REGION: New city doesn't necessarily translate to new addresses

Incorporation alone won't trigger change, postal officials say

By CATHY REDFERN - Staff Writer | Friday, July 25, 2008 5:16 PM PDT ∞

While Sun City, Quail Valley and part of Romoland are set to join Menifee in one big city of Menifee on Oct. 1, there is no need for residents to start filling out change-of-address forms anytime soon.

The incorporation, which was approved by voters on June 3, has prompted residents who live in communities outside what is still the town of Menifee to question what their mailing addresses will be once the city is officially formed.

U.S. Postal Service spokesman Mike Cannone said recently that there will be no change, however, unless the future Menifee City Council requests that all addresses be changed to Menifee.

One clerk hawking stamps inside the Sun City post office on a recent morning said customers have been curious about whether, and when, they might need to change their addresses.

"Have they been asking?" Marvin Lazernik asked rhetorically. "No more than five or six times a day."

A Sun City man who bought a stamp from Lazernik said he is glad he won't have to notify everyone who sends him mail that he now lives in Menifee and not Sun City.

"I would certainly hope it remains the same," said 72-year-old Lenny Hill.

Upon a bit of consideration, however, Hill said that, although it would be an inconvenience for residents and expensive for business owners, it wouldn't be that big a deal. And he has nothing against saying he lives in Menifee, he added. He'd just rather not have to make the switch.

Others residents undoubtedly feel differently about the city name of Menifee, and are more wedded to their town being called Sun City, or Quail Valley, or Romoland.

And that is fine, Cannone said, citing the example of the San Diego County communities of Cardiff by the Sea and Leucadia, where residents kept the addresses of their hometowns after being incorporated into the city of Encinitas.

"Sun City, CA, is a perfectly good address until the community decides what they would prefer," he said. "Someone would have to ask to change it. And we would like to hear from the elected officials. They are the ones who answer to the community."

Requests about how the postal service identifies addresses in Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial and San Diego counties are considered by a San Diego-based manager, Cannone said.

If a change is requested, the issue would be studied before a decision was made, he said. If the name change were granted, he added, numerous notices would be sent to residents and business owners and a grace period would be included in the transition.

So Cannone's recommendation to the area's residents is not to worry.

If customers have questions, he said, they can call (951) 679-7886.

"We will listen to any recommendations," Cannone said.

Sun City's acting postmaster, Vicki Garcia, echoed those sentiments, saying recently that they have heard "scuttlebutt" that some people do not want any change.

"Change is hard," she said. "We're just going to let the dust settle a little bit, and we'll go from there. It's really about letting the community discuss their options first."

Contact staff writer Cathy Redfern at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or e-mail credfern@californian.com.