All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
The requests for funding presented to the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee June 6 included old and new events –- a new event designed to capitalize on the Bike MS: Colorado event coming through Niwot on Saturday, June 24, a FlowerFest event scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 5, music for First Friday Art Walks, a resurrection of Oktoberfest on Sept. 30, and a Where’s Waldo Local scavenger hunt throughout the month of July.
Bike MS: Colorado
Bike MS: Colorado is a bicycle ride, as opposed to a race, with a route from Fort Collins to Westminster and back again. One of the segments travels west on Niwot Road, and Whistle Stop Park in Niwot is a rest station for the riders before they cross the Diagonal Highway to 73rd Street. “I’ve assisted with it the last several years,” LID member Eric Bergeson said. Bergeson, who owns Niwot Wheel Works bicycle shop, is also president of the Niwot Business Association, which presented the application.
“We plan to set up chairs along 2nd Avenue and by the [Niwot] Market for spectators,” Bergeson said. The NBA hopes to attract families and friends of riders to view the riders as they come into town from Broomfield. “It’s pretty early in the morning,” Bergeson said, noting that riders are expected to come through Niwot between 8 and 11 a.m. “Not all retail places will be open.”
The application noted, “Each of the 1,500 riders will get, in their registration packets, a $5 coupon for use at any business in town redeemable, with certain restrictions, by August 31st. We will also be providing a town map and list of this year’s events in each packet. In town we will have signs and banners welcoming the cyclists and their supporters.” Bergeson noted that signs would urge people to donate to the MS cause. “The idea is to get them exposed to Niwot. This may take a couple of years for people to come,” he said.
The NBA is donating $500 toward the expenses, which are estimated at $6,463.37. The LID unanimously approved funding the balance of the costs.
Niwot FlowerFest
Kathy Trauner, owner of Fly Away Home, presented the NBA’s application for funding the Niwot FlowerFest. The application stated,” The FlowerFest is a new event for Niwot, designed to delight visitors and bring new customers to area businesses,” The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We’ll invite local flower farmers to set up booths to sell their blooms and impart information on the care and keeping of flowering plants,” the applications stated. “Flower growers and botanists will hold small-group classes on the Niwot Market patio. We’ll invite other pop-up vendors to participate to create a festive and tempting atmosphere.”
Vendors will pay $25 to participate and four musicians will perform at different locations in Cottonwood Square and on 2nd Avenue. “We’ll have speakers, we’ll have classes, and of course, we’ll have a flower fairy,” Trauner said.
Free punch cards will be offered to the first 100 guests, and each punch card will be good for six flower stems. Guests will have to visit at least six of approximately 12 participating businesses to collect six flowers. “At the end of the day, visitors can take their flowers to Belle Terre to get a vase,” Trauner said. “We’re working on getting seed packets too.”
The application concluded, “We expect the FlowerFest to bring new customers to Niwot businesses and tempt existing customers to spend time and money. The idea is to help more consumers discover Niwot and convince them this little town is a wonderful place to live, work, dine, shop, and do business.” The NBA is contributing $500 to the event and the request for $4,550 to cover the balance of the cost was approved unanimously.
First Friday Art Walks
The Niwot Cultural Arts Association requested funding for First Friday Art Walks, which it co-sponsors with Osmosis Gallery, through the end of the year. The event has been held for many years and brings art aficionados to town to visit art displays in local galleries and businesses on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m. The application stated, “Artwork from local artists is displayed by participating businesses and refreshments are offered. Live music is provided throughout the business district during warmer weather months, usually at two locations on 2nd Avenue and one or two locations in Cottonwood Square.”
This summer, an open house is planned for the July First Friday in connection with the restoration of the Eddie Running Wolf tree carvings. The NCAA requested funding for musicians and advertising in the amount of $2,985, with the NCAA contributing $900 toward the overall expected cost of $3,885.
LID member Sarah Cioni noted that several retailers have dropped out due to lack of sales. “I would like to see more art, chalk art, and get high schoolers involved,” she said. “I think it needs more than $3,800. I want to see the artists come.” Scott Firle, LID chair, said "I would like to see something more robust,” noting a recent report that Boulder has the third-largest concentration of artists in the country. Bergeson noted that perhaps the NBA could be more involved. The request was approved unanimously.
Oktoberfest
The NCAA also presented a funding request for renewal of an Oktoberfest event in Cottonwood Square on Saturday, Sept. 30. Trauner, who is part of the organizing committee, presented the request for the NCAA.
“In the past, Niwot’s Oktoberfest in Cottonwood Square drew big, happy crowds,” the application stated. “Music headliners will play under a tent from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and local bands will play throughout the day.”
Trauner said, “The headliner is the same band that played at The Wheel House that we all heard was fantastic. This will be very much like what Oktoberfest was years back.” Other local musicians are scheduled to perform, including the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange “Polka” Band.
The NCAA plans to sell beer at the event, and local restaurants with a liquor license will also offer beer on their premises. The application stated, “The Oktoberfest will bring customers to local businesses and provide publicity for Niwot. Because it will be a free event, visitors will be encouraged to patronize the local restaurants and retail shops throughout the day and return to hear a variety of music at their leisure.”
The application explained the benefits of the event. “The social benefits of this project, though hard to measure, are also wide ranging. 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. New connections among public and private groups, neighborhood groups, staff, volunteers, and interested residents are made.” The Oktoberfest request for $6,203 was approved unanimously.
Where’s Waldo Local
The Wandering Jellyfish bookstore in Niwot applied for LID funding on behalf of the NBA for a scavenger hunt featuring the “Where’s Waldo” book series. Jerilyn Patterson, co-owner of the bookstore, presented the application, which stated, “This July, our bookstore will be hosting an exciting monthlong scavenger hunt to find Waldo in up to twenty-five participating local merchants. Each participating business will receive a six-inch Waldo standee and Find Waldo Local stamp cards with the names of the twenty-five participating merchants. Each merchant simply stamps or signs the stamp card of anyone who spots the Waldo standee and wants to play.”
Patterson explained that there will be prizes awarded to the players throughout the month, “and on July 29th, we’ll host a big Waldo shindig outside our bookstore with games, prizes and assorted fun.”
“We had to apply to get approval from the publisher,” she said, which limits participation to 25 businesses. “We were excited to be selected this year. We’re hoping to find someone to dress up as Waldo at the final party.”
The total cost of the event is $1,850, with the NBA contributing $500. The LID unanimously approved funding for the remaining $1,350, which will cover the cost of the party supplies, prizes and marketing.
Cottonwood Concert
Stacy Szydiek presented an update on the Cottonwood Concert scheduled for Aug. 26 in Cottonwood Square from 2 to 9 p.m. with several bands scheduled to perform, including The Samples as the headliner. “The stage will be placed in the parking lot next to Edward Jones,” she noted in her report.
She has been working with David Limbach of the Niwot Community Association and Michael Tomich of The Old Oak Coffeehouse and the House Blend Band to arrange for the use of the stage recently purchased with LID funds.
She reported, “The kids from the Niwot Gig will start the event, Martin Marks, their teacher, will do a set, Highway 30, The John Loland Quartet and headliner The Samples,” will complete the lineup. “I will have a team of 30 volunteers to help with security and anything else,” she said. “If any local businesses would like a pop-up at the event to sell, please feel free to do so. However, we do not want outside food vendors competing with Niwot’s many great restaurant options.”
Niwot Entry Sign
Bergeson gave an update on the Eagle Scout project proposed by Montana Heather, noting that a master plan for Niwot that included transportation and signage elements was underway, and that it would take another month to determine how the new sign would best fit. Heather’s project proposed putting a “Welcome to Niwot” sign at the Niwot Road entrance from the Diagonal Highway.
LID member Lisa Rivard said, “We’re looking at a much bigger presence as part of the strategic plan.” Bergeson suggested that the proposed sign could go on the 79th Street or 83rd Street entrances to Niwot. LID member Heidi Storz noted that the Niwot Road location has been an Eagle Scout project in the past, and suggested that the new sign could go along the bike paths coming into Niwot.
Revenue
In other news, LID revenue for the first three months of the year is down approximately 2% compared to the same period in 2022, according to Treasurer Mary Coonce. Revenue from the 1% sales tax imposed by the LID was $25,699 for March, which was more than $7,000 higher than February, and almost exactly the same as March 2022 LID revenue.
Revenue in the retail sector was down significantly from March of 2022, a fact that was not a surprise to LID members who have retail businesses. Remote sales tax collections were up 50% however, offsetting most of the retail decline. The LID reserve is over $394,000 as of the end of 2022.
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