Roric Massey, City Attorney

It is anticipated that City Council will adopt the City Charter changes and approve the two franchise agreements and refer them to the voters earlier on the November 4, 2024 agenda.  This Call of Election establishes the election date for a Special Election and provides additional direction and authorization for the election.

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2024-2427 CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR MAY 20, 2025; PROVIDING NOTICE OF A SPECIAL ELECTION; DESIGNATING THE DATE THAT VOTER REGISTRATION CLOSES; DESIGNATING THE PLACE AND BEGINNING AND ENDING DATES TO ACCEPT ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE QUESTIONS; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER, OR DESIGNEE, TO ENTER INTO ALL AGREEMENTS TO EFFECTUATE ELECTION SERVICES; AND ORDERING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH THE NOTICE OF ELECTION.  (Darcie McCracken, City Clerk)

Costs for the May 20, 2025 Special Election are included in the FY2025 budget adopted by City Council.  The city contracts with Maricopa County Elections to provide election services at a rate of $2.12 per voter.  Goodyear currently has 62,786 voters, bringing the estimate of costs to approximately $134,000 for county fees.  An additional $35,000 is estimated for the publicity pamphlet, which brings the total estimate of costs to $169,000 for the Special Election.  The two franchisees will each reimburse the city for one third of these costs.

A notice of a nonpartisan election is required when it is not a regular candidate election.  Action taken earlier this evening referred multiple questions to the voters which necessitates this Call of Election in compliance with Arizona Revised Statutes §16-228 and provides the following:

• Date and Purpose of Election: May 20, 2025, referring changes to the City Charter and two franchise agreements to the voters
• Format: All-Mail Ballot
• Last day to register: April 21, 2025
• Ballots to be mailed: April 23, 2025
• Ballot Drop Box: Available at City Hall, 1900 N Civic Square, beginning April 23, 2025
• Ballot Replacement Site: Available at City Hall, 1900 N Civic Square, beginning Monday, May 12, 2025
• Polling Place: There shall be no polling places
• All ballots to be received by Maricopa County Elections: No later than 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025
• Qualification of electors: Only qualified electors of the City of Goodyear shall be permitted to vote
• Publicity Pamphlet: Arguments for and against the questions may be filed with the City Clerk between December 1, 2024, and February 19, 2025, in compliance with the conditions set forth in Exhibit B of the Resolution