Niwot LID holds first meeting with new members

On Tuesday April 3, the Niwot LID Advisory Committee held its first monthly meeting since the appointment of Scott Firle, Anne Postle, and Bruce Rabeler to the board by the Boulder County Commissioners late last month. On hand to welcome them were current members Bruce Warren, Jim Eastman, Harris Faberman, Carrie Wise, Jay Champion, and Laura Skaggs, who was also reappointed to board for a second five-year term.

“It’s great to have new individuals and faces on the board,” Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin said after the newcomers introduced themselves. The three replaced Satir DeMarco, Tony Santelli, and Howard Treppeda, whose five-year terms expired on Feb. 28. “It’s a chance to get new ideas, new suggestions, new creativity. If you have thoughts and ideas about how to improve processes or make the work of the LID more efficient and effective and impactful, please share them,” Ruzzin said.

Treasurer Harris Faberman led off with his monthly report on the district’s year-to-date finances, followed by an update on 2017 revenue. Through March, the LID has approved expenditures of $74,284 from its total 2018 budget of $133,000, including nearly $40,000 at the March meeting for streetscapes and marketing.

“We are very aware that we are spending taxpayer money, and it needs to be for the general good of the community,” Skaggs said after Faberman briefly explained LID finances for the new members. “It is a community-wide benefit we are seeking.”

The LID collected $17,989 in sales tax revenue in December, up more than eight percent from the same period last year ($16,590.66), and more than 25 percent from December 2015 ($14,375.17). Total collections for 2017 were $180,716.11, or 7.4 percent higher than 2016 ($168,318.00) and 9.5 percent higher than 2015 ($165,052.70). The increase was significant given the fact that Colterra closed in October 2017 due to a fire, and has not yet re-opened.

The board heard next from Kathy Koehler, appearing on behalf of the NBA Streetscapes committee, with the evening’s only funding request. She asked for $500 for the installation of the NCA’s donated bench in the Community Corner Sculpture Park at 79th Street and Niwot Road, a line-item inadvertently left out of the original bid for the project from Outdoor Craftsmen. The request was approved unanimously.

In old business, Eastman offered to revive discussions with Boulder County about adding Old Town and Cottonwood Square branding on signs for the LoBo Trail, in hopes of enticing walkers and bikers to Niwot shops and restaurants. Earlier efforts to do so were put on hold after damage to the trail during the 2013 floods.

“It’s becoming a destination-type thing, for people to come to Boulder County to ride their bicycles,” he said. “Whether it’s on roads or trails, we need to be a part of that…I think it’s important to let people know there’s things to do in this town other than just ride through.”

The Committee will meet next at 7 p.m. on May 1 at the Mountain View Fire Station.