Lagunans can again pick up packages at local post office

Beginning Saturday, Laguna Beach residents will again be able to claim packages at one of the city’s two post offices instead of traveling to a neighboring city, a U.S. Postal Service representative said Monday.

For the past five weeks, packages requiring a signature after a failed delivery have been taken to the postal service’s Aliso Viejo location at 91 Columbia, service spokesman Richard Maher said. They used to be taken to either of Laguna’s two post offices — on Forest Avenue and Virginia Way.

The practice irked some residents and elicited a letter dated Oct. 23 from Mayor Elizabeth Pearson to the postal service.

“The city does not wish to unnecessarily add traffic congestion to an already busy Laguna Canyon Road,” Pearson wrote. “The community enjoyed the convenience of picking up their packages at their local post office location and would like the USPS to resume its old practices.”

Typically, unclaimed packages are returned to the mail carrier’s home station, in this case Aliso Viejo, as a matter of convenience and company policy, Maher said.

But, he said, for the last three years Laguna Beach has had a special arrangement that allowed residents to claim packages without leaving town. That practice will resume after the mayor’s letter and complaints from other customers.

Postal officials decided to revert back to company policy during a temporary change in administration when those in charge were unaware of the agreement with Laguna.

In her letter, Pearson also noted the hardship of reduced hours at the Virginia Way location. The hours have been cut in half, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays to 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., she wrote.

“The community is concerned with this loss of availability,” Pearson said. “Recently, the city installed directional signs leading residents and those traveling along Coast Highway to [the Virginia Way] location. The post office hours of operation should be reinstated to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.”

Postal officials trimmed hours at a number of Orange County locations, including South Laguna, because of a loss in revenue as a result of decreased foot traffic, Maher said.

“Rather than closing, we’re still maintaining some hours,” Maher said, noting that customers can do many of their postal-related errands online. “You don’t have to go to the post office to buy stamps, put mail on hold or ship a package. You can print out the label and bar code and schedule a carrier to deliver it.”