LID Has Quiet Start to the New Year

Niwot’s Local Improvement District (LID), reconvened in the New Year at its January meeting on Tues., Jan. 5, where they returned to a quiet month.

There were only two funding requests on the agenda, one for Let’s Wine About Winter and the other for the maintenance of the recent trees planted along Second Avenue. Anne Postle, of Osmosis Art Gallery, was present to request $1,191 from the LID on behalf of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association for Let’s Wine About Winter.

Last year was the first year for the event, whose idea was taken from a small town near Chicago which held something similar. Postle said that even with a blizzard the day of the event, there were still 85 businesses that participated and around 200 people present.

The idea of Let’s Wine About Winter is to get people into the shops around Niwot, taste some wine and enjoy the day with good company. “It brings people to town on a day when no one’s supporting businesses in Niwot,” Postle said.

The money being requested is to go toward the cost of mugs being made, a new banner and promotion of the event. Attendants, who pay $25 to be part of the Let’s Wine About Winter club, will receive a mug and a $10 coupon to use in any participating store or restaurant in Niwot. Postle also said funds from the event will be earmarked for the Children’s Park and for improvements at Whistle Stop Park.

Postle said they are extending the time of the event to 1-5 p.m. this year, so people can transition to enjoying a dinner out afterward. She expects 250 participants, and many hope she conjure up another blizzard for the Sat., Feb. 20 event. The LID moved to approve the NCAA funding request for Let’s Wine About Winter.

The next request was from Chuck Klueber on behalf of the Niwot Business Association, requesting $878 for the maintenance of six trees in downtown Niwot, including five that were planted just last fall and one blue spruce tree that was planted a number of years ago.

With the community having concerns for the life of the trees, Klueber knew it would be imperative to set a regular time for the trees to be taken care of. The plan will consist of deep root watering and annual fertilization for each tree.

Klueber said he will supervise the maintenance of the trees by an outside company, and said there will be no spraying of the trees required. The motion was passed to approve the requested money for the tree maintenance.

Klueber also gave an update and final report of the streetscape and bump out project done last fall along Second Avenue. Along with the five chanticleer pear trees planted, an irrigation system was put in, as well as a new patio outside of Happy Mountain Bean and Bistro. There were also bike racks put up and the same vintage Niwot sign that can be seen from the Diagonal is part of the installation.

The project was finished in three and a half weeks and even came in under budget for the project. Klueber said he’s “heard nothing but positive comments from the community and businesses.”

“I believe it has been a wide success,” Klueber added about the project. “It’s going to do a lot to attract new business [to Niwot].”