Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Goodyear public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
11 issues with high priority
Regional economic development strategy (GPEC)
GPEC's update showed Goodyear is getting a strong return on its investment — $204 back per dollar — but the region is shifting from warehouses toward advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and semiconductors. Council wants to position Goodyear for the 303/State Route 30 intersection opportunity and court more international investment.
Goodyear Municipal Court Caseload Growth and Facility Needs
The current court facility is dangerously overcrowded — staff tripled since 2008, jury quarters are cramped, and secure parking is inadequate. Old City Hall won't work without a $71.2 million gut renovation, so council is leaning toward exploring a new purpose-built courthouse and a facility master plan.
Rainbow Valley Development Legal and Contract Matters
Residents of an unincorporated community just outside city limits told the Commission that master-planned developments keep creeping toward their rural ranching lifestyle, and some favor annexation by Buckeye over Goodyear. They asked for bigger buffers between new development and existing homes.
Firming Water Delivery Agreement With CAWCD
Goodyear faces a 1,504 acre-foot shortage on its Colorado River allocation next year. The new agreement lets the city recover water Arizona banked underground — either through CAWCD's canal system or the city's own wells — to keep supplies whole.
Youth Commission Bylaws Revisions
The Chair and Vice Chair brought proposed bylaw changes to a City Council sub-committee and reported back on how it went. The changes could reshape how the youth commission operates.
Annual Update to City Strategic Plan
Goodyear is refreshing its Strategic Plan with 21 new action items and sharper project descriptions. The plan will steer the City Manager's recommended budget, so this discussion shapes city priorities for the coming years.
WeRide Saturday Public Transit Expansion
Council asked for an evaluation of the We Ride program to see how it's performing.
Pavement Management and Road Maintenance Funding
The city assessed all 99 bridge structures for the first time since 2021. Eight need repairs in the next few years; four are scheduled this fiscal year. Officials stressed nothing is failing — these are preventive fixes.
GRC Phase II irrigation pond safety
Staff recommend a 3-acre, 14-foot-deep irrigation pond to cut $415,000 a year in water costs, but several councilmembers worry about young children near open water at a busy park and want liability answers before signing off.
Elevated TTHMs in drinking water
Quarterly testing found the average for total trihalomethanes — a byproduct of water disinfection — was above the standard in one area. The city is already installing treatment systems to bring it back into compliance.
2026 State and Federal Legislative Priorities
Newly adopted federal operating guidelines for the Colorado River affect Goodyear's water supplies — a reminder that the city's water future is tied to regional river management.