Home Rule Information Meeting
For many months, you have likely been hearing about Home Rule Incorporation in Niwot. What we have not yet had is a straightforward conversation about what it actually is, how it works, and what it could mean for our community.
This evening is that conversation.
This is an educational conversation, not a debate. Whether you are supportive, skeptical, or simply curious, we encourage you to come with your questions.
Program
- Welcome — Nicholas Little, President, Niwot Incorporation Committee
- Introduction to Home Rule — Jim Parys, Team Lead for Home Rule
- Historical Context — Biff Warren, President, Niwot Cultural Arts Association
- Meaning of Home Rule and Municipal Charter — Kevin Bommer, Executive Director, Colorado Municipal League
- Charter Commissioner Process — Lois Adamson, Chair, Election Commission
- Role of Boulder County — Scott Firle, Chair, Local Improvement District
- Conclusion — Heidi Storz, Board Member and Former Chair, Local Improvement District
- Q&A
Guest Speaker
We are honored to be joined by Kevin Bommer, Executive Director of the Colorado Municipal League — the statewide association of Colorado’s 271 cities and towns. Kevin has spent his career helping Colorado communities understand what municipal governance looks like in practice, and he will walk us through what home rule means and how a charter is drafted.
Where things stand
On May 21, 2026, the Boulder County District Court determined that the incorporation petition satisfies all requirements of Colorado law and ordered that the question be placed on the November 3, 2026 ballot. On that date, Niwot voters will decide whether to incorporate and, if approved, who will serve as the nine charter commissioners responsible for drafting a proposed home rule charter.
A home rule charter is the document that defines how a municipality governs itself. It establishes the structure of local government, its powers, and the rules under which it operates. Understanding that process is the purpose of this meeting.
Whether you have followed this issue closely or are just beginning to learn about it, we hope you will join us.