HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 3 CARRIER ALERT 07-05-83June 21, 1983
CONSENT CALENDAR
No. 3 ,
7-5-83 (no m~eting)
7-18-83
Inter-Corn
FROM:
S UB,J £1:T:
Bill Huston, City Manager
Community Services Department
CARRIER ALERT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve Resolution No. 83-44 endorsing the Carrier Alert Program and
approving participation of the City of Tustin in the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
All program materials are provided by the United Way and the Area Agency on
Aging. There will be a minimal soft-dollar cost of City staff time, which
can be absorbed into current workload.
BACKGROUND:
The Orange County Area Agency 'on Aging, toggther with the United. Ways of
Orange County, Branch 1100 of the National Letter Carriers Association,
and the United States Postal Service are sponsoring a Carrier Alert Program.
The Carrier Alert Program has been initiated to help the elderly and handicapped
living alone who may suffer an accident or illness in the home. They may
lie disabled for days before any help arrives if they are unable to reach a
telephone. Under the Carrier Alert Program, local Postmasters agree to
cooperate with local community sponsors to offer an alert mechanism for the
elderly and the handicapped. The Carrier Alert Program has also been known as
the Postal Alert Program.
The programs works in the following manner: Many letter carriers have the same
route year after year, so the carrier becomes familiar with every resident on
his or her route. Many times early symptoms of trouble in the home arise such
as mailbox overflow, porch light burning, newspaper pile-up, or broken windows.
When anythin§ out of the ordinary occurs, the Carrier contacts his or her
supervisor. The supervisor then contacts the local senior center (in our case,
the Community Services Department) who in turn will call the individual in
question. If there is no answer, the local senior center will call the person
that the senior has authorized to enter their home and look in on them.
The program is especially recommended for the handicapped and for elderly living
alone. Staff feels the'program is needed and very worthwhile. All program
CARRIER ALERT PROGRAM
Page Two
June 21, 1983
materials are provided by the United Way and Area Agency on Aging. The only
cost to the City would be from clerical time to maintain card files and answer
phone calls. The program will be introduced gradually through Senior Club
meetings, A.A.R.P. meetings, and TLC luncheons.
Recreati on Superintendent
JK:sk
Attachment: Resolution No. 83-44
31
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
RESOLUTION NO. 83-44
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ENDORSING THE
CARRIER ALERT PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, Carrier Alert is a volunteer community service effort which
has received joint national endorsement from the U.S. Postal Service and
National Association of Letter Carriers; and
WHEREAS, under Carrier Alert local postmasters and presidents of
local branches of the NALC agree to cooperate jointly with local government
agencies to offer an alert mechanism; and
WHEREAS, The City of Tustin desires to join in sponsoring a Carrier
Alert program for elderly and handicapped people through the Community
Services Department; and
WHEREAS, under Carrier Alert, the Community Services Department
notifies the local post office of seniors'who wish to participate in the
16 program, letter carriers, in performing daily rounds, will be alert to an
17 accumulation of mail which might signify a sudden illness or accident, and
18 through locally developed procedures, the accumulation of mail will be
19 reported to the Community Services Department to contact a designated
20 individual able to check on the person's well-being;
21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
22 Tustin, California to endorse the Carrier Alert Program, and to approve
23 participation of the Community Services Department in the Carrier Alert
24
25
26
27
28
program with the USPS and NALC.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the
City of Tustin, California, held on the 5th day of July, 1983.
ATTEST: MAYOR
CITY CLERK