Letter to Post Office Requesting Zip Code Boundary Review.pdfOctober 16, 2015
Charles J. Miller, USPS District Manager
Jacksonville Processing & Distribution Center
1100 Kings Road
Jacksonville, FL 32203-9998
RE: Zip Code Boundary Review
Dear Mr. Miller,
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
800 SEMINOLE ROAD
ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA 32233-5455
TELEPHONE: (904) 247-5800
FAX: (904) 247-5805
SUNCOM: 852-5800
www.coab.us
Please accept this letter as an official request for the U. S. Postal Service to conduct a Zip code
Boundary Review for the City of Atlantic Beach, FL.
On August 10, 2015, the Atlantic Beach Commission voted unanimously to adopt the attached
Resolution 15-07 supporting a Zip Code Boundary Review by the U. S. Postal Service to change the
"City Name" portion of the last line of the mailing address from Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 to
Jacksonville, FL 32233 for properties which are not within the City of Atlantic Beach.
The reasoning behind the request for the modification is due to the problematic issues that have resulted
from two municipalities sharing a Zip Code. The following are some issues that have continued to
cause a great deal of confusion and frustration for Jacksonville citizens and business owners as well as
the staff of the City of Atlantic Beach for many years.
1) Emergency response efforts can be hindered when citizens seeking police services in a time of
crisis contact the City of Atlantic Beach for assistance and are told they reside in Jacksonville's
jurisdiction.
2) Jacksonville citizens contact the Atlantic Beach City Hall in an attempt to file Code
Enforcement, Animal Control and sanitation (missed garbage) complaints.
3) Atlantic Beach City staff often find it extremely difficult to explain to contractors submitting
applications for building permits that although the homeowner has a Atlantic Beach mailing
address and Zip Code, the property address is in Jacksonville and they are the approval
authority on building permits.
The City of Atlantic Beach appreciates the support of the Jacksonville City Council on working with us
to affect this modification. On October 13, 2015, the City Council voted to adopt the attached
Resolution 2015-641 supporting a Zip Code Boundary Review by the U. S. Postal Service. The City
Council recognizes that when two municipalities use the same Zip Code for non -postal purposes, i.e.
Jacksonville Sheriff s Office, Fire & Rescue Department and Planning & Development Department,
problems are exacerbated for citizens who have a mailing address that does not match their actual City
of residence.
One aspect of the request for a Zip Code Boundary Review that may seem unusual is that the City of
Atlantic Beach is proposing that Jacksonville citizens change their address to match their jurisdiction.
In recent conversations with Post Office officials, it was indicated that this change could be easily
accommodated, at no cost, because Jacksonville is the default address for those locations and that it is
overwritten with Atlantic Beach. Allowing the use of more than one City name on the last line of the
mailing address, while retaining the Zip Code of the delivery post office, would be a feasible solution to
help with the community identity problem as well as the issues addressed earlier.
The City of Atlantic Beach would like to thank the U. S. Postal Service for considering our request for a
Zip Code Boundary Review with regards to changing the last line of the mailing address for those
citizens who reside in Jacksonville's jurisdiction. We look forward to working with the U. S. Postal
Service to find a satisfactory solution on this important issue.
If you have any questions or need any further information please don't hesitate to contact me at (904)
247-5806 or nvanliere@coab.us.
Sincerely,
Nelson Van Liere
City Manager
Encl: (1) City of Atlantic Beach Resolution 15-07
(2) City of Jacksonville Resolution 2015-641
(3) Map of Zip Code Boundary
cc: Mayor Lenny Curry, City of Jacksonville
Councilmember Bill Gulliford, City of Jacksonville
Mayor and Commission, City of Atlantic Beach
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RESOLUTION NO. 15-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING A
ZIP CODE BOUNDARY REVIEW BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO
CHANGE THE LAST LINE OF THE ADDRESS . FROM ATLANTIC BEACH TO
JACKSONVILLE FOR PROPERTIES WHICH ARE NOT WITHIN THE CITY OF
ATLANTIC BEACH
WHEREAS, the Zip Code system for identifying address locations was created in the 1960s and is often
found to be misaligned with municipal boundaries; and
WH N,REAS, Zip Codes are based on the location of delivery post offices and often do not correspond to
municipal jurisdiction boundaries. Currently, some citizens in Jacksonville, Florida receive their mail from a post
office in Atlantic Beach, and their mailing address reflects the name and Zip Code of this post office rather than the
jurisdiction where they actually live; and
WHEREAS, municipalities sharing a Zip Code has created some unique problems and a great deal of
confusion and frustration for citizens, vendors and businesses; and _
WHEREAS, citizens become frustrated when they_ contact the c0,. of Atlantic Beach.to request police
services in a time of crisis only to fmd out they are calling the wrong City:' There is also confusion when citizens
try to report code enforcement violations within their neighborhoods: and are told that they are not in Atlantic
Beach's jurisdiction and must contact the City of Jacksonville to file a complaint; and
WHEREAS, it is often very difficult for Atlantic Beach staff members to explain to contractors submitting
applications for building permits that although the property has an Atlantic Beach address and Zip Code, the
approval authority is the City of Jacksonville; and
WHEREAS, municipalities using the same Zip Code for non -postal purposes has exacerbated problems for
citizens who have a mailing address that does not match their actual City of residence.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Commission of the City of Atlantic Beach,
Florida hereby supports and requests a Zip Code Boundary Review by the United States Postal Service to change
the last line of the address from Atlantic Beach to Jacksonville for properties which are not within the City limits of
Atlantic Beach.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of Atlantic Beach, Fl
2015.
DONNA L. BARTLE, CMC
City Clerk
RICHARD KOMANDO, ESQUIRE
City Attorney
CAROLYN WOO
Mayor
'Aida, this i91A day of August
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Olntroduced by Council Member Gulliford:
RESOLUTION 2015-641-A
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ATLANTIC BEACH,
FLORIDA`S QUEST FOR A ZIP CODE BOUNDARY REVIEW
BY THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO CHANGE
THE LAST LINE OF THE ADDRESS FROM ATLANTIC
BEACH TO JACKSONVILTR FOR PROPERTIES WHICH ARE
NOT WITHIN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH;
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Zip Code system for identifying locations was
created in the 1960s and is often found -to be
municipal boundaries;, and
WHEREAS, Zip Codes are based on the location
offices and often do not
misaligned with
of delivery post
correspond to municipal jurisdiction
boundaries. Currently, some citizens
in Jacksonville,
Florida
receive their mail from a post office in Atlantic Beach, and their
mailing address reflects the name and Zip Code of this post office
rather than the jurisdiction where they actually live; and
WHEREAS, citizens become frustrated when they contact the
City of Atlantic Beach to request police services in a time of
crisis only to find out they are calling the wrong City. There is
also confusion when citizens try to report code enforcement
violations within their neighborhood and are told that they are not
.in Atlantic Beach's jurisdiction and must contact the City of
Jacksonville to file a complaint; and
WHEREAS, it is often very difficult for Atlantic Beach staff
members to explain t� contractors submitting applications for
building permits that although the property has a Atlantic Beach
address and Zip Code, the approval authority is the City of
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Jacksonville; and
WHEREAS, municipalities using the same Zip Code for non -
postal purposes has exacerbated problems for citizens who have a
mailing address that does not match their actual City of residence;
now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
Section I. The City Council of the City- of Jacksonville
supports the efforts of the City of Atlantic Beach's request that a
Zip Code Boundary Review by the United States Postal Service change
the last line of the address from Atlantic Beach to Jacksonville
for properties which are not within the City limits of Atlantic
Beach.
Section 2. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become
effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective
without the Mayor's signature.
Form Approved:
026icz
Office of General Counsel
Legislation Prepared By: John J. Jackson, Council Research Division
G:\SHARED\LEGIS.CC\2015\Reso\Gulliford AtlanticBeachZIPCODE 08 28 15 (2).doc
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RESOLUTION 2015-641-A
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL
October 13, 2015
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
OCT 15 2C1r
ATTEST: APPROVED:
DR. CHER ''
COUNCIL ` + RET • ' Y
"ot
LENNY CURRY MAY R
32233 Zip Code Map with City Boundaries
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Miles
32225,
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CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
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32233
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ATLANTIC BEACH
NEPTUNE BEACH
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