LID And NBA: More Funds, Mural and Sign Progress, New Leadership

BY KIM GLASSCOCK
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Niwot residents will have the chance to discuss parking, pedestrian and bike connections, traffic mitigation and other connectivity issues at a Sept. 21 public meeting at the Left Hand Grange in Niwot.

The meeting stems from discussions that took place during meetings of a working group composed of Boulder County staff employees and members of Niwot community groups. The informal working group would like to hear what priorities Niwot residents have for a transportation and connectivity plan for Niwot.

“The county commissioners are aware of some issues that need to be part of the study,” said Pete Salas, Boulder County liaison to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee, told LID members at their Aug. 2 meeting. “But they also want to know what Niwot residents regard as priorities.”
The public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the Left Hand Grange Hall in Niwot.

Boulder County officials are hiring a consultant to put together the study and plan. The LID will split the cost of the study with Boulder County.
The plan will look at improving convenient access among Niwot’s business areas, cultural amenities and neighborhoods. It will focus on increasing parking availability and supply, and improving bike and pedestrian connections throughout the town. The plan also will focus on local and regional mobility issues.

 The completed study is expected to contain conceptual design plans, program and regulatory change recommendations, a list of early action projects, cost estimates, and recommendations for funding and implementation responsibility.
“This plan will affect all of Niwot,” LID co-chair Carrie Wise pointed out. “It’s important to hear from all of our community.”
Boulder County staff employees are coordinating the transportation and connectivity study and plan. The study is expected to take six months to complete.

Planning Retreat

LID members will hold a planning retreat Sept. 12 to discuss budget priorities and fiscal issues, including guidelines for using capital reserves.
Boulder County Commissioners suggested that the advisory committee members hold the retreat now that the street, sidewalk, lighting and drainage improvement bonds are paid off and the LID will have more funding to allocate. County staffers estimate that the LID could see a total budget of up to $144,000 in fiscal year 2011, up from about $58,000 in 2010.

“We will have a much bigger budget to manage next year, and I think this will be a good way to discuss what spending guidelines and priorities we might want to see,” said LID vice-chair Jim Eastman.
The group also expects to set guidelines for using the LID’s capital reserves, which are funds set aside for large projects or purchases.

“You can use the planning process to identify some long-term and short-term capital projects you might want to consider,” Salas told LID members.

Mural And Gateway Sign

Work is progressing every day on the 160-foot Niwot mural on the side of the Excel Electric building on Murray Street. Artist Denise Chamberlain of Magic Brush Arts starts painting in the cool of the early morning and finishes in the early afternoon, NBA historic projects subcommittee chair Tim Wise told LID members.

The mural will depict Niwot’s heritage and spirit, while also focusing on its attractions today. The point of the mural is to entice people to explore Niwot, Wise said.
While much of the mural’s $20,000 cost is funded by the LID, some of the cost will be handled through fundraising. Wise said that about $3,000 has been raised for the project so far, and organizers hope to raise another $3,000.

A “Flower to the People” fundraising campaign is underway to give the first 300 people who donate $25 to the mural project a chance to paint flowers along the fence depicted in the mural.
Wise said Chamberlain expects to finish the mural by mid-September.
Details are being worked out as the gateway sign project moves closer to a start, Wise told LID members. Boulder County is progressing with its application for a special use permit from the Colorado Department of Transportation, and Wise said he is working with the three bidders to have them include a transportation management plan for when construction begins.

“CDOT requires the transportation management plan, so we have to include it,” Wise said.
The LID is seeking a new member to replace Robin Abb, who resigned from her position last month. The position represents business interests on the LID and must be filled by a business owner. 
In other business, LID member Bruce Warren told the group that the Niwot Cultural Arts Association is revamping its application for a planning grant from Great Outdoors Colorado. The grant would be used to develop a master plan for parks, trails, and outdoor recreation in Niwot, with the key connection being the proposed sculpture park at 79th Street and Niwot Road.

NBA

The Niwot Business Association met Aug. 9 at Milestone Family Medicine in Niwot. Jordan Asler, business manager for the clinic, told NBA members that the clinic sees about 2,000 patients a year. “The vast majority of our patients – about 80 percent – are Niwot residents,” he said.

NBA members heard an update from Tim Zandee, who is sponsoring a fine arts show in Niwot on Sept. 16 and 17. The show will feature 14 upscale artists, including glass artists, photographers, painters, sculptors and jewelers, Zandee told the group. The show will be held in the proposed sculpture park area along Niwot Road and 79th Street.

“I felt we needed a high quality art show north of Denver,” Zandee said.
The NBA is sponsoring a wine and beer area near the Left Hand Professional Suites building, and Colterra’s is providing appetizers and food. Proceeds from the sales will go to NBA projects and events.

Howard Treppeda of Treppeda’s Italian Restorante also reported on last-minute details for the Aug. 20 Jazz on 2nd Ave festival in Niwot.
Nostalgia Day on Sept. 10 will include the Left Hand Valley Courier’s Duck Race again this year, reported Bruce Warren. Five buck ducks are available at Wise Buys Antiques on Second Avenue, and at the law office of Warren, Carlson and Moore in the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center. All of the funds raised will go to the NCAA to help fund the sculpture park and First Friday Art Walks.

Energy Rebates

Amanda Sutton from the Boulder County Energy Smart program told NBA members about rebates their businesses may qualify for if they replace qualifying fluorescent lights with more energy efficient bulbs and ballasts. Both Boulder County and Xcel Energy are offering rebates.
“This can really save some significant money and energy,” she said. “But the rebates will probably disappear by Dec. 31.”
Excel Electric in Niwot is a qualifying contractor for doing the work, Wise told NBA members.

Railroad Crossings

Boulder County officials have been contacted about the poor condition of the railroad crossings on Niwot Road and 2nd Avenue, Euvaldo Valdez, owner of the Left Hand Professional Suites in Niwot, told NBA members.
“I think this is a safety issue for our village,” Valdez said. “These are the entrances to our town, and the tracks are in deplorable condition. We are planning lots of events which will bring people to our village, and I hate to see these tracks be unsafe.”

Valdez said county officials told him they would get in touch with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad officials to discuss repairing the crossings.

Rhythm on the Rails

A new operator will run the 2012 Rhythm on the Rails concert series, taking over for Boulder Creek Events. Warren announced that Ni-wot Prairie Productions was one of two bidders for the work, and won the 2012 contract. He added that Ni-wot Prairie Productions has agreed to return 10 percent of the alcohol sales proceeds to the NBA to fund NBA events and projects, and will continue the tradition of tip jar proceeds going to local non-profits.

New Promotions Structure

The NBA is moving to change its marketing and promotions structure, Vice President Dan Hawk of Edward Jones Financial Services told the group. Instead of one person in charge of all efforts, several members will take on various roles, he said.

Denise Chamberlain of Magic Brush Arts will head marketing and promotion efforts for the NBA, while Heather Morgan and Gene Malowany will work on the Niwot website. Gail Ludwig will continue to write the Niwot newsletter and head social media efforts with Kim Urdiales and intern Allie Wise. Business-to-business networking and promotions will be headed by RaeAnne Roseman of Niwot Subway.

Several events will have NBA members as coordinators. Enchanted Evening and the holiday parade will be coordinated by Linda Klueber of Niwot Interiors. Pat Murphy of Niwot Real Estate will direct the Great Pumpkin Party, and chef Dale Lamb will run the Niwot “Take the Chill Off with Chili” cookoff.

Some new events include Jazz on 2nd Ave Festival coordinated by Howard Treppeda of Treppeda’s Italian Restorante, a local artists summer art market coordinated by Karen Adler of Manifest Gallery, a classic car show run by Shawn Wentz of CrossFit Niwot, and the Niwot Fine Arts Show led by Tim Zandee.
Adler is also taking over the annual Left Hander’s Day celebration.