HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987 01-15 CC MINBook 68/Page 26
1/15/87
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA
POST OFFICE
January 15, 1987
The special meeting of the City Council of the City of National City was called to
order at 2:06 p.m. by Mayor Waters in the N. C. post office.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Cooper, Dalla, Waters. Absent: Pruitt, VanDeventer.
Administrative officials present: Campbell, Eiser, McCabe. Also present:
Congressman Jim Bates, N. C. Postmistress Rita Meyer, P.O. Dir. Field Operations
Sue Egan, Congressional Aide Al Alvarado, National City Chamber of Commerce
Executive Dir. George Webster; Press Representatives: J. Tash, Star —News, L.
Preble, Evening Tribune; Public: Louise Attaway, Warren Nielsen.
Mayor Waters stated the purpose of this meeting was to discuss the improvements
needed to be made at the N. C. Post Office; a recent newspaper article listed new
post office facilities to be built within the next two years and he thought the
National City problem was equally important; there is not sufficient parking for
patrons.
Congressm an Bates said this was a somewhat unusual meeting, a meeting of the
City Council, Post Office representatives, and himself; postal service is very
important to a city; he was trying to be as objective as possible but he has had
concerns about the post office, particularly with regard to food sta mps, contract
stations; relocation of the post office had been discussed but it never got off the
ground although former Mayor Morgan, George Webster and he looked at sites;
there are drop off problems, parking problems, etc.; these problems exist and yet
other areas are to have new post offices.
Sue Egan, Director, Field Operations, said they have obtained capital funds from
the postal services; they now have a five year program of expansion and are now
able to build five large new facilities and five sm all ones in the San Diego
Division; what was in the newspaper was the list of land acquisitions for those
facilities to be made in the next two years. Ms. Egan said the criteria for new or
expanded facilities were: Was there sufficient room to house the carriers and to
work the mail? What is the growth rate of the community? Ms. Egan explained
that to change the planned improvements which were listed in the newspaper would
mean that someone else would have to be "bumped" for a number of years; there
is not sufficient room to work the mail in La Jolla; Carlsbad is crowded and also
serves La Costa which is some distance away; they must purchase a site in East
Lake now; the lease has expired in Escondido; National City is okay so far as work
space is concerned.
Vice Mayor Cooper said that the growth of business in National City has been
tremendous and many businessmen in the community go to the Chula Vista post
office because of the parking problems here. Chamber of Commerce Executive
Dir. George Webster agreed.
Postm istress Meyer answered Chula Vista had parking problems at the post office
too. Discussion regarding lease of the N. C. post office property. Ms. Meyer said
they were operating under a 20—year lease.
Mayor Waters said there was property to the west, a four—plex and two small
houses which could be acquired to ease the parking problem.
Field Operations Dir. Egan said they did that in Southeast San Diego; the City
helped them to acquire the property; if we were not talking about a new building,
only additional land for parking, they could handle that sort of thing.
Councilman Dalla said the options are limited; the last time there was discussion
with postal authorities the City was told the lease had just been renewed; now we
have to deal with the property next door.
Ms. Egan said most important to the postal services is to have room for the
carriers who are working the mail and asked if the City could help them explore
some options; if a reasonable price, fine; the City offered to help absorb costs at
Rancho Santa Fe.
Book 68/Page 27
1/1 5/87
Councilman Dalla said the only hope is to expand next door and asked if we would
have to wait another five years to buy that.
Ms. Egan replied only the first two years are locked in, years three through five
are subject to review.
Vice Mayor Cooper suggested the possibility of acquiring the Walker —Scott building
which is available; this is an alternative if the post office really wants to look at
it; he talked to the people at Walker —Scott about it.
Louise Attaway inquired about the contract sub —stations and was advised there had
been one; now there were two under consideration. General discussion about
contract stations and locations for same. Mrs. Attaway said she had a m ap on
which she had indicated likely locations for contract stations. Ms. Meyer said she
would be happy to review it.
Warren Nielsen suggested re —alignment of parking spaces in the existing parking lot,
saying more spaces could be gained.
Al Alvarado raised the question of the location of the collection box, saying that
at the present location the box was accessible only from the passenger's side of a
vehicle, not the driver's side. Discussion.
At this tim e, the entire group went outside to the parking lot and looked at the
adjacent property which Mayor Waters suggested be acquired. Once again, Ms.
Egan said the acquisition was a possibility, that she would submit the concept to
the Los Angeles authorities and they would come down sometime soon to look it
over. Mayor Waters asked Congressman Bates to try to obtain federal funds to
help with the acquisition of the property. Warren Nielsen said the added property
would produce 25-30 additional parking spaces. Mayor Waters said he believed this
additional property would solve the problems and would also make possible a better
location for the collection box.
Mayor Waters adjourned the meeting at 2:45 p.m.
_
The foregoing minutes were ap.at the regular meeting of January 27, 1987.
Corrections No corrections
MAYOR
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA