LID Revenues continue to rise

Revenues for Niwot's Local Improvement District (LID), which collects a 1% sales tax within the Niwot business district, continue to grow, with the July 2022 report showing a 48% increase in revenue over the same period in 2021.

Collections for July totaled $26,346.68, compared to $17,780.17 for the same period a year ago, when the pandemic was still raging. Year-to-date revenues for 2022 are up by 21.48% over 2021, when a total of $269,286.08 was collected by the end of the year. At that rate, 2022 revenues would rise to $327,128 by year end.

At its Oct. 4 meeting, the LID Advisory Committee recommended approval of three funding requests, which essentially put the LID over budget for 2022, since the initial budget is based on 80% of revenues from two years ago. Mark Ruzzin, the liaison to the LID from the County Commissioners' office, indicated that a supplemental budget request would be submitted as revenues continue to be strong.

Niwot's Economic Development Director, Catherine McHale, presented the Niwot Business Association's request for funding the second half of the 2022 marketing plan in the amount of $17,983.50 out of a total cost of $33,383.50. McHale noted that the plan includes a "massive website redesign" for http://www.niwot.com, as well as a holiday shopping campaign, which includes an insert in the Left Hand Valley Courier. The NBA will cover the balance of the costs.

"The plan is to make the website more easily navigable," McHale said. "I'm telling people, 'video, video, video.'" She also noted that the NBA's social media campaign "is going great." Responding to a question about the priorities listed in the initial marketing request, which was approved earlier this year, McHale reported that the quarterly marketing campaigns had been "partially fulfilled, but that other priorities had sometimes taken over." The funding request was unanimously approved.

McHale, who reports to the Niwot Future League and the LID on a monthly basis, also requested approval of funding for her compensation for the second half of 2022 in the amount of $14,000. She explained her role in promoting the Niwot business district, and reported that a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly opened Niwot Learning Collective had been held. The funding request was unanimously approved.

Mary Coonce of Porchfront Homes, who is also a member of the LID, gave an update on the former Colterra property. "In two weeks, we're scheduled to demo that building," referring to the former restaurant building that closed due to a fire several years ago. She also reported that Phase 1 of the redevelopment plan includes adding a commercial kitchen to the historic Bader House, which is being marketed as a restaurant. A ground-breaking ceremony will be scheduled when the project starts.

Deb Fowler, vice-president of the NBA, presented a funding request for what is known as Holiday Magic, including Enchanted Evening on the day after Thanksgiving, followed by the Holiday Parade the next day, and Holiday Fayres on the following two Saturdays.

The funding request includes advertising costs, as well the cost of bringing Santa and Mrs. Claus to town, horse and buggy rides, and music throughout the business district. "We want carolers strolling around town," Fowler said. She reported that the Women's International Club Niwot (WINC) would no longer sponsor the Holiday Fayres, but would have a booth for a bake sale.

The $12,000 request for the four events was unanimously approved. Fowler noted that the NBA would contribute an additional $3,000 to cover the cost of the events.

Mary Coonce, NBA treasurer and one of the organizers of the Lobster Fest in September, reported that the event was very successful, and raised additional funds for the NBA's Marshall Fire fund. The event was coordinated by Coonce, Deb Fowler, and Linda Klueber. Coonce explained that 165 tickets were sold. "We could have sold 250 tickets but we had to cut it off," Coonce said, noting that they had to order the lobsters in advance. The weather cooperated, avoiding the torrential rains of last season's inaugural event. "We ended up with four extra lobsters," Coonce said, which were easily disposed of.

The meeting ended with a discussion of the need for Niwot to participate in the Highway 119 median project, which includes a bikeway multi-modal path through the Diagonal median from Longmont to Boulder. Eric Bergeson, NBA president, agreed to take the lead on advocating for an underpass from the bikeway to the Niwot business district.

LID meetings are open to the public and are held at the Niwot Inn on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Meetings are also live streamed.