LID approves funding for 3 events, tree carving restoration

The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee approved funding for three upcoming events to be held in January, February and June, 2024, at its Jan. 9 meeting. Mary Coonce, who serves as treasurer of both the LID and the Niwot Business Association (NBA), spoke in support of the events, saying, “The goal is to have an event every month.”

In her treasurer’s report, Coonce reported a $10,716 decrease in sales tax revenues collected by the LID through October 2023, compared with the same period in 2022, a 4.5% decrease, but noted that collections continue to exceed the 2021 revenues. Retail collections are down 5.8%, while accommodation and food is down 4.3%. The LID retains a reserve amount of $394,067 through 2022, which is expected to increase substantially when all 2023 revenue is reported.

DANCING UNDER THE STARS

Catherine McHale, organizer of the LID funded Dancing Under the Stars summer events, reported to the advisory committee that the 2023 season of 15 events was a success in spite of inclement weather at times. “Alex [Chlebek] is super supportive over at Cottonwood Square,” she said. The summer Friday night event in Cottonwood Square completed its fourth season, with 140 to 250 people attending each night.”

“It’s a different outlook than some of the other events,” McHale explained. LID advisory committee member Sarah Cioni remarked, “My favorite night was waltzing with the live music.”

McHale described the event, saying, “There is a free dance class and social dancing afterwards. We had so much rain this year, but people still showed up. We did have to cancel once, but we added one.” She noted that the dance floor needs to be rolled up and removed after each night. “Oliver Fowler did an Eagle Scout project to rebuild the cart to carry the rolls,” she said.

WINTERFEST

The Niwot Business Association requested funding for a reimagined event, to be known as WinterFest, on Saturday, Jan. 27 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. According to NBA town administrator Angela Hudgins, businesses in Niwot will feature shopping specials and activities, while a horse-drawn carriage will ferry shoppers back and forth between downtown Niwot and Cottonwood Square shopping center. “The idea is to be more of a community give-back event,” Hudgins said. “We encourage retailers to add their own spin on it. The message is, ‘Come and just enjoy being in town.’”

Hudgins reminded the committee that the Niwot Nickel, a wooden nickel distributed to shoppers in December, will be worth double its $5 face value at participating businesses in January. The application stated, “There will be hot chocolate and s’mores stations dotted around town, and some fun family games.” A poetry reading at Inkberry Books and a winter film at The Wheel House are among the activities planned. Hudgins noted that WinterFest builds on an Apres Ski event sponsored by the NBA in January two years ago, which included a ski swap at the Left Hand Grange.

The funding request for $3,250 was approved unanimously, with the NBA funding an additional $500 of anticipated costs for advertising and promotion, live music throughout the business district, as well as the carriage rides and refreshments.

LET’S WINE ABOUT WINTER

The Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) asked for funding for its annual Let’s Wine About Winter event scheduled for Feb. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. Now in its seventh year, the event is managed by Anne Postle and Kristin Alger, who wrote in the application, “This event brings shoppers to town on a very slow Saturday in February. Proceeds help to pay for the maintenance of Niwot Children’s Park and Whistle Stop Park. Participating businesses report great attendance and foot traffic.”

Last year approximately 500 people purchased tickets and 600 are expected this year, according to the organizers. Participants may purchase tickets online at Eventbrite for $35 in advance, or $40 on the day of the event, to become members of the Let’s Wine About Winter Club. Participants will then receive a mug and a coupon good for $10 off at participating Niwot merchants. Merchants offer wine samples and other refreshments to club members that day.

The NCAA requested funding for $3,462 to cover advertising and promotional costs, as well as live music, mugs and supplies. The NCAA reimburses all participating merchants for the $10 coupons, which may be used for a month after the event. The request was approved unanimously.

NIWOT JAZZ FESTIVAL

The NCAA also requested funding for the Niwot Jazz Festival, scheduled for June 22, 2024, from 3 to 9 p.m. Gene Hayworth of Inkberry Books and secretary of the NCAA, presented the funding request as the champion of the event, along with his partner, Keith Waters.

Hayworth said the event, which began in 2021 after the discontinuation of Jazz on 2nd Ave, is in its third year, having been paused in 2023 due to the unavailability of the organizers that summer. In the application, Hayworth wrote, “Although the new Niwot Jazz Festival is not associated with the previous Jazz on 2nd Avenue festival, that event brought world-class jazz to Niwot for seven years, and attendance ranged from 2,500 to 6,000.” The overall cost of the one-day event is approximately $15,000, Hayworth said. Funding in the amount of $9,000 to cover costs of stage rental, promotional costs, and musicians was requested.

Hayworth said that in the past, the event “brought in people from around the state.” He noted that in a survey of those attending the event in the past, “People came to have a day in Niwot. Most people shopped in Niwot.” He added, “This does for Cottonwood Square what the House Blend Band concerts do for 2nd Avenue.”

In addition to bringing jazz fans in from a broad area, the event gets statewide and even national attention, with jazz radio stations promoting the festival. The NCAA does not plan to sell alcohol at the event, a change from the 2021 plan, but will instead rely on local restaurants and businesses to make beverages available. Responding to a suggestion from LID member Sarah Cioni, Hayworth said that although food trucks are a possibility, there had been some contention with local restaurants in the past. “We want to make it a community picnic or festival, with the hope that restaurants will set up tables outside,” he said.

In the application, Hayworth also spoke of the social benefits of the event as “wide-ranging.” He wrote, “Planning and operation of the festival involves many members of the community, which in turn fosters community engagement and pride, helps build community, and forges new relationships… Already local artists, writers and businesses are starting to contribute services and products to our silent auction, and there have been many expressions of interest to volunteer in festival operations.”

The $9,000 funding request was approved unanimously.

EAGLE CATCHER RESTORATION

The NCAA and the NBA also requested funding for the restoration of the Eagle Catcher tree carving created by the late artist, Eddie Running Wolf. Chuck Klueber, NBA Streetscape Representative Emeritus, wrote in the application, “The project will restore one of Niwot’s iconic tree sculptures, known as ‘Eagle Catcher.’ The sculpture has deteriorated over the years. The sculpture has been cut down to prevent further deterioration, and it has been relocated to a Niwot resident’s barn where it will be restored by Eddie Running Wolf’s son Dustin Wolf.”

The total cost of the restoration is expected to be $9,920, with most of the funds used to pay Wolf, who expects the project to take a year to complete. Klueber wrote, “Upon completion of the restoration it will be relocated to a central location in Niwot that is yet to be determined.”

The NBA and the NCAA expect to cover the cost of an annual application of sealant once restoration is complete. Restoration of the first tree carving, known as Spear Lodge Man, is almost complete. Klueber concluded, “Eddie Running Wolf’s sculptures have been landmark attractions in Niwot for well over a decade. Their images have been used on much of the publications that promote Niwot as a place to visit, relocate, start a business, or just to shop. They have been a real attraction for the patrons of the local business community. By restoring the ‘Eagle Catcher’ tree sculpture and relocating it to a central place in Niwot, it will once again be a major attraction and will draw patrons to Niwot’s business community.”

The funding request for $9,920 was approved unanimously.

MASTER PLAN

In other business, the LID advisory committee approved a $50,000 funding request as part of its Master Plan project. Niwot architectural firm Fletemeyer & Lee Associates (FLA) was hired by the LID to create a Master Plan to update the 2012 Connectivity Plan developed by Boulder County in conjunction with the LID, and to provide guidance for future development projects in the business community and beyond.

The first phase of the Master Plan addressed the need for an underpass from the planned bikeway in the median of Highway 119, also known as the Diagonal Highway, under the Longmont-bound lane of the highway into Niwot. The effort was successful in convincing Boulder County to add a design for the requested underpass to the project plans, though funding remains an issue.

The second phase of the project has involved addressing future improvements in the Niwot business district and related areas, such as signage at the entrances to the community, and location of restored tree carvings.

The approved proposal from FLA for phase two states, “Develop a broad Master Plan that focuses on improvements to core area of Niwot, which includes the commercial business district and Left Hand [Valley] Grange Park. The Master Plan will also include identifying the strategic entry points to the greater Niwot community for signage improvements.”

The phase two portion of the project is already in progress with the creation of a draft Master Plan that FLA is in the process of presenting to various community groups and residents for feedback. Finalization of the Master Plan is expected to take several more months.