BY HANNAH LESTER
HLESTER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
Parking in downtown Auburn has always costs $1 an hour between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. These parking fees have always been paid through meters strategically placed around downtown.
Now, however, parking can be paid through a new mobile app the city has launched.
ParkMobile allows residents to pay through an app, texting or by scanning a QR code and adding their parking space number.
The ParkMobile app is available here: www.parkmobile.app.link/SYLSYDYShR.
“Those parking in the Wright Street Parking Deck should continue paying at the walk-up pay kiosks inside the deck or at the exit gate,” said a release from the city. “The City hopes to offer mobile payment solutions for the parking deck in the future.”
The Auburn City Council met Tuesday night and made no decisions regarding the parking meters, but Ward 3 Council Member Beth Witten brought the topic before the council.
“It’s fantastic and I’m so glad that that’s finally here,” she said.
City Manager Megan Crouch said that the new system has been well-received already in Auburn.
There is an extra fee associated with using the app, rather than the meters, Crouch said.
“We do have to charge a fee on this because ParkMobile charges us a fee per transaction so that’s carried onto the user so we’re not dipping into tax dollars to pay for that,” she said. “But people are gladly paying that for the convenience.”
City of Auburn Environmental Services and Public Works Facility Complex:
The city of Auburn City Council voted to annex over 65 acres into the city of Auburn to serve as land for the new Environmental Services and Public Works facilities complex.
The property, located at 4277 Lee Road 137, was approved for annexation and later in the meeting, the request for conditional use approval was approved by council.
The approval also means the property is designated as Rural.
“The new complex will provide office/warehouse space, pole barns for equipment, a vehicle maintenance facility, nursery, fueling station and materials storage,” the city’s e-packet said.
OTHER BUSINESS:
• The council approved temporary street closures and the invocation of entertainment district for downtown Auburn for the Tipoff at Toomer’s event on Oct. 7.
• The council approved a special events retail license alcohol beverage license for Greenwalt Hospitality, LLC d/b/a Hospitality Village.
• The council approved a special retail license — 30 days or less alcohol beverage license for Greenwalt Hospitality, LLC d/b/a Hospitality Village.
• The council approved a lounge retail liquor — Class I alcohol beverage license for Tru Blue Sports Bar, LLC.
• The council approved a contract with ALDOT for installation, operation and maintenance of lighting on I-85 at Exit 57.
• The council approved a contract for over $162,000 with IMS Infrastructure Management Services, LLC for the city of Auburn Pavement Management Plan, Roadway Evaluation and Asset Collection Project.
• The council approved a contract for over $93,000 with Trane U.S. Inc. d/b/a for an air conditioner for the Auburn Public Library.
• The council approved a contract with Hasley Recreation, Inc. for equipment and installation at Dinius Park for over $49,000 along with the equipment and installation of a shade cover for Sam Harris Park playground for over $22,000.
• The council approved a contract with Ventek International for over $19,600 for annual server hosting fees for downtown parking kiosks.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for property on Mimms Trail.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for property on James Burt Parkway in the Woodward Oaks Subdivision, Phase 4-A.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for property on James Burt Parkway in the Woodward Oaks Subdivision, Phase 4-B.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements, sanitary sewer easements and rights-of-way for property on Furlong Trail, Farmville Lakes Subdivision, Phase 4.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for property in the Yarbrough Farms Subdivision, Sawgrass Section A Redivision of Lot 345 and 346.
• The council accepted sanitary sewer easements for property at 747 S. College St. and 212 Talon Ct.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements for property in the Camden Ridge Subdivision.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements, greenway easements and rights-of-way for property on Oxbury Street.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for property on Miracle Road at North Donahue Drive.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for property on Sarah Lane, east of Miracle Road.
• The council accepted drainage and utility easements and rights-of-way for Buc-ee’s for the property on the corner of Interstate 85 and Cox Road.
• The council rezoned 12 properties in the Villageview Subdivision from Development District Housing to Medium Density Residential Development.
• The council annexed 3.3 acres for property south of Shell Toomer Parkway and east of Beech Brook Drive.
• The council vacated a right-of-way on Miracle Road.
• The council approved a resolution for conditional use approval for a commercial support use in the CRD-S zone for 1426 Saugahatchee Road.