HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-20 downtown post officeRESOLUTION NO. 2011- 20
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH OPPOSING THE
RELOCATION OF THE UKIAH DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE
Whereas, the United States Postal Service (USPS) seeks to relocate the Ukiah Main Post
Office, which has been a presence in downtown Ukiah since 1858 and has been in its present
location since 1936; and
Whereas, the USPS claims that this action is necessary due to the financial condition of the
USPS, although the Postmaster General told a congressional committee on March 2, 2011 that
the USPS has made a substantial operating profit in recent years, and that the only immediate
financial problem is an unrealistic provision that requires the USPS, alone among all public and
private entities, to prefund retiree health care, and that this harmful and unjustified provision
should be repealed; and
Whereas, the USPS is faced with a political crisis, not a financial crisis, and misleading national
deficit numbers should not be used to justify relocation of an otherwise economically viable post
office that efficiently serves thousands of customers; and
Whereas, relocation of the Ukiah Post Office would make it impractical for numerous business
people and residents to walk to a postal facility as they do today, and add another stop for many
others, thereby causing an increase in traffic congestion and green house gas emissions,
contrary to local, state and federal policy; and
Whereas, relocation of the Ukiah Post Office will likely result in significant unintended negative
financial consequences for the USPS due to loss of post office boxes and parcel business to
for-profit companies; and
Whereas, relocation of the Ukiah Post Office will likely result in fewer people coming to the
downtown to patronize local businesses, creating instability to those businesses, and possibly
leading to blight conditions as businesses close and storefronts become vacant; and
Whereas, the USPS' plans to vacate the Ukiah Post Office, the sluggish real estate market, and
the downturn in the economy are likely to result in the Ukiah Post Office remaining vacant and
boarded up for an indefinite period of time and contributing to blighted conditions in a location
that is currently a vital core of our community; and
Whereas, the USPS has denied a Freedom of Information Act request and forbidden access to
reports which allegedly justify the proposed relocation despite 39 CFR §3004.2, which explicitly
states that the USPS will administer FOIA requests with a "presumption of openness" for public
records including, "Requests of the Postal Service for decisions or advisory opinions" (39 CFR
§3004.10); and
Whereas, the USPS has capriciously denied a request by the City of Ukiah to perform an
independent evaluation at no cost to the USPS; and
Whereas, these denials have undermined confidence in the USPS and made it impossible for
the public to verify the accuracy of the USPS claim that savings would result from the relocation;
and
Whereas, the present building contains one of a dwindling number of New Deal depression era
murals and other architectural features that qualify the building for listing in the National
Register of Historic Places, for which it has been nominated; and
Whereas, the USPS has a written policy, number 3-4.6.1, to obey the National Historical
Preservation Act in that it must "use available historic resources" to carry out its responsibilities
and relocation of the Ukiah Post Office would contradict this mandatory policy; and
Whereas, the Ukiah Main Post Office has been an informal community gathering spot and an
integral part of the downtown business district for over 150 years; and
Whereas, the USPS refuses to honestly and openly discuss its plans for relocation of other
postal facilities in Mendocino County, and
Whereas, the citizens of Mendocino County overwhelming support retention of our community
post offices, in their present locations in order to provide the best service to the community.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ukiah hereby
1. Opposes the relocation of the Ukiah Main Post Office;
2. Calls upon the USPS to disclose plans for the relocation, consolidation or relocation of other
postal facilities in Mendocino County;
3. Will support its citizens in an appeal of any relocation decision to higher levels of the USPS,
and, if necessary, the Postal Regulatory Commission.
4. Urges the USPS to allow public access to the reports that allegedly support relocation of the
Ukiah Post Office and to allow the City of Ukiah to conduct an independent inspection of the
building.
5. And Directs that this resolution be sent to the Postmaster General and Congressman Mike
Thompson.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Ukiah City Council on April 21, 2011, by the following roll call
vote:
AYES:Councilmembers Landis, Thomas, Crane, Baldwin and Mayor Rodin
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Mari Rodin, Mayor
ATTEST:
i
oAnne Currie, City Clerk