LID revenues up in 2022

The Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee (LID) met April 6 at the Niwot Inn to consider two funding requests, both of which were approved.

LID Chair Scott Firle welcomed Jeff Knight to his first meeting as a member of the committee. Knight was appointed by the Board of County Commissioners as the Niwot Community Association representative on the nine-member advisory board. He replaced longtime LID member and former chair Laura Skaggs.

Mark Ruzzin, liaison to the LID from the office of the Boulder County Commissioners, reported that LID revenues continue to climb as the economy recovers from the worst of the pandemic, and are expected to be well over $200,000 in 2022 at the current pace.

He also reported that the LID has a healthy reserve fund of approximately $278,000, more than four times the minimum reserve set by policy of $60,000. The reserve increased from just over $200,000 in January of 2021.

Catherine McHale, Economic Development Director of the Niwot Business Association (NBA) presented the NBA's budget for 2022, much of which will result in funding requests to the LID. The budget for 2022 was slightly higher than the 2021 budget, due to some increased costs for maintenance items as well as a reflection of the growing LID revenues. It was noted that the LID budget, which differs from the NBA budget, is set by county policy at 80% of the prior year's revenue.

Two funding requests were presented. The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) applied for funding for First Friday Art Walks, which resumed April 1 after a pandemic pause. The event kicked off with a concert in the Niwot Sculpture Park by the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band as part of a fundraising effort to purchase a sculpture on loan in the park by a Ukrainian artist.

The NCAA reported that over $5,000 has been collected so far, with more fundraising activities planned. The purchase price of the sculpture, titled Kore That Awakening, by Egor Zigura, is $25,000. It would be the third permanent sculpture in the park besides the iconic Native American tree carvings by Eddie Running Wolf.

The NCAA funding request was for a total of $2,625 to cover most of the cost of musicians performing outdoors through the October First Friday in various locations throughout the business district, as well as most of the advertising cost of the events. The NCAA pays any costs over and above the funding from the LID. The request was approved unanimously.

The second funding request, for Around the World Day on May 14, was also approved. Deb Fowler presented the request on behalf of the NBA. She requested $4,000 from the LID, with the NBA funding the balance of the $5,769 budget for the event.

Fowler's application said, "Following the hugely successful round the world day last May, we would like to organize it for the second year. We are asking any storefront business, be it retail, restaurant or services to participate by adopting a country for the day and celebrate its culture with food, drink, decor, and/or events. A total of 29 businesses have signed up already.

"Businesses are encouraged to decorate and offer some form of snack/treat that is associated with that country. The proposed budget for the LID/NBA is to provide entertainment around town and cover the marketing costs. The increased proposed budget is due to almost double the amount of businesses participating [compared] to last year. [We] needed additional entertainment and a general increase in costs overall. We would like to incorporate a fundraising element into the day - by having a grand silent auction in the Emporium to raise money for the Niwot Small Town, Big Heart Marshall Fire Fund and then collection boxes all around town for the people of the Ukraine."

Fowler spoke of the Marshall Fire fundraising effort, saying, "We managed to get Niwot High School involved. We're currently at $62,000."

The Around the World event was viewed favorably by the LID members. LID member Mary Coonce spoke in support of the funding request, saying, "We didn't have Wine About Winter and this does a lot of the same things, getting people out and into stores." LID vice-chair Eric Bergeson said, "I think it has the potential to be an annual event. It appeals to families and it's educational."

The meeting concluded with a discussion of finalizing an update to the 5-year Strategic Plan of the LID, and how it relates to the Connectivity Study conducted by Boulder County in 2012, and the Vision 2027 study completed by a community group just before the pandemic.

LID member Heidi Storz said, "It's amazing what this community has done." She noted that the Connectivity Study should be reviewed, and recommended that the LID follow up on the town meeting held last fall with all of the volunteer organizations in Niwot.