Chairman Millette called the meeting to order at 5:36 p.m. 

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

AYE:

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

Passed - Unanimously

Commissioner Kiesha Beard joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams at 5:46pm

MOTION BY Commissioner John Cox, SECONDED BY Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer to AMEND the Motion to Excuse to only excuse Commissioners Brian Murphy and Alternate Mary Sarkis. The motion carried as follows:

AYE:

Chairman Chad Millette, Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales, Commissioner Kiesha Beard, Commissioner Sharolyn Hohman, Commissioner John Cox, Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer

Passed - Unanimously

There were no public comments. 

MOTION BY Commissioner John Cox, SECONDED BY Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales to APPROVE the draft minutes from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Meeting held on August 14th, 2025. The motion carried as follows:

AYE:

Chairman Chad Millette, Vice Chairman Jose Gonzales, Commissioner Kiesha Beard, Commissioner Sharolyn Hohman, Commissioner John Cox, Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer

Passed - Unanimously

Natalie Reinen, Festival and Event Coordinator, provided an update and presentation on the upcoming Fall and Winter special events. On October 17th, 2025, from 6pm to 9pm, they will be hosting Rhythm and Roots (Ritmos Y Raices) at the Goodyear Ballpark. The public can enjoy live performances throughout the day, featuring Cumbia, Ballet Folklorico, Samba, Aztec Tribal Dance, and Lucha Libre wrestling matches. There will also be a Hispanic-owned Mercado presented by Mujeres Mercado and take park in interactive cultural activities and a community mural project. As well as a classic car exhibition featuring three local car clubs. Estimate attendance to be at 4,000 plus. On October 18th, 2025, from 6pm to 9pm, they will be hosting Movie in the Park featuring Lilo & Stitch at Goodyear Community Park. They will have a meet and greet with Stitch, fun arts & crafts, and food trucks with an estimated attendance of 1000 plus. On October 25th, 2025, from 5pm to 9pm, they will be hosting the Fall Festival at Goodyear Ballpark with an estimated attendance projected to be over 6000 people. The community can dress up in costumes and trick-or-treat at 15 plus different community-run booths on the field, meet characters, enjoy a disco dance floor, inflatables, a haunted trail, movie screening, and costume contest. On November 8th, 2025, from 9am to 12pm, they will be hosting Chalk Art in the Park with an estimated attendance of over 2500 people at the Goodyear Recreation Campus. Community members and professional artists are invited to participate in creating chalk art. Enjoy aspects such as a live dj, food trucks, and tie dye station. On November 11th, 2025, from 5pm to 8pm, they will be hosting a Veterans Day Tribute at Civic Square Park with an approximate attendance of 1000 plus visitors. This will be a community gathering to reflect on and honor our local heroes. There will be a concert performance, patriotic murals, giveaways, kids activities, and food trucks. On December 5th and 12th, 2025, from 5pm to 8pm at Civic Square Park they will be Holidays on the Square with an estimated attendance of over 2500 people. The community will be able to celebrate with an annual tree lighting ceremony on December 5th and a meet and greet with Santa. Each night will feature a new theme, food trucks, artisan vendors, holiday arts and crafts, and holiday decor around the park for family photos. And finally, on Fridays through Sundays in December 2025, from 5pm to 9pm, the Rinq Synthetic Ice Rink will be available at Civic Square Park. The community cand lace up skates and glide across the ice surrounded by festive lights and holiday music. 

Zahraa Almayyahi, Project Manager, provided an update on the FY2026 - FY2029 Capitol Improvement Projects for the Goodyear Parks and Recreation department. Currently, they are in the budgeting phase for FY29, looking ahead 5 years. For FY26 - FY28 at the Ballpark, they are working on irrigation replacement, lighting conversion, seating improvements, field 5 turf replacement, lighting conversion for fields 3-6, field 6 turf replacement, and tankless water heater conversion at the Guardians/Reds development complexes. For FY26 - FY28 for the parks, they are working to design and construct phase II of the Goodyear Recreation Campus, Loma Linda Pool Improvements, Goodyear Community Parks Improvements, Bullard Wash Trail Extension, Portales Park Improvements, Wildflower Park Improvements, and Bullard Wash Pathway Lighting (Camelback to Indian School Roads). And finally, for FY26 - FY28 for Right of Way, they are working on landscaping along the Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) from Pebble Creek to Litchfield, including the irrigation system, adding trees and shrubs, and applying a granite overlay. The landscaping from Estrella Parkway and Elliot Road will include refreshing 15% of the trees and shrubs, irrigation, and granite overlay. For Estrella Parkway (MC85 to I-10) and Wildflower Ranch Phase I and II will include refreshing about 15% of trees and shrubs, irrigation, and granite overlay. To get real life updates on any of the following, see the link below: 
City of Goodyear - CIP updates
 

Laura Jara, Management Assistant, provided an update on the Parks & Recreation strategic action plan. This is a roadmap that outlines the department's goals, steps to reach them, and the resources they will need to keep everyone aligned and focused on our success. They align our goals with the city's strategic focus areas, which are Fiscal & Resource Management, Economic Vitality, Safe & Vibrant Community, Innovative & High-Performing Organization and Infrastructure. The focus goal areas the department is focusing on are the following strategic pillars, which are Employee Engagement, Safety, Community Engagement, Operations, Quality of Life, and Strategic Planning. The core message is planning for Goodyear's future by investing in our greatest assets, which are our people, our parks, and our community. 

David Seid, Interim Parks & Recreation Director, gave an update on the director vacancy. Currently, in the process of looking for the right person. A lot of moving pieces with the addition of also having to fill the City Manager and Deputy City Manager positions that were also recently announced this year. Should likely have additional information at the December meeting regarding the current department vacancy. 

Commissioner Rachel Bretthauer expressed interest in the Goodyear Recreation Campus getting lights or holiday decor that would match along with the themes that are brought to Civic Square for Christmas. Interim Parks & Recreation Director David Seid wanted to commend that both of our Goodyear Ballpark teams made the playoffs this year. Commissioner Sharolyn Hohman wanted to commend everyone in the department for being very busy and having no grass growing under their feet. Finalizing edits for the Strategic Plan and hope to have that to give out for the December meeting.