Wimberley parks board unanimously declines Lions Club coin-vortex fundraiser

The Wimberley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to decline a proposal from the Wimberley Lions Club to install a coin-vortex fundraising funnel in a city park.

At the meeting Parks Director Rachel Buchanan presented the request and said staff recommended against placing the feature in Martha Neese Park because "there's just too much already there" and that Oak Park might be a more appropriate location. Board members raised concerns about ongoing maintenance and the practicalities of a coin-based fundraiser in an era when "nobody carries coins anymore." A committee member who described themselves as having experience with coin funnels said the equipment and installation can be costly and prone to routine problems: "We paid $3,000 for ours in 2013 ... the 62-inch diameter funnel is now priced at, like, $4,500," the member said.

Chair Laurie Olsen moved that the board decline the installation; a fellow committee member seconded the motion. "I would make a motion to decline this installation," Olsen said before the board voted. The motion passed unanimously.

Board members also discussed that, if the feature were to be installed, any revenue would go to the Lions Club rather than the parks department. Several members suggested that, if the Lions still wished to pursue public fundraising, the group could consider alternate locations or events that would avoid placing ongoing maintenance burdens on park staff.

The board did not approve any funding for the feature and instructed staff to notify the Lions Club of the decision.