Christmas comes early to the Niwot LID

The Niwot LID Advisory Committee got a taste of winter at its July 3 meeting, and not just because it was a bracing 56 degrees in the conference room at the Mountain View Fire Station. Though Christmas is still half a year away, a twin bill of holiday-themed funding requests topped the evening’s agenda, giving the committee a preview of some changes in store for the traditional kick-off to the town’s holiday shopping season.

Boulder County liaison Mark Ruzzin kicked off the meeting with a recap of the district’s financial commitments for 2018. Through the end of June, the LID has approved $132,854 in expenses, leaving just $146 remaining in the total budget of $133,000 for the final six months of year.

Though that figure is disconcerting, budget overruns aren’t unprecedented, according to LID member Harris Faberman, as the initial budget is set at 80 percent of the tax collections from two years ago. Faberman recently stepped aside as LID Treasurer after holding the position for many years. New member Bruce Rabeler will assume oversight of the District’s finances on behalf the committee starting next month.

“This is uncomfortable, but normal,” Faberman said, noting that the LID collected nearly $180,000 in sales tax revenue in 2017, and was on pace to surpass that this year. “Any funding approval that happens after tonight will have to be pending the approval of the supplemental.”

In fact, the LID collected nearly $100,000 more in sales tax revenue than it has spent over the past two years, with the surplus going into a reserve account. Any new LID expenses from this point until next year will be paid through a supplemental allocation from the county budget office that a draws funds from that reserve.

Pivoting to funding requests, the board heard next from Linda Klueber, appearing on behalf of the Niwot Business Association (NBA), who requested $6,500 for Niwot’s 18th annual Enchanted Evening and Holiday Parade.

In hopes of drawing holiday shoppers to Niwot’s business districts on two separate weekends, this year’s Christmas events will be a little different. Enchanted Evening is slated for the Friday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 23), while the parade will be held the following week, on Saturday, Dec. 1.

All of the familiar favorites will be back, including Santa, Ted Struckman the ice sculptor, and strolling carolers, who will be appearing in both Cottonwood Square and Old Town on Friday night.

The NBA’s projected budget for the events, which is about 27 percent higher than 2017, includes increases in traffic control, print advertising, and Left Hand Grange rental fees. The NBA will be contributing $500 to the event. The committee agreed that Enchanted Evening is a key event for the Niwot business community and voted unanimously to approve the request.

Next up was Chuck Klueber, head of the NBA Streetscapes committee, with the first of two requests. First, he asked for $5,700 to replace the lamppost in front of Bank of the West and make repairs to several others. This request was approved unanimously.

Keeping on the holiday theme, Klueber then requested $7,680 for Christmas decorations and lighting, another hefty increase over the prior year. His projected budget includes additional tree lights in Whistle Stop Park and along 2nd Avenue, as well as $1,960 to install and take down lighted snowflakes from 32 lampposts on 2nd Avenue. Last year, the NBA purchased 30 of the 24” snowflakes from its own budget after the LID AC declined to purchase such a large quantity.

“We’re always a little sensitive about our holiday lighting budget,” co-Chair Laura Skaggs said. “It’s a growing expense and by this time of the year we’re a little itchy about our money.”

Not so this year, as the request was approved unanimously.

Klueber also handled the evening’s final request of $370 from the NBA treasurer to cover an outstanding invoice from last year’s Great Pumpkin Party. Due to an administrative error, advertising expenses for the October event went unpaid until well after the LID’s 2017 books were closed, necessitating an allocation from the 2018 budget. This application was also approved unanimously, with one abstention.

In new business, Klueber gave the board a preview of some of the new projects it hopes to complete this year with the help of LID reserve funds. These include $29,000 for new trees along the south side of 2nd Avenue, as well as a $1,000 stipend for an art installation in the Community Corner at 79th Street and Niwot Road.

In Old Business, vice-Chair Jim Eastman reported that he had secured a meeting with the county transportation department to discuss adding Niwot signs on the LoBo Trail. Ruzzin also reminded the about the annual Board of County Commissioners and LID joint meeting, which will probably be held in August.

The Committee will meet next at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the Niwot Fire Station.