This is a Public Hearing to consider the annexation of approximately 3.268 acres of property along the east half of the Citrus Road alignment between Van Buren Street and Harrison Street.

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2023-2321 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF ANNEXATION PETITION REQUESTING ANNEXATION OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY WITHIN CITRUS ROAD ALIGNMENT WITHIN CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF GOODYEAR AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATE. (Christian M. Williams, AICP, Principal Planner)

Annexation of land has a fiscal impact. A brief overview of anticipated public infrastructure and services impacts is included in the staff analysis section of this CAR. A detailed fiscal impact will be included in future City Council reports. There is no fiscal impact associated with authorizing the staff to proceed with the state statutory requirements for annexation. Authorizing the process to move forward does not commit the City Council to approve the annexation.

At its Regular Meeting on April 24, 2023, Council voted to authorize staff to initiate the annexation of approximately 3.268 acres of property along the east half of the Citrus Road alignment between Van Buren Street and Harrison Street.

The abutting property to the northeast of the Citrus Road alignment is the Meritage Homes’ Silva Farms at West Goodyear residential master planned community (zoned R1-4 with a PAD Overlay) and the abutting property to the southeast is the City of Goodyear’s proposed Fire Station 188 site (zoned PAD with an underlying zoning of PFD). The abutting property to the west of Citrus Road is zoned Rural-43 (RU-43) within Maricopa County.

The city of Goodyear has an annexation policy adopted by Resolution 2001-768. In addition, Arizona State Statue regulates annexation. Below is a brief summary of the annexation process:

• Staff determines whether the proposed annexation area meets the state legal requirements for annexation as set forth in A.R.S. § 9-471.
  • Staff has determined that the annexation area meets the state legal requirements for annexation pursuant to the provisions of A.R.S. § 9-471 (K).
• Assuming the proposed annexation area meets the state legal requirements for annexation, staff conducts a review of the annexation proposal to determine the desirability of the annexation.
• (Meeting which occurred on April 24, 2023) Staff provides an impact analysis of the annexation proposal to City Council. The City Council will consider the proposal and make a determination on whether to authorize staff to proceed with the annexation.
  • If authorization is not provided, then no further action on the annexation will be taken.
  • If authorization is provided, staff will move forward with the state statutory requirements for annexation.
• Council considered the proposal on April 24, 2023 and authorized staff to move forward with the annexation.
• After further staff review of the proposal, a blank petition containing the legal description and an accurate map of the annexation territory is filed with the County Recorder and notice and a copy of the filing shall be given to the clerk of the board of supervisors and to the county assessor.  The description shall identify the entity, if any, that will be responsible for maintaining the existing rights-of-way and roadways that are within or contiguous to the exterior boundaries of the area of the proposed annexation.
• On June 12, 2023, a blank (unsigned) petition for each of the proposed annexation containing the legal description and an accurate map of all exterior boundaries, including all County rights-of-way and roadways with no taxable value, of the territory proposed to be annexed was filed with the County Recorder of Maricopa County. The blank petitions were accompanied by a sworn affidavit verifying that no part of the territory for which the filing is made is subject to an earlier filing for annexation.
• Pursuant to State law, there is a 30-day waiting period after the filing of the blank petition before petitions can be circulated for signature. The 30-day waiting period will end on July 12, 2023.
• A public hearing must be held within the last 10 days of this 30-day waiting period to receive public input on the annexation. Notices of the public hearing must be: (i) published in a newspaper of general circulation at least fifteen days before the end of the 30-day waiting period and six (6) days before the public hearing; (ii) be posted in at least three conspicuous public places in the area being annexed at least six (6) days before the public hearing; (iii) sent by first class mail to the chairperson of the board of supervisors of the county in which the property being annexed is located at least six (6) days before the public hearing; (iv) sent by first class mail, with an accurate map of the property being annexed to each owner of the real and personal property as shown on the statement provided by the county assessor and department of revenue at least six (6) days before the public hearing. 
• The public hearing being held on July 10, 2023 is within the last ten (10) days of the 30-day waiting period.  Notices of the public hearing being held on July 10, 2023 for the annexation was published in the Arizona Republic Southwest Valley Edition on June 1, 2023, which is at least fifteen days before the end of the 30-day waiting period and at least six (6) days before the public hearing. On June 13, 2023, notices of the public hearings were also posted in three conspicuous places on the property proposed to be annexed, which is at least six (6) days before the public hearing.  On June 14, 2023, notices of the public hearing along with an accurate map of the Annexation Area for the proposed annexation was mailed by first class mail to the County Board of Supervisors; to the County Assessor; and to the owner of real and personal property identified on the lists received from the Maricopa County Assessor and Arizona Department of Revenue, which is at least six (6) days before the public hearing.
• Once the 30-day waiting period is over, the blank petitions may be signed and collected.
  • As an owner of a section of property adjacent to the Fire Station Site, the Council must also authorize the Mayor to sign the annexation petition, as the owner of that section of property.
• Once all petitions have been collected, the annexation may be scheduled for a City Council meeting for consideration.