a facilitated conversation with staff from the Center for People with Disabilities as part of the foundational information and perspectives provided to assembly members.

"We want to give our community an in-person peek into the type of information that is being shared and the nature of the deliberative discussions,” said Community Assembly Moderator and City of Boulder Community Engagement Manager Brenda Ritenour. “This is an important step in the assembly process, as we draw closer to the final session.” Ritenour and other staff will be available to answer questions during the observation day.

The assembly is comprised of 48 randomly selected community members and reflects the proportion of the Boulder Valley population in the City of Boulder (~81% of seats) and unincorporated Boulder County (~19% of seats). During seven full-day Saturday sessions between May and October 2025, assembly members learn from independent experts about land use, transportation, housing, commercial vibrancy and infrastructure considerations. They will then collectively refine Boulder’s vision for these neighborhoods, examining benefits, costs and trade-offs to identify if or where these neighborhoods make sense. They will present their recommendations on 15-minute neighborhoods to policymakers for consideration in the next Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.

WHEN:

  • Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
    9:30 a.m. to noon

RSVP

  • Space is limited, so RSVPs are required. Please RSVP by 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. The location of the meeting and agenda details will be shared with those who have RSVP’d 24 hours in advance.

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