LID now represented in Consortium of Cities, approves holiday lighting

The Niwot Local Improvement District (LID) Advisory Committee met on a zoom call Sept. 3 to consider a funding request from the Niwot Business Association (NBA) for holiday lighting, and discuss the planned underpass on CO 119 as part of the planned bikeway, as well as declining LID revenues.

Holiday Lighting

Angela Hudgins, NBA administrative coordinator, presented the lighting request for funding. In the application requesting funding of $8,607, Hudgins wrote, "Niwot would like to repeat the holiday lighting installation using the same company we have used for the last several years, Colorado Christmas Lights. The lighting plan proposed is the same as usual, and is actually slightly less than last year due to being repeat customers ($8,872.59 last year). We currently own the snowflake lights that are installed on the light poles in town. The company owns and maintains the rest of the lights that will be installed."

"We have received multiple quotes both this year and last and feel confident this company is the best option for us currently." Hudgins said, "Most [of the quotes] would require us to purchase everything new. Our lights are still working."

She explained that most of the cost is for putting up the lights and taking them down, but there were some issues last year. Eric Bergeson, LID vice-chair and NBA president, said, "They took the lights down sooner than we expected." Hudgins said that the lights should go up at the end of October or early November and stay up until early February. The request was unanimously approved.

Niwot Jazz Festival

Gene Hayworth, secretary of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) and co-manager of the Niwot Jazz Festival, reported that the 2024 event was successful, with an estimated 400 to 500 people attending throughout the day. The Jazz Festival, sponsored by the NCAA, was on hiatus in 2023, but resumed June 22, 2024.

The total cost of the one-day event was $14,877. "The most expense is the stage setup," Hayworth reported. "Most of the money expended came back to Boulder County. We had significant support from sponsors, and a Friends of the Jazz Festival concert the night before."

The LID funded just over $9,000 of the cost.

Boston-based vocal virtuoso Dominique Eade with the Keith Waters Trio was the headliner. "The evening ended with Quemando, and there were a good number of people dancing," Hayworth said. "We did a fair amount of advertising. We had lots of volunteers who helped, including the NCA's road crew."

Hayworth and the volunteers conducted a survey at the event. Co-manager Keith Waters, also a member of the LID, said, "The free cookies (given to the 70 participants) provided a very potent incentive." Hayworth reported that 27% of attendees came from Boulder, with 17% from Niwot, as well as "a variety of people from around the country." Feedback, which Hayworth described as "very positive," included "include a map of Niwot" and "have some seating."

NBA Event Survey

Hudgins also reported on a survey done on social media by the NBA. Waters, after reviewing the NBA survey, noted that survey respondents reported that although there were many events for adults and small children, there was "nothing for teens" in Niwot. Hudgins reported that one of the take-aways from the survey was that although Niwot has many events to bring people to town, Niwot needs to "find creative ways to get people to linger." She added that teens do help with setting up Dancing Under the Stars and as Gargoyles for Rock & Rails.

Other comments included, "less events, more impact," and "some events seem similar." At the same time, respondents said, "You can feel the energy at the events," citing the Flower Fest and the Honeybee Harvest Festival.

CO 119 Underpass

Scott Firle, chair of the LID and a member of the Master Plan Committee, reported that the committee had asked Boulder County to delay putting money into the design of an underpass to Niwot as part of the CO 119 Mobility and Bikeway Project, since the underpass is not yet funded, and the committee does not support the option selected by the project managers for where the underpass would be located. In a later conference call, the committee decided not to ask for a delay, but instead to adopt the committee's Option 4.

The LID has been working with Dave Lee and Chad Fletemeyer of Fletemeyer, Lee & Associates (FLA), an architectural firm in Niwot. Firle explained that the Master Plan Committee would like to see the underpass on the Longmont-bound lanes of CO 119 also pass under the railroad tracks, and come out near the north end of Whistle Stop Park. The design selected by the project team would not include a railroad underpass, and the CO 119 underpass would exit at grade level near 2nd Avenue.

"We've had great progress with BNSF," Firle reported with regard to a railroad underpass. The LID unanimously approved Firle's request to send a letter to Boulder County asking to use LID funds to pay for BNSF's review of plans prepared by FLA. He estimated the cost of preparing the design, and the review by BNSF, at $35,000 to $50,000 on a time and materials basis.

Firle said, "They (the project team) said, '17 years you'll be spending on this.' We got answers in three months."

PID

LID member Heidi Storz reported that a meeting has been set with county representatives about the possibility of forming a Public Improvement District (PID) to address subdivision road paving in Niwot.

Consortium of Cities

In an attempt to make Niwot's voice heard concerning issues of countywide concern, including the minimum wage ordinance, the LID asked that a LID member be invited to participate in the Boulder County Consortium of Cities as a non-voting member. LID liaison Mark Ruzzin reported that Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin, who chairs the Consortium, had approved adding a Niwot LID representative. Ruzzin said, "It was founded in 1986 by Ron Stewart as a forum to talk about issues. The Consortium, in and of itself, does not have any authority." The LID voted to appoint Firle as the LID representative, with LID member Carla Hunter as the alternate. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 2, with the focus on homelessness.

LID Revenue

Treasurer Mary Coonce's report showed that LID sales tax collections for the month of June were up 3.39% compared to June 2023 receipts, which was the first month this year in which revenues were higher than the previous year. But in July, revenues again declined over 2023 collections by 10.3%, resulting in a year-to-date through July decline of 9.75% compared to 2023. Retail sales revenue continued to fall short of 2023 figures, as did every other category except Accommodation and Food, which is up by 9.5% over 2023.

The LID's budget, which is set at 80% of collections from two years ago, is on schedule to be fully spent by year end. The LID retains a reserve of $432,741 as of the beginning of 2024. Those funds are earmarked by LID policy for infrastructure improvements.