City of Boulder extends registration deadline for upcoming Community and Council Forum

The City of Boulder is extending the deadline for community members to express their interest in one of 10 open participant seats for a pilot this Community and Council Forumscheduled for Thursday, Sept. 26.

The original deadline for sign up to be entered into a randomized selection process was today. That date was chosen to provide ample time for selected community members to understand and commit to the new forum agenda. A newspaper article on the forum was published this morning that has sparked additional community interest. To achieve a wider reach, the city has decided to extend the registration deadline to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23. Individuals who sign up by then will be included in a randomized process to fill 10 seats. Please use the sign-up form on the city's websiteto add your name to the lottery list.

The Clerk's Office will e-mail those who have been chosen for a participant seat by Monday evening. Participants must attend in person the night of the forum.

Selected community members will have the opportunity to share their experiences related to Economic Development Plan and Program Enhancementswith fellow community members and city council members.

All other community members are invited to observe the forum in person or virtually with no advance sign up necessary. All parts of the forum that are occurring in Council Chambers will be livestreamed on Channel 8 and the City of Boulder YouTube channel.There will, however, be a portion of the evening that includes facilitated break-out dialogue circles. These will be held in other parts of the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building so that participants and observers can hear the conversations. Community members who wish to observe are invited to choose a dialogue circle or rotate among the break-out groups to hear what is being discussed. A city staff member will take notes in each circle, and the groups will reconvene in Chambers to share key themes with all attendees. That report-out will be videotaped and livestreamed.

As additional background, the City of Boulder is launching its first Community and Council Forum to test a possible way to offer meaningful community engagement earlier in City Council's decision-making process.This new pilot program was developed in response to community feedback as part of the Better Public Meetings Project. The topic of this first experimental form is the Economic Development Plan and Program Enhancements.

The forum is part of the city's ongoing efforts to ensure community voices are heard and to address the need for greater inclusivity and engagement in city governance. After a brief staff presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions and engage in small group discussions with councilmembers and city staff.

In total, there are 20 participation seats, 10 of which are reserved for invited community members with lived experience related to the forum topic. The remaining 10 additional seats will be available through advance sign-ups with a randomized selection if more than 10 individuals register. Interested community members must sign up for a chance to participate, though registering does not guarantee selection. Other community members are welcome to observe the forum in person or virtually. The forum will be livestreamed on Channel 8 and the City of Boulder's YouTube channel.

This forum replaces the regularly scheduled study session on Sept. 26. Two additional forums will be held in 2025 as part of this pilot program, with dates to be announced.

More information can be found on the online event page for the Council and Community Forum.

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