LID approves funding for Flower Fest, First Fridays, and sculpture scans

The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) approved funding for three items at its July 9, 2024 meeting.

Flower Fest

Kathy Trauner of Fly Away Home Decor presented an application from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) for the second annual Flower Fest event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In the application, Trauner wrote, "Flower Fest is designed to delight visitors and bring new customers to area businesses."

"[W]e offer a 'Flower Journey' in which the first 150 guests receive free flowers by visiting participating Niwot businesses," she wrote. The LID funds would allow the NBA to purchase flower stems from participating vendors and local farms at wholesale prices.

Cottonwood Square will host flower vendors and makers' booths, while 2nd Avenue will host a "Vintage & Antique Market." Vendors will pay a $70 fee for booth space to offset costs of the event, and live music will be featured throughout the business district. Niwot businesses are encouraged to add their own twists to the event, such as serving treats.

Last year the event provided free flowers to the first 75 customers, and based on that experience, the organizers have doubled the number of free flowers. Trauner said, "Last year we turned at least 50 people away who were in line for the free flowers. We were not making friends that way, especially for number 76. The very core of it is we offer so many visitors free flowers."

A few other changes have been made based on last year's event. "Cottonwood Square businesses reported doing very well," Trauner wrote, "as did some on 2nd Avenue. This year's Vintage & Antique Market is designed to help visitors linger longer on 2nd Avenue and boost sales there."

Trauner, along with Sarah Magee, owner of The Little Shop, and Angie Miltersen, owner of Few of a Kind Vintage, are coordinating the event. Trauner noted that the House Blend Band would perform a concert in the evening that day, so part of 2nd Avenue will be closed for the concert.

The organizing committee expects at least 30 non-NBA vendors to participate, which will bring in over $2,000 toward the estimated cost of the event of $6,538.50, including advertising costs, supplies, musicians and flowers. The LID unanimously approved the request for $4,543.50.

First Friday Art Walks

The LID also approved a funding request for First Friday Art Walk music and advertising from the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA). The application stated, "Based on input from the business community, First Friday Art Walks are now scheduled once a quarter plus the summer months (March, June, July, August, September, and December)." The NCAA reported positive feedback for the March and June First Friday Art Walks in 2024, with a number of visitors to the business district. The application continued, "Special events are often scheduled during First Friday Art Walks, including dedication of donated art, kick-off and awards ceremony of the Why Not Niwot? Juried Art Show, Plein Air artists at work, and holiday events."

Estimated costs of $3,900 included advertising expenses and musicians stationed throughout the business district. The NCAA has covered the costs of the March and June events, and applied for $3,000 of LID funding, with the NCAA contributing $900.

The application stated, "The event brings artists and art patrons to Niwot, who visit local businesses, such as coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries, retail shops and hospitality venues to view art displays. Visitors shop in Niwot, eat in Niwot and become familiar with all that the Niwot business district has to offer, including the Niwot Sculpture Park."

The funding request was unanimously approved by the LID.

Sculpture Scans

The NCAA also presented an application for funding of the cost of creating a 3D scan of "Spear Lodge Man," the tree carving by Eddie Running Wolf which has been restored by Dustin Wolf, son of the late artist.

Anne Postle, chair of the NCAA's Tree Carving Committee, wrote in the application that restoration of the first tree carving is complete, and the sculpture "is ready to be scanned." The application continued, "The scan and computer model of the carving will then be available forever to create castings. Potential future castings include 3/4 bronze or aluminum castings to be placed in Niwot according to the Niwot Master Plan, and smaller maquettes to be used for fundraising to offset the costs of the structure to be erected to protect the restored carvings. The scanning will be done by DuChateau Sculpture Services from Loveland."

The estimated cost of the scan and the creation of the computer model is $5,000. Two additional tree carvings are being restored by Dustin Wolf with assistance from Jeff Wolcott, who has housed the iconic tree carvings removed from their original location on Niwot Road where the wood carvings continued to deteriorate due to exposure to the elements as well as water drawn from the ground by tree roots.

The NCAA is in the process of working with Boulder County Parks & Open Space to identify a central location in Niwot where the original tree carvings can be placed under a tipi-like structure that will reduce exposure to the elements.

Revenues Improve

In other business, LID Treasurer Mary Coonce reported that April 2024 sales tax collections were $21,402, up slightly from the $21,197 collected in March. The April collections were down by 9.7% from the $23,631 collected in April 2023, and the year-to-date collections are still down 12.7% from the first four months of 2023, but the April collections reduced that percentage from a year-to-date deficit of 14% through March 2024 compared with the same period in 2023.

Coonce reported that retail collections are down by 6.9%, but food and accommodations are up by 6.6%. The largest decline has been in manufacturing, which is down 35%. The LID reserve as of the end of 2023 remains at $432,741.

Transportation Issues

The LID members also discussed the continuing issue of paying for subdivision road paving in unincorporated Boulder County, and how the LID's evolving Niwot Master Plan might include the issue. The LID's annual meeting with the Boulder County Commissioners, who are the board of directors for the LID, has been tentatively rescheduled for Monday, Aug. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at the Left Hand Grange after two earlier meetings were canceled.

Another topic of discussion was the underpass into Niwot from the bikeway planned for the median of Highway 119. The LID's committee favors an alignment known as 2A, based on work done by Fletemeyer & Lee Associates and input from civil engineer and Niwot resident Peggy Graham. LID chair Scott Firle reported that the LID's underpass committee had submitted a number of questions to Boulder County raising concerns about the 3A option proposed by the county, but he received a response from Boulder County Transportation Strategic Planning and Projects Manager Stacey Proctor that said, "Our people decided on the 3A option."