New Braunfels officials look at tubing fees

One of the best ways to beat the heat is to go tubing. One of the best ways to beat the heat is to go tubing. Image 1 of / 252 Caption Close New Braunfels officials look at tubing fees 1 / 252 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — How much is a lazy float down a Texas river worth to you?

New Braunfels City Council is betting a $5 fee for out-of-town visitors using city parks won't hurt tourism revenue.

The fee, which still is being ironed out but has broad council support, would require non-residents to pay $5 upon entry to Hinman Island Park and Prince Solms Park. Each has entry to the Comal River, on summer weekends and holidays.

“I don't think the fee will deter people from coming to New Braunfels,” District 2 City Councilwoman Aja Edwards said.

“If you go to an outfitter you are going to be paying more than $5 to float,” she said, adding that council members unanimously voted to tentatively move forward.

City leaders say upkeep of the river and emergency personnel is costing the city more than $1 million a year and this proposal could mitigate some of those costs.

The fee is expected to bring in an estimated $350,000, Edwards said, but would cost about $150,000 to implement in the first year and about $17,000 annually after, she said.

The recommendation for the fee came from the River Stakeholders Steering Committee, which includes river industry business and hotel owners, at a council meeting Monday.

“If there were any concerns about the fee driving traffic away, the committee wouldn't have recommended it,” Edwards said.

The proposed fee could be passed as early as the end of January or February.

In 2012, the Council enacted a controversial municipal ban on disposable containers on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers within city limits, which is being challenged in a lawsuit.

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker