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