HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 6 DRIVE-IN MAIL BOX 01-05-81DATE:
December 30, 1980
NE~ BUSINESS
Inter-Corn
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
DAN BLANKENSHIP, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
DRIVE-INPOSTAL~IL BOX ACCESS
The attached letter from Mr. Dan Worthington indicates a problem in dropping mail
into a mail box on the right side of the car. This is an inconvenience. However,
the one suggestion of mail boxes adjacent to a left turn lane is totally
unacceptable due to traffic hazards and stopping in traffic moving areas of the
street. In addition, the postal employees would be required to cross traffic and
unload the box while exposed to traffic. The secor~ idea of placing mail boxes in
shopping centers on the driver side is a very practical solution to the problem.
I am not certain that the City should take on the burden of oontacting the shopping
centers' managers, identifying potential locations for boxes ar~ coordinating with
the Postal authorities. It would seem more appropriate to me for the Postal
authorities to contact the center managers. We could certainly provide the
Postmaster with the names of the various contact persons. The question of City
involvement is one of Council policy, however. If that is Council's direction, we
will do our best to pursue the matter. It will impact the workload of Community
Development adversely.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Pleasure of Council.
City ~dministrator
December 29, 1980
ATTN: Mary Wynn
City Clerk
Tustin, California
For the City Council Meeting of January 5th and
under the heading of PUBLIC CONCERN I request that a
"need study" be made regarding the city's present
Postal Collection Drive-by Mail boxes.
A definite service to the residents of Tustin could
be provided by the City if it would make an improvement
in the present Drive-By Mail Collection Box location.
We presently have located in Tustin, drive-by boxes on
1st street in front of the Post Office and also in back
of the Post Office. While there are several other locations
around the City a great bulk of all mail is still dropped
off at tile Post Office. Unfortunately the location has
over the years become more and more congested and now during
some times of the year creates a terrific traffic hazard.
The Mail Boxes and the present method of locating
them for Drive-Up Mail is no longer convenient for the
users. Should you be using the more and more typical
auto, a small sport or economy compact with bucket sea~s,
you as a lone driver cannot place mail into the recepticle
provided without getting out of your car. Consequently
the boxes now provided are no longer the convenience
intended. The present drive-up mailing is getting slower,
the added congestion as a result is not needed, and a
potential safety factor reduction is occuring.
We need to have installed in Tustin,drive-up Mail
Boxes that are located on the drivers side of the car.
This is not a new idea and Tustin would not be the first
City to initiate this more convenient way of dropping
mail into boxes. As for instance these type boxes and
special locations are presently being used in both Costa
Mesa and Irvine.
I would like to see the City of Tustin do one of
two things to implement this idea.
(1) It could dedicate part of an existing center
divider on 1st Street, Newport or Irvine Blvds for a
driver side drive-by mail box for each direction of
traffic in a location away from any present signal
lights or stop signs OR,
(2) The City coul~ prevail on several of the
pres¢~nt shopping centers ~o provide the space for a
drive-by m~il box island.
For the bene£it to so many residents the cost would
be minimal. Should the first plan be used, the existing
turn-ouis along several locations of those streets
previously mentioned could be used. The City would then
need to only provide a concrete slab to mount the box.
It could be accomplished without any budgeting and
possibly in a re~tively short time.
Should Plan I not be possible then Plan 2 has good
potential. Most owners of shopping centers are looking
for ways to increase traffic to their centers. They may
be very willing to not only provide the space for a
mail box drive-by island 'they also might put up the
needed funds to contruct the concrete slab.
In a conversation with James O'Hare our postmaster
in Tustin, I discovered that he is quite willing to
provide the necessary drive-by boxes for use within the
City of Tustin. The only requirement he needs to
justify any location selected is that at least 75
pieces of m~il be deposited daily. Mr. O'Hare is as
concerned as the Tustin P~lice are about ~he present .
congestion around the Post Ol'£ic~? and welcomes any
ideas which would remove some of the traffic. He
readily agrees that this method of mailing is a great
service and of much convenience to those who want to
mail from thei~ automobiles.
There are few opportunities with todays costs, that
a service beneficial to so many could be accomplished
with so few dollars (and possibly none!). The help
and influence of the Council could accomplish this
benefit and truly continue to make Tustin,"a nice
pi.~ce ~o live."
Dan Worthington
1722 Mitchell Avenue #6
Tustin, California 92680
731-3517