Title
Letter to U.S. Postal Service regarding multiple zip codes
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Summary and Background Information: Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) Codes, first established in 1963, designate delivery points within the United States and are designed to ensure more efficient and faster delivery of mail. Despite the geographic derivation of most ZIP Codes, the codes themselves do not represent geographic regions; in general, they correspond to address groups or delivery routes. As a consequence, ZIP Code "areas" can overlap, be subsets of each other, or be artificial constructs with no geographic area.Preferred place names are generally the actual city or town that the address is located in. However, for many cities that have incorporated since ZIP Codes were introduced, the actual city name is not the preferred place name. Many databases automatically assign the preferred place name for a ZIP Code, without regard to any acceptable place names. Commerce City has experienced this issue exponentially as growth continues. The city is served by three Zip codes, which leads to confusion among public safety entities, residents and businesses. City Council directed staff to research the issue and identify options for resolution. A white paper was provided to city council summarizing the issue Sept. 12. Staff drafted a letter to formally request a U.S. Postal Service ZIP Code Boundary Review Process, which promises “every reasonable effort” to consider and if possible accommodate municipal requests to modify the last lines of an acceptable address and/or ZIP Code boundaries.
The attached draft letter is for your review and approval. Squire Patton Boggs recommends the letter be signed by the mayor.
Staff Responsible (Department Head): Interim Director of External Affairs Halstead
Staff Member Presenting: Interim Director of External Affairs Halstead
Financial Impact: $0
Funding Source: N/A
Staff Recommendation: Approve letter for mayor's signature as presented.
Suggested Mo...
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