Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Gulf Shores will discuss farming out its paid parking kiosks in the city with a service provided by a company called ParkMobile. The city council will meet at 4 p.m. July 15 in a work session to consider the change.

“Current beachfront payment kiosks are becoming outdated, frequently require maintenance/repair, and are expensive to operate and maintain,” Deputy Police Chief Dan Netemeyer told the council in a memo on the meeting agenda. “Additionally, users find them difficult to use, which causes them to give up and risk receiving a parking ticket. City staff has researched alternative methods for payments by beachfront users who wish to park their vehicle. A series of meetings have been held with personnel from ParkMobile to seek alternative methods of payment for beachfront users to park their vehicles.”

Netermeyer said with this three-year agreement ParkMobile will offer different ways to pay for beachfront parking using a website, app, pay by text or pay by phone. The city will pay ParkMobile a 3 percent transaction fee plus 20 cents per transaction.

ParkMobile will provide at no charge for:

• Implementation and customized development (signage and decals)
• Call center and customer support for users
• Client support and maintenance
• Website hosting
• Enforcement portal
• Reporting portal
• Marketing and advertising

After the three-year term, the contract will renew annually unless terminated by the city or ParkMobile.

During the meeting, the council will also discuss:

• Authorizing the mayor to sign a supplement to the Transportation Alternatives Program for sidewalk and drainage improvements along East First Street from East 16th Street to East 19th Avenue. The supplement will include extending the work to East 20th Avenue.
• Issuing a business license for Cartiology Sales to rent golf carts in Gulf Shores. There is currently a 120-day moratorium on business licenses for golf cart rental licenses while the city studies “pending consideration of contemplated ordinance amendments.”
• A request for a conditional use permit for Canal Park Condos phase 2 for six units at 411 E. Canal Drive for vacation rentals.
• Issuing an assembly permit for the Bloody Mary 5K run/walk on Aug, 31 starting near Acme Oyster House on East 24th Avenue.
• Issuing an assembly permit for the 51st annual National Shrimp Festival on Oct. 10-13 at Gulf Place.
• Changing the event ticketing company to Eventbrite from the current vendor Vendini.