City mulls over site for new post office
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Representatives of the U.S. Postal Service gathered around Assistant City Manager Hugh Riley Wednesday afternoon to look at a vacant lot that may be used for a new post office building.

The group examined parking and driveway alternatives drawn out on diagrams and they discussed the possibilities for the one acre parcel located on the west end of High Street, just south of City Hall.

The U.S. Post Office has been working to find a new site so it can expand services for the growing Moorpark population. "The present postal facility located at 215 W. Los Angeles Avenue is inadequate to serve Moorpark's future postal needs," said Kayode Kadara Manager for the USPS Pacific Facilities Service Office in a letter to the mayor.

"We need to expand operations to enhance both the quality of postal services we provide to your community and our employee's working conditions," he said.

The existing location lacks parking space and is inadequate for postal truck traffic. Trucks have to use a busy alley to get in and out of the area, said Laureen Yamakido, real estate specialist for the U.S. Postal Service.

Postal officials looked at several sites before they came to visit the vacant property offered for lease by the city.

"It (the new post office) would be part of the civic center if it's located here," said Yamakido.

Riley was also optimistic. The USPS appropriated funds for the new post office in Moorpark because the city is offering a centralized site for a nominal fee, he said.

"We appreciate it very much when a city is involved," Yamakido said. If all goes well, construction may start in September and the new post office could be completed by the end of next year.

The U.S. Postal Service also has plans to add a contract postal unit near Moorpark College, said Moorpark Postmaster Richard Sigman.