Commissioner Rodriguez called the meeting to order and introduced the Commission.
6:01 PM
Becky Lennahan, Staff Director of the Colorado Reapportionment Commission, provided an overview of the constitutional provisions that guide the Commission's activities and described the composition of the Commission. She outlined the time line that the Commission must follow to meet its charge, and detailed the legal criteria and priorities that the Commission must adhere to under federal and state law.
6:08 PM
Tom Mayer, Louisville City council, speaking for himself, said that he supports HD 12 in the House Preliminary Plan because it includes similar communities of interest. Also, HD 11 and HD 12 include substantial portions of the City of Longmont, thereby giving the city more effective representation. He also spoke in support of SD 17 in the Preliminary Senate Plan because it is compact and includes similar communities of interest. Discussion followed about the value of splitting a city to increase the number of its representatives.
6:12 PM
Jack Pommer spoke in support of HD 11 in the Preliminary House Plan because it is more compact than the current HD 11 and includes similar communities of interest.
6:15 PM
Rebecca McSwain spoke in support of HD 12 in the Preliminary House Plan because it includes similar communities of interest.
6:16 PM
John Cross spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because it minimizes the splitting of Boulder County communities of interest. Specifically, HD 12 includes the Cities of Lafayette and Louisville and HD 13 includes the Boulder County mountain communities. He commented on the Preliminary Senate Plan and said that SD 13 would be a better district if it were more compact and included similar communities of interest.
6:21 PM
Britta Singer, Boulder Democratic Party, spoke in support of the Preliminary House and Senate Plan
6:23 PM
Rick Samson, St. Vrain Valley School Board, spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because the district is included in five House districts, thereby diluting the district's political influence. He said Louisville and Lafayette include different communities of interest and that most of the City of Longmont should be in one House district. Discussion followed about the importance of considering school districts when drawing legislative district boundaries.
6:39 PM
Harry McNevin spoke in support of keeping the City of Longmont as whole as possible.
6:40 PM
Tracy Davison, Boulder County Republican Party, speaking for himself, explained that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont differ economically. He also explained that there is not enough affordable housing near jobs in Boulder County.
6:43 PM
Rodney Mitchell said that he moved to the City of Louisville to be represented by legislators with similar political views and for economic reasons. He spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because it includes all of the city in one district. He also requested that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont be kept as whole as possible.
6:45 PM
Wesley Herrin spoke in support of the Preliminary House and Senate Plan. He also described the constitutional requirements concerning cities and communities of interest.
6:48 PM
Leona Stoecker, Mayor of the City of Longmont, spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because it does not include a majority of the city's population in one House district (see Attachment A). She also spoke in support of the Preliminary Senate Plan because it includes the city in one Senate district. She said that the Preliminary House Plan does not satisfy the constitutional requirement concerning the splitting of cities. Mayor Stoecker explained that Longmont is not a bedroom community because most of its residents live and work in the City.
7:01 PM
John Keany spoke in support of including the Cities of Louisville and Lafayette in one House district and one Senate district and spoke in opposition to splitting the City of Longmont. He also spoke in opposition to SD 18 and SD 13 in the Preliminary Senate Plan because the districts include dissimilar communities of interest. Discussion followed about opportunities for increasing minority populations in Boulder County districts.
7:07 PM
Cindy Domenico, Boulder County Assessor, speaking for herself, said that the City of Boulder and the County's eastern cities are part of a similar economic community of interest. Specifically, the cities' residents are skilled labor and upper income. She also spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because it includes large enough portions of the City of Longmont in HD 11 and HD 12 to ensure that the city is effectively represented.
7:12 PM
Peter Dawson spoke in support of the Preliminary House and Senate Plan because it does not split similar communities of interest.
7:14 PM
Larry Green spoke in support of keeping the City of Longmont as whole as possible. He also explained that the Cities of Longmont and Boulder are economically different. For example, the City of Boulder includes the University of Colorado and many federal research facilities and the City of Longmont provides a more inviting business climate.
7:18 PM
Bob Sievers, University of Colorado Regent from the Second Congressional District, speaking for himself, described the boundaries of the Second Congressional District and the high technology community of interest along the Diagonal Highway. He also explained that the City of Longmont encourages growth while the City of Boulder discourages it and that the common interest is not served when one political party dominates the state. Discussion followed about whether the Commission should create politically competitive districts.
7:31 PM
Elmer Zessin spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because it does not keep the City of Longmont as whole as possible. He also spoke against using the Diagonal Highway as a dividing line between districts and requested that district's boundaries more closely follow the boundary between the different communities of interest in northern and southern Boulder County.
7:34 PM
Representative Bill Swenson, HD 12, explained that his district's population is currently balanced. He said the district's boundaries should not be changed because the district is compact and does not split school districts and other communities of interest.
7:38 PM
Alan Rosenfeld said that he may run for legislative office and spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because it satisfies constitutional requirements. He also said that the City of Longmont's population is too large to be included in one House district and requested that the city's population be divided equally between two House districts.
7:44 PM
Bill Eckert said that the City of Boulder should be kept as whole as possible to maximize the effectiveness of its legislators and that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont are different communities of interest.
7:48 PM
Betty Swenson spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because the Boulder County districts were drawn for political purposes and are not compact. She explained that compact districts are easier for a legislator to walk and become familiar with his or her constituents.
7:51 PM
Paul Rivera said that he lives in the southern part of the City of Longmont that is included in the current HD 31. He expressed concern about this district because it includes a small portion of the City and its residents are not represented by a legislator from Longmont. He requested that the Commission support true proportionality.
7:54 PM
Bob Horan spoke in support of creating politically competitive districts that reflect statewide party affiliation.
7:57 PM
Morris Cottingham spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because the district boundaries promote political unity. He said that the Commission should ignore requests to draw districts that reflect political differences between northern and southern Boulder County.
8:00 PM
Dean Schooler explained that reapportionment affects many different communities of interest and requested that districts not split the communities served by low income health care organizations (see Attachment B).
8:05 PM
Kevin Probst, Vice-chair of the Boulder County Republican Party, speaking for himself, said that the residents of the City of Longmont are a unified community and that Longmont's attitude toward transportation and growth policies differs significantly from that of the City of Boulder. The cities' residents also differ socio-economically.
8:08 PM
Howard Wachtel said that Boulder County includes communities that are very different and very similar. He also said that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont should have their own representatives.
8:12 PM
Kevin Heupel, Chair of the Boulder County Republican Party, described Boulder County communities of interest including the City of Longmont, the eastern bedroom communities, the western mountain communities, and the City of Boulder and Colorado University. He explained that Longmont Republicans are typically social conservatives and that the City of Boulder Republicans are fiscal conservatives. Mr. Heupel also requested that the Commission adopt Commissioner Witwer's amendment to Representative Grossman's Jefferson, Adams, and Boulder County Plan from July 23, 2001 (Witwer Am1 to Grossman 5).
8:21 PM
David Humphrey said that the protection of party or incumbency is not part of the Commission's charge and spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan. He also said that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont should not be part of the same district and the Commission should more formally prioritize the reapportionment criteria.
8:27 PM
Glenn Farwell said that the City of Longmont should be divided equally between districts.
8:28 PM
Rosemary McBride thanked the commission for its effort.
8:30 PM
Bob Hullinghorst said that Boulder County is a community of interest and that the City of Longmont should work with the rest of the county rather than try to create a separate legislative district for itself. He also said that the St. Vrain Valley School District has been well represented by legislators from the City of Boulder and that having a representative from the school district is not necessary for effective representation.
8:33 PM
Harvey Burkett thanked the Commission for including all of the Cities of Louisville and Lafayette in the same district. He also explained that users of Boulder County transportation corridors, such as Highway 36, are important communities of interest.
8:35 PM
Troyanne Thigpen said that the Cities of Louisville, Lafayette, and Superior are a community of interest that should be included in the same House district and the same Senate district.
8:37 PM
Melinda Yale explained that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont are different communities of interest and requested that the City of Longmont be kept as whole as possible.
8:39 PM
Andrew Bartlett said that the southern part of the City of Longmont should be included in a district that keeps the City as whole as possible.
8:41 PM
Bryan Baum said that the City of Boulder is a unique community that differs significantly from the City of Longmont. He spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because it includes dissimilar communities of interest in the Boulder County districts. To help preserve these unique communities, Mr. Baum requested that the Cities of Boulder and Longmont be in separate House districts.
8:47 PM
Lynn Faudree spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because the City of Louisville is in one House district.
8:49 PM
David Neufeld expressed support for equally dividing the City of Longmont between two House districts and spoke in opposition to keeping the City as whole as possible, because this would leave a small portion of the City in another House district.
8:51 PM
Richard McLean, Regional Transportation District Board, speaking for himself, said that users of the Highway 36 transportation corridor are a major Boulder County community of interest. He spoke in support of the Preliminary Senate Plan because the boundary between SD 17 and SD 18 is Highway 36.
8:57 PM
Sam Roth said that Boulder County cities are generally distinct communities of interest and requested that the Cities of Longmont and Boulder remain in separate House districts.
9:00 PM
Dennis Ceremugh said that the City of Boulder differs significantly from the mountain communities that are also part of HD 13 in the Preliminary House Plan.
9:02 PM
Representative Alice Madden, HD 14, said that a community benefits when it has two representatives and that a community of interest lives along the Longmont Diagonal Highway.
9:06 PM
Betty Chronic said that the City of Boulder is a community of interest that differs from the City of Longmont. She also described her involvement with the reapportionment process since 1950 and spoke in opposition to too much partisanship in this process. Ms. Chronic spoke in opposition to HD 11 in the Preliminary House Plan because it includes parts of the Cities of Boulder and Longmont in the same district.
9:11 PM
Will Toor, Mayor of the City of Boulder, speaking for himself, spoke in support of the Preliminary House and Senate Plan. He said that HD 11 includes portions of the Cities of Longmont and Boulder that are similar communities of interest. He also said that the historic cultural divide between the two cities is eroding.
9:16 PM
Carol Yoakum said that the City of Longmont should be kept as whole as possible. She also requested that the northeast corner of Boulder County be included in the same district as the City of Longmont because this portion of the county has more in common with Longmont than with the other communities in HD 13.
9:18 PM
Brenda Everett, St. Vrain Valley School Board, speaking for herself, said that the northeastern corner of Boulder County should be included in a House district with the City of Longmont. She also said that the boundaries between HD 11 and HD 12 correspond with boundaries between Longmont's ethnic communities and she opposed that kind of division.
9:21 PM
Judy Marchino spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because it splits the City of Longmont and includes dissimilar communities of interest in HD 11 and HD 12. He also said that the plan dilutes Republican votes.
9:25 PM
Cameron Paterson spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because it divides the City of Longmont and disenfranchises its residents.
9:27 PM
Dana Waller said the City of Longmont is a unique community that should be included in its own House district.
9:29 PM
Brandon Shaffer spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because Longmont is included in two House districts and will be represented by two legislators.
9:32 PM
Rebecca Browning said that residents of the Cities of Boulder and Longmont moved to Boulder County because of its quality of life. She also spoke in support of dividing the cities between districts and spoke in support of the Preliminary House and Senate Plan.
9:35 PM
Senator Joan Fitz-Gerald, SD 13, described the district's current boundaries. She explained that the Colorado Supreme Court determined that this district is constitutional even though it includes many dissimilar communities. She spoke in support of SD 13 in the Preliminary Senate Plan because it is more compact than the current district and does not include Summit County. Discussion followed about the constitutionality of the current SD 13.
9:52 PM
Joan Howard said that communities of interests may extend beyond a city's boundaries and spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because HD 33 is not compact.
9:56 PM
Hal Nees spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because the Cities of Boulder and Longmont are similar communities of interest.
9:58 PM
Representative Tom Plant, HD 13, spoke in support of the Preliminary House Plan because it provides representation for communities of interest that are based on major transportation corridors.
10:04 PM
Keith Langley said the City of Longmont should have two representatives. He supported the House Preliminary Plan because HD 11 and HD 12 are politically competitive districts.
10:08 PM
Steve Sims spoke in support of the Preliminary Senate Plan because it includes the Cities of Louisville, Lafayette, and other similar communities of interest in HD 12.
10:11 PM
David Leeds said that the City of Boulder is a unique community of interest and spoke in support Commissioner Witwer's amendment to Representative Grossman's Jefferson, Adams, and Boulder County Plan from July 23, 2001. He requested that the City of Longmont be kept as whole as possible and spoke in opposition to the House Preliminary Plan because HD 11, HD 12, and HD 14 favor Democratic candidates.
10:15 PM
Don Brown said that communities of interest should be kept in one district and spoke in support of HD 12 in the Preliminary House Plan because it includes similar communities of interest.
10:19 PM
Robb Menzies explained that HD 12 in the House Preliminary Plan includes concentrations of Hispanic populations and that keeping the City and County of Broomfield whole necessitates the splitting of other Boulder County communities. HD 12 includes similar communities of interest and may help preserve the old town sections of Louisville, Lafayette, and Superior. This district also includes many of Boulder County's laborers.
10:29 PM
Dennis Creese described his experience as a labor organizer and with previous reapportionments. He spoke in support of HD 12 in the House Preliminary Plan because it improves the opportunity for Hispanic voters to elect a representative of their choice.
10:34 PM
Michael Gray said that he represents the new growth demographic for the City of Longmont that includes highly educated workers. He requested that Longmont be kept as whole as possible and spoke in opposition to the Preliminary House Plan because it will polarize the newer and older City of Longmont communities. He also explained that the City is a unique community of interest and requested that the Commission obey the constitutional requirements.