By Moses Leos III.

Disagreement over implementation of a new Buda ordinance caused discord between the city and the Buda Lions Club, a charitable nonprofit. 

It came to a head at the April 1 city council meeting, where the Lions were granted a variance to forgo a free parking requirement at City Park. However, concerns loom over the future of the Lions’ existing shuttled parking. 

“If our current lot is available and free parking is required, it’s a worse situation financially [for us] than if donation parking is accepted,” Alan Robinson, president of the Buda Lions Club, said. 

Discussions of free parking at City Park have been on-going for years, according to Buda Police Chief Bo Kidd. They were rekindled in November – specifically focused on parking problems on city streets during the Weiner Dog Festival (WDF).

Kidd, along with Parks and Recreation Director Andy Czimskey and Public Works Director Mike Beggs contemplated ways to solve the problem. 

The solution, according to Czimskey, was to redo the special event packet organizers must submit to the city. This included requiring the lot north of City Park to be opened for free parking. 

Robinson didn’t see eye to eye with city staff. He contended his group’s event packet was turned in prior to council passing the ordinance on March 25. Implementation of that ordinance less than a month before the festival didn’t sit well with the Lions. 

Having already planned for their packet, going back and adjusting it was a difficult prospect. 

Robinson said their only option was to ask for a variance from the city council. The Lions sought two variances, one to forgo the free parking requirement. Their solution was to provide paid parking in the lot north of City Park, which they felt could alleviate side street parking in downtown Buda. 

In addition, to further lessen the parking problem, the Lions contemplated “saturating” neighborhoods with signage warning of towing. They were persuaded to not move forward with signage. They also asked to close off San Antonio Street, in order to avoid traffic tie-ups.

The group took the measure to city council, which found in favor of the Lions in a 6-1 vote.

However, Czimskey and city staff argued the lot needed to be a free parking location.

According to Kidd, the move would address safety issues, along with keeping revelers out of Main Street business parking spaces. 

“I think our goal has been for many years to create enough space [at City Park] so we can have large events and not have such a negative impact downtown,” Kidd said. 

Their solution was predicated on the expansion of the lot near City Park. Since 2010, Beggs estimates 112,500 square-feet of additional space were added, which could conceivably fit 1,000 to 1,200 cars. 

Robinson disagreed that free parking would alleviate problems. It hearkens back to experiences the Lions had in previous years. He said prior to 2005, the use of City Park for parking led to huge traffic tie-ups. 

Robinson said the Lions Club was told to rectify the issue. They did so by charging for shuttled parking in a lot north of Cabela’s. 

Since then, the Lions have seen an increase in patronage due to the service. So much so, they continue advertising it.  

“Our numbers have increased in past several years,” Robinson said. “Many patrons are return patrons and they expect [the shuttles].” 

It’s the future of the group’s parking and shuttle service that is worrisome. 

Last year, the Lions took in 1,818 cars. At $5 per car, they raised $9,090, all of which goes to various charities. Some of it goes to the $22,000 the Lions give in scholarships to all three Hays CISD high schools. With the implementation of the ordinance, the Lions could see a significant decrease in that amount. 

In addition, there is always the fear of losing the land they are loaned for their shuttles.  

Several options to remedy such a loss are on the table. One could be an increase to the entry fee at the WDF. 

While the Lions eye the future of their shuttle service, they will remain focused on the 2014 event at hand. 

“We are making sure things run smoothly [this year],” Robinson said.