Mayor Pizzillo called the Work Session to order at 5:00 p.m.

Edwin Hernández-Vargas, Chief Government Affairs Officer, provided an overview of the Government Relations team, its duties, and key stakeholders. He summarized the 2025 Legislative Session, noting major policy issues related to housing and zoning reform, water management, protection of local revenues, short-term rentals, and group homes.

Mr. Hernández-Vargas then recognized Anthony Casselman, Government Affairs Officer, who presented an overview of the Federal Delegation and State Legislative Leadership and reviewed the legislative districts serving Goodyear. Mr. Hernández-Vargas continued with a review of the 2026 State and Federal Legislative Agendas, emphasizing the city’s priorities and guiding principles for the upcoming session. Mr. Casselman concluded the presentation by discussing engagement opportunities with the Goodyear community.

Council expressed support for the presentation and emphasized the value of regular updates on key policy issues, understanding how pending legislation may impact regulations and the city, and continuing to plan proactively by building relationships and looking ahead.

Rachel Garcia, Deputy City Manager, introduced the item and invited Lyman Locket, Human Resources Director, to present an update on workforce planning initiatives. Mr. Locket reviewed the city’s 3–5 Year Staffing Plan and Succession Plan as identified in the Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027 Strategic Plan. He addressed labor market analysis, workforce supply and demand, staffing strategies, identification of critical roles, and succession planning efforts.

Mr. Locket also discussed the integration of workforce planning with the classification and compensation study and outlined key timelines and milestones, noting that recommendations will return to Council in future years.

Council discussed mentorship programs, workforce development efforts with high school students, retirement forecasting, and maintaining efficiency while meeting service demands.

In response to Council inquiry, Mr. Locket noted that retention and turnover mitigation are priorities, in addition to the ability to conduct routine in-house compensation reviews. He explained that tuition reimbursement supports employees pursuing advanced degrees, and the future internship program will assist with planning for specialized and difficult-to-fill positions.