United States Postal Service Correspondence on Lease of Dubuque Retail Services LocationCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 8.
Copyrighted
February 21, 2022
ITEM TITLE: United States Postal Service Correspondence on Lease of Dubuque
Retail Services Location
SUMMARY: Correspondence from John Frederics, Real Estate Specialist with the
United States Postal Service (USPS), regarding the lease of the
Dubuque USPS retail services location.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
USPS Correspondence Supporting Documentation
UNffIDST4TES
J,NAL 22 lJN 24 AM II 13
January 14, 2022
Mayor Brad Cavanagh
Dubuque Town Hall
50 W. 13th St., N
Dubuque, IA 52001
RE: Dubuque, IA Post Office
Dear Mayor Cavanagh:
C t, C; ei 0 Oi ice
DluFll_qu-, IA
The United States Postal Service is considering relocating the retail services currently provided at
the above -referenced Post Office to a new location within the 52001 ZIP Code vacinity.
The Postal Service is considering relocation due to non- renewal of leasehold. The Postal Service is
facing the most critical period in its history. Despite significant cost reductions, the Postal Service
continues to experience a net loss as mail volume continues to decline because of increased
electronic communication. As a self-supporting government establishment that receives no tax
dollars for its operating expenses, the Postal Service must rely on the sale of postage, products, and
services to generate revenue. In the face of unsustainable deficits, the Postal Service must seek
ways to cut costs, increase revenue and use its physical facilities as efficiently as possible.
The relocation project will consist of procuring a suitable substitute location, preparing the new
location for use as a post office and then transitioning the retail services to the new location. The
Postal Service will continue retail services at the existing location until the lease expires on June 30,
2022 unless an extension can be granted or until the new post office is up and running. The Postal
Service has identified the 520001 ZIP code forthe search area but prefers to be as close as possible
to the current location.
In undertaking this project, the Postal Service will complete a process set out in 39 C.F.R. § 241.4 for
soliciting and considering input from the community and local officials. As we are at the beginning of
the process, I am offering to discuss the project with you. In our discussion, I would address the
specific need the Postal Service faces, outline the proposal that is under consideration, explain our
process for soliciting and considering input from the affected community, and ask for input from you
and other local officials regarding the proposal. If you would like to discuss the project, please
contact me by January 17th, 2022. 1 can be reached at either 303-264-0408 or
john.j.frederics@usps.gov.
We will send an initial news release outlining the proposal to one or more news media serving the
community and post a copy of the information in the public lobby of the Post Office in Farley, IA.
Normally, at this point in the process we would set up a public meeting to discuss the potential
relocation with the community. But with the pandemic impacting communities, particularly as it
relates to the guidance to reduce public gatherings, the usual process of holding a community
meeting to discuss the planned retail relocation would be a risk for our employees and customers.
Page 2 of 2
Instead, the Postal Service will post the information required to be presented at the public meeting
in the lobby of Farley, Post Office and mail a postcard all members of the community. In this
posting, the Postal Service will identify the specific need the Postal Service faces, outline the
proposal to meet the need through relocation, solicit written input on the proposal, and provide an
address to which the community and local officials may send written appeals of the tentative
decision and comments on the proposal. Appeals and comments will be accepted for a period of 30
days following the posting.
Additionally, we will (1) explain the reasons for relocating; (2) identify the site or area, or both, to
which the Postal Service anticipates relocating the retail services; and (3) describe the anticipated
size of the retail service facility for the relocated retail services, and the anticipated services to be
offered at the new location. The Postal Service may identify more than one potential relocation site
or area, for example, when the Postal Service has not selected among competing sites.
After the 30-day comment and appeal period, the Postal Service will consider the comments and
appeals received that identify reasons why the Postal Service's tentative decision and proposal is, or
is not, the optimal solution for the identified need. Following that consideration, the Postal Service
will make a final decision to proceed with, modify, or cancel the proposal. The Postal Service then
will inform you in writing of its final decision, send a news release announcing the final decision to
local news media and post a copy of the information in the public lobby of the Post Office. The
Postal Service then will implement the final decision.
If the Postal Service decides to use a site or area that it did not identify in the posting, then our
regulation generally requires the Postal Service to return to the posting stage of the process to
provide new information regarding the new site or area.
We look forward to working with you and your staff as this project develops.
Sincerely,��/��
John Frederics
Real Estate Specialist
United States Postal Service
200 E Kentucky Ave
Denver, CO 80209-4058
Phone: (303)264-0408
Email: john.j.frederics@usps.gov