Niwot LID board prepares for 2021

At its first monthly meeting of the new year, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Board approved funding for a slew of routine maintenance expenses, as well as new events devised by the Niwot Business Association to help keep traffic circulating through local businesses. The members also discussed their upcoming annual meeting with the Board of County Commissioners, scheduled for Feb. 4.

Treasurer's Report

LID Vice Chair Jim Eastman delivered the January Treasurer's report in lieu of the absent Bruce Rabeler, starting with a revenue update.

Based on tax collection reports from Boulder County finance and the state of Colorado revenue department, the Niwot LID earned $17,233 in October 2020, bringing the yearly total for the district to $173,015, a four-percent increase over the same period in 2019 ($166,254). As it has all year, the retail sector generated the highest share of revenues ($8,967), followed by accommodation/food service ($4,212). However, the former figure could be reduced by up to 15% due to a potential misallocation of sales tax from online vendors.

On the expense side of the ledger, the LID is once again flush with funds, after a new budget allocation for the new year. In 2021, the district will once again have $149,313 to distribute, an amount based on 80 percent of past revenue totals.

But some of that funding is already spoken for. In December, the LID board approved $34,541.75 in expenses for the upcoming year ($25,000 for the Economic Development Director's salary, and $9,541.75 to support the Niwot Business Association's 2021 marketing plan), leaving $114,771.25 remaining. With January's seven pending requests totaling $14,575, the unallocated portion of the 2021 budget total falls to $100,196.25.

As for 2020 finances, Eastman reported that there are still $78,214 in outstanding expenses for the year, not including the parking lot project. Groups with costs to be reimbursed have until Jan. 20 to submit invoices to the county. After this deadline, the funding request will have to be resubmitted to the LID board for approval.

Funding Requests

There were seven funding requests on the agenda, starting with a transfer of $1,025 from a prior approval for the Niwot Cultural Arts Association to the NBA to pay for musicians appearing at community events. Last year, the LID board approved a $2,500 request from the NCAA for First Friday music, but most of those events were cancelled in 2020, leaving the group with funds to spare.

Up next was Chuck Klueber, appearing on behalf of the NBA's Streetscapes committee with four requests related to recurring annual expenses: general maintenance and repair ($3,500), tree care ($2,200), snow removal ($1,800), and electric utility payments ($1,250). The general maintenance and snow removal requests were unchanged from the past two years, but the tree care request is slightly higher (from $2,000), while the utility request is substantially lower (from $1,900). Klueber said the lower amount is closer to the actual billings from Xcel over the past two years. All four requests were approved unanimously.

Next was NBA Vice-President Deborah Read Fowler with requests to fund two upcoming events: Apres Ski, a one-day shopping event on Saturday, Jan. 30, and Love Niwot Walk, a month-long promotion in February. Describing the former as a cross between "the good bits" from last summer's sidewalk sales and Holiday Magic, Fowler requested $2,000 for Apres Ski, which will go toward advertising, printing, snacks, ice sculpture, a horse and carriage, and, of course, musicians.

"We're trying to think about ways to get people downtown and moving around downtown, especially with COVID going on," she said. "We're encouraging businesses to offer some kind of promotion related to Apres Ski, like serving glühwein. To get people moving around, we're bringing back the horses and carriages, which were a huge success during the Christmas events. And it not only moves people around, it also attracts people driving past."

The request was approved unanimously, with member Bruce Warren noting his ownership interest in the Left Hand Valley Courier, a recipient of a minor part of the funding.

Fowler requested $2,800 for Love Niwot walk, a Valentine's Day reprise of the successful Pumpkin Walk, held in October. As in that event, shoppers will carry a pass to show to local retailers, in exchange for a small gift and a stamp. There will also be a reusable flower wall for photo backdrops, to encourage social media posts. Participants with more than four stamps (and corresponding purchase receipts) will be entered into a drawing for a yet-to-be-determined prize. The money from the LID will go toward the gift items, packaging, advertising, and printing. The NBA will also be contributing $700 to the project. This request was also approved unanimously.

"Over the years that I've been involved, I've always thought we need to do more and the businesses need to do more to create that energy, rather than simply funding high-dollar items," Eastman said of the two new entries on the Niwot calendar. "I'm really, really proud of our business community for stepping up as they have and creating this energy."

New Business

The LID board next discussed the agenda for their annual meeting with the Boulder County commissioners, including the two newest members, Marta Loachamin and Clair Levy, both elected in November. After some discussion, the group decided to open with remarks from Eastman and Warren, the two longest-serving LID members, about the history and the purpose of the LID, to help provide context. LID member Eric Bergeson, who also serves as NBA President, will then give a presentation on the "State of Niwot," outlining recent businesses successes and setbacks, and bringing the commissioners up to date on the town's current economic climate.

The group also hopes to address the still-unimproved alley behind the 200 block of 2nd Avenue, as well as other lingering issues from the seven-month building moratorium, which ended in April 2019 after a painful revision of the local land use code. Only one of the three commissioners, Matt Jones, was in office at the time, and he was elected in the middle of it.

"I think it's important to show the complete range of our relationship," Skaggs said. "I don't want to duck it or hide from it, because it's a very relevant piece of our recent history. Not that they were part of it, but they need to understand where we're coming from."

The board will have a chance to add items at their next monthly meeting on Feb. 2, and county liaison Mark Ruzzin said he will also ask the commissioners for suggested topics.

Old Business

Warren reported that construction on the public parking lot on the west side of Murray Street is scheduled to begin in March.

Ruzzin reported that the county's public information office is close to finalizing the board revisions to the LID's funding request form, which should be available in an online format soon.

Ruzzin also reported that the search for new LID board members is continuing, with the application period open until Jan. 15. There are openings for one residential and two business representatives, with five-year terms beginning in March 2021. For more information and an application, visit the county's Advisory Board and Commissions page.

The LID advisory committee will hold its next monthly meeting in virtual format on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021 at 7 p.m.