Visitors to City Springs who park on surface streets for more than two hours won’t have to pay $45 tickets when Sandy Springs’ new parking management company takes over.
Once 12 Oaks Parking of Roswell has converted the city’s parking systems some time in April, on-street parking rates will start at $8 after three hours and increase to $18 for 24 hours of parking.
Valet parking rates will increase from $5 to $10 for retail, and from $15 to $20 for events.
Dave Wells, director of facilities/capital construction and building operations, said on-street parking includes all spacesin the City Springs complex. That includes the South parking lot across from the City Green, Mount Vernon Highway, Galambos Way, Blue Stone Road, Market Square, and several parking spaces on Sandy Springs Circle.
Motorists will scan a QR code on their smartphone to enable tracking of the time they are parked. Payment can be made via the QR code or via pay by test. Two pay stations will be available also.
Garage parking rates remain the same, with the first two hours free:
- 2-3 hours – $4
- 3-4 hours – $6
- 4-5 hours – $8
- 5-8 hours – $10
- 8-24 hours – $18
Event parking in the parking garage will vary by event. For city events, normal hourly rates will apply.
When the changes are made, motorists entering the parking garage will immediately notice a difference. The gates and ticket system will be removed. Once a motorist has entered the parking garage, 12 Oaks Parking founder and CEO Jeremy Scott said the vehicle’s license plate is read. Signage will direct them to scan a QR code to pay or text to pay. The license plate and payment method will be matched up.
Scott said when motorists want to leave the parking garage, they don’t need to wait for a gate.
“Your license plate is scanned again on exit, and the system cross-references to say, ‘Oh, this license plate successfully completed a transaction and started a session, or it didn’t,'” Scott said.
When the parking management system transitions, Scott said 12 Oaks Parking would have an abundance of people around to help walk motorists through the system.
Scott said credit card information is handled by a third-party credit card processor that follow all compliance requirements. Motorists can choose if they want the credit card processor to retain their card information or not.
The city expects an increase in revenue due to the new rates. The funds will help offset costs for the parking facilities, such as capital charges, utility costs, security, car parking management services, and maintenance.
Sandy Springs awarded 12 Oaks Parking the contract for parking management on March 5. Labor and operating costs were estimated from $208,462 to $280,000. The city would not be billed, with 12 Oaks receiving the parking revenue. A rent/incentive fee of 50 percent of any revenue over $375,000 would be paid to the city.
