Mobile looks to change downtown parking operator

MOBILE, Ala. (NBC 15) — The City of Mobile is looking to make downtown parking easier for residents and visitors by changing how its parking operations are managed.

The city's current parking contract with Republic Parking is set to expire Nov. 30. Rather than renewing the agreement, city leaders are proposing a new five-year contract with Park First of Alabama LLC.

Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis says communication issues with the previous operator were among the biggest concerns from residents.

“The communications directly with the previous parking contractors, just having difficulty reaching their hotlines when the issue arose and maybe also with the tickets,” the mayor said.

Under the proposed $380,900 five-year contract, Park First would provide trained, uniformed personnel to oversee parking operations and enforcement throughout downtown.

Those responsibilities would include parking meters, on-street parking enforcement and city-owned parking lots.

Cheriogotis says the goal is to improve parking turnover so people visiting downtown can find a space and enjoy local restaurants and attractions.

“In the end, we have these contracts to make sure that our parking is turning over. When people are arriving in downtown Mobile, they find a place to park, they can get out and enjoy restaurants, the scenes, the sights, and that's our primary purpose,” Cheriogotis said.

The mayor says the focus of parking enforcement is not to issue more tickets but to make sure spaces remain available for other drivers.

“Our goal is not to have more tickets next year than this year. We need to ensure that our parking is turning over. Set time is usually two-hour windows on street parking, but it's not our goal to ticket anybody. It's our goal to ensure that you can find a space when you need it right here in downtown,” he said.

Mobile looks to change downtown parking operator

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