Chairman Millette called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m.

MOTION BY Commissioner John Cox, SECONDED BY Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer to EXCUSE Commissioners Sharolyn Hohman, Kiesha Beard, Brian Murphy, and Alternate Mary Sarkis. The motion carried as follows:

AYE:

Chairman Chad Millette, Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales, Commissioner John Cox, Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer

Passed - Unanimously

There were no public comments. 

MOTION BY Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales, SECONDED BY Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer to APPROVE the draft minutes from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting held on June 12th, 2025. The motion carried as follows:

AYE:

Chairman Chad Millette, Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales, Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer

Passed

Jeremy Dyck, Neighborhood Services Manager, provided an overview of the Neighborhood Services Division, which evolved from its initial development within the Mayor’s Office into a dedicated division under the Parks and Recreation Department. The division is focused on building community capacity and enhancing civic engagement among residents through a comprehensive range of programs organized into three core service areas.
1. Resident Engagement
This area is dedicated to cultivating leadership, fostering civic involvement, and strengthening community relationships. Programs include:
Leadership Enrichment And Development (L.E.A.D.) – A program designed to develop resident leadership skills.
Goodyear Engagement Academy for Residents (GEAR) – An educational initiative to increase resident understanding of city operations.
Faith and Community Roundtable (FCRT) – A platform for dialogue and collaboration among faith-based and community organizations.
Goodyear Youth Commission (GYC) – A youth leadership program promoting civic education and community service.
2. Neighborhood Support
Focused on empowering neighborhoods through collaboration, communication, and grassroots engagement. Programs include:
HOA Roundtable – A forum for Homeowners Association leaders to exchange information and resources.
Block Connectors – A resident-led initiative to build stronger neighborhood networks.
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) – A strategy that leverages existing community strengths to drive local change.
Topics On the Move (T.O.M.) – A mobile engagement series addressing neighborhood-specific topics and concerns.
Good Neighbor Day – An event promoting neighbor-to-neighbor connection and community pride.
3. Human and Social Services
This service area addresses residents' essential needs by connecting them with support services and resources. Programs include:
GoodyearCares – Provides direct support and outreach to residents in need.
Housing Rehabilitation – Offers assistance with home repairs to improve living conditions.
Community Funding – Financial support for local initiatives aligned with community goals.
Job Fairs & Resource Fairs – Events that connect residents with employment opportunities and essential services.

Cassandra Brown, Recreation Coordinator, provided an update on the upcoming fall season for both youth and adult sports programming.
The Youth Sports division will feature soccer and volleyball this fall. Fall Soccer is expected to draw approximately 500 youth athletes and 42 volunteer coaches, while Fall Volleyball anticipates participation from 236 youth athletes and 22 volunteer coaches. Both programs will run for eight weeks from September through November.
The City's partnerships with the Avondale Elementary School District and the new Goodyear High School will provide additional facilities for games and practices.
The fall Adult Sports season will offer Men’s and Co-Ed Softball Leagues as well as a Co-Ed Sand Volleyball League. Both leagues will run for eight weeks, featuring 14 regular-season games followed by tournament play.
These offerings reflect the City’s ongoing commitment to providing diverse and inclusive recreational opportunities for all age groups.

Wayne Smith, Right of Way Superintendent, provided an update on the Bullard Wash Bicycle and Pedestrian Multi-Use Path project. The current scope of the project envisions the path beginning at the Civic Center and extending to the Goodyear Ballpark, with the long-term objective of connecting to the Estrella Mountains. The city is collaborating with public artist Creative Machines to enhance each trailhead with artistic features inspired by the natural beauty of the desert. These installations will incorporate vibrant desert colors, organic shapes, and thematic elements reflecting wildlife and flowing forms. The project is scheduled to be presented to the Arts and Culture Commission in September 2025. It is anticipated to reach 60 percent design completion by November 2025, with final design completion expected by June 2026. Construction is projected to begin in Fall 2026, with project completion targeted for Summer 2027. Additionally, the Commission reviewed and provided suggestions for the design of the proposed Bullard Wash trail logo. While the design has not yet been finalized, the logo will undergo further iterations before a final version is created. 
 

MOTION BY Commissioner John Cox, SECONDED BY Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales to APPROVE the proposed Bullard Wash Trail logo. The motion carried as follows:

AYE:

Chairman Chad Millette, Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales, Commissioner John Cox, Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer

Passed - Unanimously

Commissioners expressed interest in the Parks and Recreation Department’s planned programming over the next five years, the current progress of the Strategic Plan, and the status of GRC Phase II.