The $391,412 price tag for parking equipment to serve Birmingham’s Municipal Court garnered several questions from city councilors during their meeting on Tuesday.

The measure before the City Council was an amendment to an agreement with Navitas Credit Corp. for the financing of equipment needed to upgrade the city’s municipal court parking lot at 801 17th Street. The council first adopted the agreement in March. Tuesday’s amendment corrected the amount, which was originally $345,665.

“This seems like an excessive amount of money for a gate arm to go up for people to go into municipal court,” Councilor Valerie Abbott said.

Chaz Mitchell, chief of operations, told Abbott that the city is paying not just to replace the gate but also parking sensors. The project will also include upgrading the payment system to accept credit cards. Mitchell said the current equipment — which has been in place since before Abbott took office in 2001 — accepts only coins.

Councilor Carol Clarke asked why the city was financing the upgrade rather than just paying for it outright. Mitchell said financing seemed like a better option presented by the company that city officials have been working with up until this point. Mitchell called it a turn-key solution.

While Navitas will finance the project, the equipment will be provided by Wisconsin-based TAPCO.

According to Mitchell, the municipal court parking lot is the only one overseen by the city, with the rest falling under the Birmingham Parking Authority.

The council passed the amendment unanimously.

McWane Exhibit Explores the Impact of Hip Hop

In other business, the council approved spending $170,000 to fund a McWane Science Center exhibit to promote science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics among underprivileged children.

The 7,000-square-foot exhibit will allow visitors to explore the history and cultural impact of hip hop by creating beats, recording lyrics and designing sneakers, according to city staff. The program will also include hands-on learning applications such as sound engineering and the mathematics behind music.

“This is an incredibly thoughtful and engaging way to introduce young people to the science behind music, song writing, artistic expression and the culture surrounding hip hop,” Councilor J.T. Moore said. “It’s an honor to be able to support this innovative approach to STEAM programming here in Birmingham. I’m encouraged by the fact that the leadership at McWane has brought on an advisory group comprised of local people who understand the cultural relevance and the impact that hip hop has made on our society.”

The city’s contribution Tuesday will help fund the exhibit for one year.