Niwot proponents ask commissioners to continue PID petition hearing to October as petitioners revise boundaries and levy

Proponents of a proposed Niwot-area public improvement district (PID) asked the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 19 to continue a public hearing on the petition until Oct. 21, citing neighbor feedback and requested changes to district boundaries and levy levels. The board granted the request and set a date-certain continuation.

What the proponents said: Representatives of the petition – including residents Heidi Storrs, Bruce (Biff) Warren and petitioner representative Chris Crandall – told commissioners they had received neighborhood feedback that motivated adjustments to the proposed district lines and a request to consider lowering the mill levy. They also sought clarifying changes to the petition language and a guarantee that any revenues from a Niwot PID would be dedicated to district uses, subject to competitive bidding or county administration as appropriate.

Why it matters: A county-administered PID can finance neighborhood improvements such as road rehabilitation but presents local tradeoffs including additional property levies for district parcels and administrative costs. Petitioners said many Niwot subdivision roads are degraded and that a coordinated Niwot-wide PID could be more efficient than scattered, neighborhood-only assessments.

County staff note: County attorney and staff explained that if proponents alter the petition to change boundaries or levy amounts the board may need to postpone the November schedule; TABOR and ballot-timing rules could push an election into a later cycle if statutory timelines are not met. Staff offered options including withdrawal and resubmission or a continuation to a date that allows a lawful ballot timetable.

Outcome: The board unanimously agreed to continue the public hearing for the Niwot-area PID petition to Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. and directed staff to work with proponents on revised petition language and scheduling.