City and county celebrate completion of Boulder’s first Community Assembly

The City of Boulder and Boulder County are celebrating the completion of Boulder's first Community Assembly. Forty-three randomly selected members of the Boulder community met over seven Saturdays between May and October to examine and discuss 15-minute neighborhoods in the Boulder Valley. A Community Assembly is a structured public process in which a randomly selected group of community members study an issue, deliberate and develop recommendations for decisionmakers. Members bring their perspectives and lived experiences and typically meet over several weeks or months. Their final recommendations aim to reflect the community's best interests.

Boulder's first Community Assembly was tasked with learning about the potential benefits and trade-offs of 15-minute neighborhoods, developing a collaborative definition of these neighborhoods for the Boulder Valley and identifying challenges and opportunities presented working to implement the concept. They were also asked to recommend whether 15-minute neighborhoods should be proactively pursued in Boulder - and if not, why not, and if so, how and where. The assembly provided a unique opportunity for community members to help shape the future of the Boulder Valley and was an innovative part of community engagement for the once-in-a-decade Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update. The plan includes wide-ranging policies and a future land use map.

The Community Assembly presented their recommendations to Boulder City Council and City of Boulder Planning Board on Dec. 11, 2025, and has shared a written report of its recommendations, supported by the facilitation team from the University of Colorado, Boulder. The report includes a Boulder specific definition of 15-minute neighborhoods, 15 majority recommendations, a set of principles for prioritizing locations and one minority report on a single issue. The recommendations focused on Inclusive Local Economy, Housing Choice and Opportunity and various challenges and opportunities. Themes included creating a sense of belonging and social connection and increasing accessibility for people of all abilities.

The assembly provided a definition of 15-minute neighborhoods in Boulder, stating 15-minute neighborhoods are, "A diverse, inclusive and connected community in which services and amenities are easily and equitably accessible within 15-minutes from home for pedestrians of all abilities."

Read the full recommendation or watch assembly members' presentation of their recommendations to City Council at ABoulderFuture.org.

"Trying a Community Assembly for the first time was an important step in strengthening how we engage the community on complex issues," said City of Boulder Communications and Engagement Department Director Sarah Huntley. "This assembly was vital for involving community members who have been historically excluded in long range planning processes and empowered community members to address a complex issue collectively and effectively. We are deeply grateful for the assembly members' time, honesty and creativity. Their insights on 15-minute neighborhoods will help shape policies that make daily life easier, healthier and more connected for everyone."

More information on how the recommendations informed the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan is expected as part of the update when the draft plan is release in March 2026. The approved recommendations will be incorporated in the updated comprehensive plan scheduled for adoption in summer 2026. Visit ABoulderFuture.orgto learn more.