LID approves funding for House Blend Band concerts

The Niwot Business Association presented four funding requests to the LID, including funding for five concerts on 2nd Avenue by the House Blend Band. All of the requests were approved unanimously.

The House Blend Band concert series is now in its third year, and features co-owners of The Old Oak Coffeehouse, Michael Tomich and Patty Machen with what they describe as "about the most eclectic group of people ever to assemble in the name of music." Both appeared to present the application to the LID.

"The first year, Patty and I paid for everything," Tomich said. "Eric [Bergeson] suggested we apply for funds, and last year we got some LID funding." Posters have already been designed and printed, and will be placed throughout the town. "The band has been rehearsing over the winter," Tomich said. "We're better than ever."

Tomich said that concerts, which are held outside of The Old Oak Coffeehouse, are slated to begin on Saturday, May 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. Other summer dates are June 10, July 15, Aug. 19 and Sept. 9. Each concert also features at least one of the baristas at The Old Oak Coffeehouse, along with Paris Tomich, Michael's daughter. This summer, one of the concerts will feature Paris Tomich's 9-year-old daughter, putting three generations in the band.

LID chair Scott Firle asked Tomich what his vision for the event was, and was assured that the focus was on Niwot and Niwot businesses, rather than using food trucks from outside the community.

"I communicate with the other businesses on 2nd Avenue," Tomich said. "Nick at 1914 House has been so supportive." LID members were supportive of the event. Lisa Rivard said that she lives just around the corner, and noted, "I must invite over 100 people over the summer, and I cart chairs over."

Food and drinks are readily available at the concerts from Old Oak, The Wheel House and 1914 House. LID member Cornelia Sawle of the Niwot Inn said, "I can hear it from here [the Niwot Inn], which I love." LID member Eric Bergeson, who is also a member of the Niwot Future League, said, "We were just talking about how to bring more people down [from subdivisions east of Old Town]. It's the perfect kind of venue for this."

The funding request was for $6,920, which included funds for permits, traffic control, advertising, and graphic design. Funds will also be used to pay the musicians and a sound engineer, with $100 to go to the sound engineer and each of the six band members, other than the co-owners of the coffeehouse, who did not request payment.

The concerts have attracted a mostly local crowd in the past, and advertising will be directed to local rather than regional media outlets.

The NBA's second funding request for $7,000 to purchase a 16-foot by 20-foot stage was also presented by Tomich. The portable stage would be used for the House Blend Band concerts, and would sit two feet off the ground. The stage fits together in 4' X 8' sections, and can be configured to any size needed. Storage has been requested in the Left Hand Grange's old firehouse. Tomich said the stage would be made available for other community events, such as Dancing Under the Stars, the Veteran's Banner Day Ceremony, National Night Out, and Oktoberfest, and would save the cost of renting a stage for those events.

NBA treasurer Mary Coonce presented the NBA's annual request for flowers and the cost of watering and maintaining the flowers, which are placed throughout the business district every summer. In the application, Coonce described the project as "part of the annual beautification efforts initiated by the NBA on behalf of merchants and the broader community."

She said, "[The flowers] will be planted and delivered for placement at various locations throughout the business district in May and removed in late September." A total of $9,365 was approved for purchase and planting of the flowers and related expenses.

In a related application, the NBA requested and received funding for $15,525 for maintenance of the flowers, including daily watering, The application stated, "Wise Buys Antiques (Carrie Wise) will oversee the watering and maintenance of flowers on 2nd Avenue. The Niwot Market will oversee the watering and maintenance of the flowers in Cottonwood Square."

In other business, Bergeson explained that the NBA would be requesting that the LID fund an administrative support position to assist with various NBA events, which are currently managed entirely by volunteers.

"We'd like to start with someone at about 10 hours per week, at around $25 per hour." He described the duties as including bookkeeping, communicating, coordinating, and arranging contract work such as snow removal. Coonce said, "We want them to be local Niwot, and passionate about the town."

Bergeson said other positions, such as marketing and advertising, would be hired separately.

Revenue from Niwot's 1% sales tax continued to climb in January of 2023, with $19,582 collected, which is $1,059 more than for the same period a year ago, an increase of 5.7%. Treasurer Mary Coonce reported that sales tax revenue from remote sales was up 50% over January of 2022.

The LID budget for 2023 is $215,430, which is based on 80% of the 2021 annual collections. Coonce reported that total payouts in 2022 for approved funding requests were $205,520. The LID reserve fund stands at $394,067 as of the end of 2022.