The Goodyear 2025 General Plan contains the City's vision for growth through buildout and contains an approach to achieve this vision through established community goals, objectives, and policies. The demand for water will greatly increase as Goodyear continues to grow. The City continuously works to ensure a safe and reliable water supply that meets both current and future demands. The establishment of a Citizen Water Advisory Committee is to gather public input and recommendations regarding water resource planning, water and wastewater system planning, conservation, and water and wastewater rates and fees.

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-2312 ESTABLISHING A CITIZEN WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE; ADOPTING BY-LAWS FOR THE CITIZEN WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE; AUTHORIZING STAFF TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE INTENT OF THE RESOLUTION AND BY-LAWS; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (Barbara Chappell, Water Services Director)

There is no direct budget impact associated with the adoption of this Resolution.

The City of Goodyear’s Water Services Department is committed to providing safe and reliable water service to its customers. The City currently has 23,334 water meters, serving a total population of more than 63,000 residents in the City’s utility service area. In 2016, the Department completed an Integrated Water Master Plan that defined actions and infrastructure required for the City to develop the water resources to meet the future growth of the City. The Department has recently initiated updates to the current (2016) Integrated Water Master Plan.

Goodyear relies on water supplies from 3 primary sources to manage its water portfolio: the Colorado River, groundwater, and reclaimed water. A historic drought, hotter and drier climate, and an over-allocation of the Colorado River system have led to the dire situation in the Colorado River on which the city depends as a main source of water. In addition, as dependence on groundwater supplies increases amongst all of the Phoenix-valley cities, off-setting groundwater withdrawals by recharging effluent into the aquifer has become increasingly important for the protecting the health of the aquifer.

Goodyear is continuously adapting and evolving its water resources management in response to such challenges. As the City continues to grow and thrive, it must strategically plan, manage, and invest in water resources, infrastructure, and conservation efforts. The City believes that public involvement is critical for success in achieving long-term goals associated with the reliability and resiliency of Goodyear’s water and wastewater systems.

The citizen-led water committee will evaluate the City’s water resources portfolio, capital needs of the water and wastewater systems as it impacts the city’s water supply, water conservation, and water and wastewater rate and fee structure and make recommendations to City staff and Council.

Under the proposed by-laws, the Citizen Water Advisory Committee will consist of 7 members and two alternates. As an alternate, members would be entitled to participate in the Committee discussions but not vote. To ensure that the Citizen Water Advisory Committee reflects Goodyear Water Services customers, the proposed by-laws require members of the Committee consist primarily Goodyear residents living within the City of Goodyear utility service area and the non-residents that may be appointed have an interest in property or a business located within the Goodyear utility service area.