CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
March 7, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: James Makshanoff, City Manager
Submitted By: Rene Guerrero, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ELIMINATING SECTION 46-15 OF THE POMONA CITY CODE TO
ALLOW PLACEMENT OF CURBSIDE MAILBOXES
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1) Introduce, waive further, and give first reading to the following ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. 4312 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, ELIMINATING
SECTION 46 -15 OF THE POMONA CITY CODE REGARDING
PLACEMENT OF MAILBOXES
2) Waive the encroachment permit processing fees for existing mailbox locations that are within the public right-of-way.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Pomona City Code Section 46-15 is in conflict with the U.S. Postal Service general policy of establishment and extens ion of mail delivery services to only those locations where curbside postal boxes are installed. The recommended action will eliminate the existing Code language that prevents the installation of mailboxes within the public right -of-way or curbside, and will allow existing mailboxes to remain curbside.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS: No public noticing required.
PREVIOUS RELATED ACTION: On May 3, 1976, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2774 to prohibit curbside mailboxes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENT NO. II
Introduction for First Reading of an Ordinance Eliminating PCC Section 46-15
DISCUSSION: In 1976, prior to the passage of a federal bill that would eliminate or reduce door- to-door delivery of mail, the City adopted Ordinance 2774 prohibiting the placement of curbside mailboxes. Since then, Staff has applied this section of the City code on new development projects.
However, the U.S. Postal Service has continued to communicate to affected residents that mail delivery would cease if mailboxes are not placed curbside. For smaller pr ojects (addition/remodeling/renovation of existing structures) with existing curbside mailboxes, Staff would generally request an encroachment permit.
In researching the U.S. Postal Service website, S taff found Postal Operations Manual (POM) Section 631.53 that provides two delivery options if a curbside mailbox is not installed because of a local city ordinance prohibiting such installations. The options are as follows:
a. Centralized Delivery Service (where multiple boxes are combined in one area), or
b. Post Office Box (PO Box).
Either option will require additional cost and reconfiguration of mailbox locations that are not practical to apply.
Staff has also researched other surrounding cities rel ated to placement of mailboxes, and found that no other cities have a city code section prohibiting curbside mailboxes. The recommended action will eliminate the code conflict and allow existing mailboxes to remain curbside with a no- fee encroachment permit.
Prepared by:
_____________________________
Ron Chan
Principal Traffic Engineer
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment No. 1 – Proposed Ord. No. 4312 - Eliminating PCC Section 46-15
ATTACHMENT NO. I
Ordinance No. 4312
March 7, 2022
ORDINANCE NO. 4312
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, ELIMINATING SECTION 46-15 OF THE POMONA CITY
CODE REGARDING PLACEMENT OF MAILBOXES
WHEREAS, per Pomona City Code Section 46 -15, it is unlawful to place or construct a new receptacle for mail in any portion of the public right -of-way or at any curbside in the City; and
WHEREAS, Pomona City Code Section 46-15 is in conflict with the U.S. Postal Service general policy of establishment and extension of mail delivery services to only those locations wherein curbside postal boxes are installed; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to elimin ate the conflict and allow existing mailboxes to remain curbside.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Pomona as follows:
SECTION 1.
That Pomona City Code, Chapter 46, Streets, Sidewalks, and Other Public Places , Article I, is hereby amended by eliminating the following:
Sec. 46-15. Placement of Mailboxes.
It is unlawful to place or construct a new receptacle for mail in any portion of the public right - o-way or at any curbside .
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance, and shall cause same to be posted as required by law, and this Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of _______, 2022.
CITY OF POMONA:
_____________________________
Tim Sandoval
Mayor
ATTACHMENT NO. I
Ordinance No. 4312
March 7, 2022
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
______________________________ _____________________________ Sonia Carvalho Rosalia A. Butler, MMC
City Attorney City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF POMONA
I, ROSALIA A. BUTLER, MMC, CITY CLERK of the City of Pomona do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance was introduced for first reading at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pomona held on March 7, 2022 and was adopted at second readi ng at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pomona held on _________, 202 2, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
______________________________
Rosalia A. Butler, MMC
City Clerk