Opinion ID: 2638703
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: City of Boulder and City of Pueblo

Text: The Adopted Plan divides the City of Boulder into Senate Districts 18 and 19 and the City of Pueblo [9] into Senate Districts 3 and 4. The Commission relied on a preservation of communities of interest and equal population rationale in justification of these city divisions. The argument is not persuasive. Article V, Section 47(2) states in part: Within counties whose territory is contained in more than one district of the same house, the number of cities and towns whose territory is contained in more than one district of the same house shall be as small as possible. (Emphasis added.) It is apparent from the alternative plans that less drastic alternatives exist that would keep the cities intact, as illustrated by the Rodriguez 5 and Rodriguez 6 senate alternatives and the Commission's Preliminary Plan it took to public hearing. In re Reapportionment 92-I, 828 P.2d at 195-96. In addressing whole senate districts for Boulder and Pueblo Counties on remand, the Commission should avoid these city divisions, if possible.