NCA begins to work on goals for 2024

The Niwot Community Association (NCA) set goals for 2024 during its December board meeting. The NCA serves as a local advocacy group with representatives from eight residential service areas that interfaces with local government to provide input and provide a forum for Niwot citizens to learn about issues and voice their opinions.The January monthly meeting saw the NCA board launch projects that board members volunteered to champion.

Boulder County’s land use policies and actions are an important topic for NCA attention. Examples of developments of interest are a proposed subdivision at Niwot Road and 63rd Street, a proposed tennis facility on 79th Street, and solar farms. A land use subcommittee has formed under the leadership of board member Pat Murphy, a longtime Niwot realtor.

NCA President David Limbach and board member Kathy Koehler have continued to participate in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan work. The draft plan is due to be released in the Spring of 2024. Board member Neal Anderson has been interested in wildfire risks in Niwot and in making the highly technical content of the plan comprehensible and available to Niwotians. Board member Liz Marr, representing Area 7, described Lake Valley Estates residents’ success in applying for fire mitigation funds through a pilot program. Marr said that funds have been extended to plains homeowners.

Board Secretary Leonard Sitongia has expressed interest in the goal of understanding and communicating the budgets of Boulder County and special districts that impact property taxes. Sitongia has asked the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the County Assessor to provide a training session for the public in order to understand how property taxes are determined.

Board member Liz Marr has worked on the subdivision paving issue for several years. Marr will continue to work closely with the County Transportation Department, now known as Public Works, and champion the subdivision paving issue in the new year.

Board members Vicky Dorvee and Murphy will keep the program going that welcomes new residents in Niwot. The focus of the effort in recent years has been to put together welcome bags to hand out to new resident households.

Social media work is an important need and Communications Director Emily Limbach has identified what needs to be done, but more people are needed to help with this project.

There are more goals that deserve attention, however the NCA is in need of people to lead projects towards accomplishing those goals. The public is welcome at all monthly board meetings and can contact the NCA if they are interested in lending a hand. Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m at the Grange hall. Anyone wishing to speak or having a specific issue to discuss should contact the NCA board at least one week in advance of the meeting to be included on the agenda. The NCA website is https://niwot.org/.