It’s never a good sign when the speakers at a press conference lead off by acknowledging it must be a slow-news day; otherwise, why are there so many people here?
But words to those effect were the first thing out of the mouth of new mayor Lee Leffingwell, at an AM presser unveiling – literally – the first of 500 planned parking paystations destined to send old school parking meters the way of the dodo. After introductory remarks from assistant city manager Robert Goode, Leffingwell and council member Laura Morrison pulled the bright red wrap off the kiosk – after the requisite amount of fumbling. “Scotch tape,” Leffingwell said later.
Transportation director Robert Spillar then enumerated the benefits and wizardry of the machinery: solar-powered, accepting of coins and credit cards alike, and on a wireless connection that alerts the city when service is required. Spillar also expects the machines to free up the number of parking spots Downtown, as cars are no longer beholden to individually metered spots along the street. Also, you take your time with you, in the form of a sticker printout: when you’re done on Second Street, if there’s time left on your printout, you can use the same one to park elsewhere.
After some dreadfully earnest questions, the event was over, but you can see the Hustle got the real exclusive! For more, read the city’s press release here.
This article appears in July 17 • 2009.