Buda aging commission presents draft action plan; council voices support

Jeff Kaufman, chair of Buda’s Commission on Aging, presented a draft action plan to the mayor and city council at a joint meeting and asked for the council’s endorsement to proceed. "What we'd like to do tonight is report to you on what we've been doing, what we've been up to for the last several years, and get your input on going forward," Kaufman said.

The commission framed its work around eight domains: outdoor spaces and buildings (including downtown walkability), transportation, housing (with attention to the so-called "missing middle" and accessibility), social participation, respect and social inclusion, work and civic engagement, communication and information (a centralized website and digital-literacy classes), and community health services (a navigator role to help residents find services). Kaufman said the commission used a community assessment and input from regional partners including the area agency on aging and CAPCOG to develop the plan.

Kaufman noted local demographics and trends, saying roughly 2,000 Buda residents are age 60 or older and that the share of older adults is expected to grow. He cited transportation and affordable, accessible housing as the lowest-rated domains on a livability index the commission reviewed and pointed to recent achievements such as advocating for expansion of the STAR bus service and a downtown walkability study.

Council members and meeting participants offered specific suggestions and practical steps. They urged the commission to participate earlier in planning-and-zoning and development conversations so aging-friendly features (wider doors, zero-step entrances, handrails, and accessory dwelling units) can be incorporated at the design stage. One idea raised to help existing homeowners was exploring low-cost loan or financing options to fund modest home retrofits — grab bars, walk-in showers and widened doorways — so residents can safely age in place.

Several council members pressed for a reliable, maintained online hub for senior resources. Participants discussed options including integrating commission resources into the city’s site, using the library’s libguides for richer organization, and maintaining a community calendar so older residents and families can find events and services. The commission also discussed partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions, noting the city of Kyle and Hays County are developing similar age-friendly initiatives and that AARP provides model communities and case studies.

Kaufman said the commission may bring individual pieces of the action plan back to the council for approval when a grant opportunity or other funding mechanism requires it. Council members expressed broad support for the commission’s direction and asked staff to help with website updates and calendar integration; the meeting did not record a formal vote.

Next steps include refining the action plan based on tonight’s feedback, pursuing regional partnerships and grant opportunities, and returning to the council with concrete funding or ordinance proposals as needed.