BUDA — The Mayor of Buda introduced new City Administrator Robert Camareno to the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) last month more by what he didn't say than by what he did say.

"He's enthusiastic, and that's refreshing," Buda Mayor John Trube said. "He's open minded, and that's really refreshing."

The crowd laughed, but Trube's point also was serious. The city went for an administrator, rather than an ideologue.

Camareno, 40, comes to Buda after nearly three years as the assistant city manager and director of finance in Copperas Cove, bringing with him no preconceived notions and articulating no big ideas. Instead, Camareno said he's focused on carrying out numerous projects already on the burners, creating departments for city services and leaving the vision to the city council.

"My job is to manage and coordinate (projects) and make sure they are completed," Camareno said.

Among the projects are the development of a city charter, implementation of a transportation plan, creation of the engineering and parks departments and the Main Street beautification. Then, there's economic development, especially on Main Street and IH-35. And the usual drudgery about water, wastewater treatment and storm water drainage.

"And then, I'm sure, to create a police department," Camareno said.

Born and raised in New Braunfels, Camareno said he came to Buda partially so be could be closer to his hometown, where his family still lives. But the larger draw, he said, is the city's location and the development possibilities that come with it. His interest is in building a city, not designing it.

"I do have some view with regards to how departments should function and I'm working towards making sure we take care of those things," Camareno said. "But not every community is the same. You really have to take a look at how those communities are operating and if it works, it works. You have to stick with it. A city manager can't come in and make wholesale changes because that's the way it worked in one community and it should work here. That's not the way it works."

Camareno has been married for 18 years to his wife, Sylvia, who he met while in the Marine Corps in Arizona. The Camarenos have three children — 21-year-old son Miguel, who lives in New Braunfels, 17-year-old son Robert, who is a junior at Hays High School, and 13-year-old daughter Alyssa, an eighth grader at Barton Middle School.

Camareno received his associates degree at Central Arizona College and his bachelors at the University of Phoenix. He is working on a masters of public administration degree at Texas State, though he added that he's taking a year off to tackle the projects underway in Buda.

Camareno spoke with The Hays Highway about a number of issues facing Buda as he begins the job. Following are his words.

On transportation:

"Congressman (Henry) Cuellar actually has been successful in acquiring $500,000 in federal moneys for the truck bypass route, so we do have those monies available for that project and we're currently in the design phase for that project. But with regards to the master transportation plan, I invite you to come out on Nov. 17. There will be a public hearing where the transportation commission will invite input [Editor's note: the meeting has since been rescheduled for Nov. 29]. With regards to how you pay for (the roads included on the transportation plan), well, I believe it has to be on a phased approached. You set priorities and those projects, once identified, will be prioritized. And, of course, we'll go after any grant funding that is out there — state money, federal monies — that are out there and try to use as much of that before we actually put together any type of a road bond, for example. That's so far out, it's very preliminary to speak about anything like that."

On business development:

"With regards to the area around Cabela's (at Main Street and IH-35), there have not been any commitments from any retail establishments. The developer of that area is trying to receive some commitments for retail establishments to come into that area, restaurant establishments. So, they are actively working to develop that area around the Cabela's site. With regards to the east side, same thing. They are working on their preliminary plan. From what I understand, there are no commitments at this point. With regards to attracting business to IH-35 and directing (customers) to (downtown) Buda, the downtown association is actively working with Cabela's to develop some signs to direct people to downtown Buda. Obviously, when you talk about tax base and you talk about amenities, no doubt, we will have a very large retail tax base on the I-35 corridor, which will bring many amenities to the city that people will enjoy. At the same time, we want to maintain the small town charm in downtown Buda."

On activities for young people:

"Well, the EDC (economic development corporation) has worked very hard with regards to the Buda Sportsplex, which will be located along (RM) 967 and (FM) 1626, and they've been successful attracting the YMCA to construct a facility at that sportsplex. So, that will be a tremendous asset to this community, providing some much needed facilities and amenities to the kids of this area. I think (funding and building) the sportsplex will probably have to be a phased approach. It's a very expensive venture."

On parks and beautification:

"There are some projects that are being actively worked right now, (the) Stagecoach (park) being one of those. We are finalizing the design work so we can get the funds are available. The enhancement project on Main Street is another that is actively being worked. We actually bid that project out and came up 40 percent over budget (the $1 million project includes $781,000 of TxDOT money), so, working with TxDOT, that committee has come up with three different scenarios for TxDOT's approval. Once TxDOT approves one of those scenarios, we'll go back out to bid. Because of the costs of concrete, steel and fuel, we will see our bids come in over budget, so we're going to have to reduce the scope of some of these projects."

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