1999 AGN DEC 07 I06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PARAGON II November 18, 1999 Page 2 of 5 feature was Weigh on the Way (WOW) which allowed Staff to sort the mail and place similar -size envelopes, of varying weight, up to 11 ounces, to be run speedily on a conveyer belt. It is important to note that five years ago, the Post Office did not recognize nor did it allow electronic mailing. THE PRESENT: The City has made a dynamic effort to change its image and the way it conducts business. Colton has realized an explosion of City events; namely, town hall meetings, workshops, business meetings and fairs. Thousands of invitations, flyers and newsletters have been mailed to invite the residents to attend events and to keep them informed of the City's progress. Of course, all of this activity has caused the mail load to triple in size and this has resulted in thousands of dollars being spent on postage alone. Anticipating the expiration of the Paragon's lease in March 2000, City Clerk Barrera initially met with Ms. Marcie Shelansky, Pitney Bowes Fields Sales Manager and Certified Postal Consultant and discussed the following items: Control of outsourced mail; improvements in mail delivery and image, items of efficiency and cost saving opportunities. Ms. Shelansky met with Michelle Rodriquez, Office Specialist II, City Manager's Office; Margie Ramirez, Manager of Electric's Customer Service Office; Adelfa Flores, Executive Secretary, City Council's Office; Blair Holms, Principal Librarian, City Library; Dorraine Hutton, Business License Officer, Community Development Department; and, Don Kennedy, Animal Control Officer, Police Department. Ms. Shelansky found that the Paragon I was showing signs of wear and tear and needed a major overhaul. She found that the existing Paragon could only weigh up to 11 oz on the pass-through process, whereas the Paragon II will weigh up to 16 oz via conveyor belt, at lightening speed. The present machine has a platform scale for items over 11 oz, but it requires the operator to punch a button to obtain a metered stamp to manually place on the package. In comparison, a basketful of mixed mail envelopes and parcels can be placed on the Paragon II's differential weighing platform and as the packages are removed from the tray, the machine will automatically shoot out the metered tape, eliminating unnecessary key strokes thus expediting the process. Another improved feature of the Paragon II is the Precision Jet -Spray Sealing. Strategically placed sensors find the glued edge and the sprayers deliver a strong stream of liquid before the envelopes are secured. Through the Data Trail Accounting process, the City can account for postage expenditures, by department. Pitney Bowes has provided a packet of informational materials for your review. Noting that the Paragon machine was having difficulty in processing the Library notices because of the paper stock and the imprinted black ink design, Ms. Shelansky suggested ordering the notice