City Council Work Session Municipal Court and Council Chambers 14455 W. Van Buren St., Suite B101 Goodyear, AZ 85338 |
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CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Mayor Stipp called the Work Session to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Mayor Georgia Lord; Vice Mayor Bill Stipp; Councilmember Joe Pizzillo; Councilmember Sheri Lauritano; Councilmember Wally Campbell; Councilmember Brannon Hampton; Councilmember Laura Kaino
- Staff Present:
- City Manager Julie Karins; City Attorney Roric Massey; City Clerk Darcie McCracken
Mayor Lord participated telephonically.
| AGENDA ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION |
1.
2021 CITIZEN SURVEY RESULTS
Assistant to the City Manager Jenna Goad provided some background information about citizen surveys that were conducted in previous years. Ms. Goad introduced Nick Mastronardi, CEO of Polco, the company who administered the confidential community survey on behalf of the City of Goodyear.
Mr. Mastronardi briefly discussed his background. He shared information about Polco and the National Research Center and the methodology used to administer the citizen survey.
Mr. Mastronardi provided an overview of the survey results. He noted that compared to other communities in the benchmarks, the City of Goodyear received higher ratings in 22 areas, similar ratings in 118 areas and lower ratings in 8 areas. He also highlighted the most significant changes for 2021 which included improvements in employment opportunities, rating of Goodyear as a place to work, economic health, quality of business and service establishments and economic development.
Mr. Mastronardi also noted the areas with the biggest drops compared to 2018 which were traffic flow on major streets, bus or transit services, availability of affordable quality childcare and preschool, overall opportunities for education, culture, the arts and affordable quality housing.
Mr. Mastronardi concluded the overview of results by relaying that performance to benchmark was difficult to achieve and added that the City of Goodyear was doing a great job of delivering quality services to its residents.
Council expressed that it was clear that transit was an area that needed focus.
A discussion ensued on the amount of surveys that were mailed out to residents and the response rate based on those surveys.
Council thanked Mr. Mastronardi for presenting and discussing the information from the survey.
Council added that they looked forward to working together to improve some of the areas that had lower scores.
Mr. Mastronardi briefly discussed his background. He shared information about Polco and the National Research Center and the methodology used to administer the citizen survey.
Mr. Mastronardi provided an overview of the survey results. He noted that compared to other communities in the benchmarks, the City of Goodyear received higher ratings in 22 areas, similar ratings in 118 areas and lower ratings in 8 areas. He also highlighted the most significant changes for 2021 which included improvements in employment opportunities, rating of Goodyear as a place to work, economic health, quality of business and service establishments and economic development.
Mr. Mastronardi also noted the areas with the biggest drops compared to 2018 which were traffic flow on major streets, bus or transit services, availability of affordable quality childcare and preschool, overall opportunities for education, culture, the arts and affordable quality housing.
Mr. Mastronardi concluded the overview of results by relaying that performance to benchmark was difficult to achieve and added that the City of Goodyear was doing a great job of delivering quality services to its residents.
Council expressed that it was clear that transit was an area that needed focus.
A discussion ensued on the amount of surveys that were mailed out to residents and the response rate based on those surveys.
Council thanked Mr. Mastronardi for presenting and discussing the information from the survey.
Council added that they looked forward to working together to improve some of the areas that had lower scores.
2.
USER FEE COST OF SERVICE STUDY
Finance Director Doug Sandstrom presented an update to the user fee cost of service study. Mr. Sandstrom discussed the approach and methodology used for the study. He relayed that the last full external cost of service study was completed in 2009.
Mr. Sandstrom reviewed the Economic and Policy considerations used to not charge full fees such as economic barriers or community benefits.
Mr. Sandstrom went on to discuss the individual department fees that included the City Clerk’s Office, Finance Department, Police Department and the Public Works Department.
Council asked if the City was able to collect 100 percent of what it cost to provide paper copies of public records requests. City Clerk Darcie McCracken responded that it would cost $0.25 per page for a commercial public records request.
A discussion ensued between Council and staff regarding the fees involved in reviewing police officer bodycam footage.
Mr. Sandstrom continued his presentation with development related fees for Building Safety, Planning, Engineering and the Fire Department.
Council inquired how much a false alarm would cost. Fire Chief Paul Luizzi responded that the first two false alarms would be free, the third false alarm would incur a fee of $425. He noted that the false alarm fees would be for commercial buildings only.
Mr. Sandstrom reviewed the project examples with cost comparisons to other cities.
A discussion followed regarding Planned Area Development and straight rezoning and the fees associated with each type of zoning.
Council inquired about the stakeholder outreach for Planning and Development and Engineering. Mr. Sandstrom replied that stakeholder outreach began in April 2021 with a Development Advisory meeting.
Council expressed concern that the updated use permit fees were a little too high and could discourage new business from coming to Goodyear.
Mr. Sandstrom reviewed the implementation steps noting that implementation of the fees would be 30 days following the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. Sandstrom reviewed the Economic and Policy considerations used to not charge full fees such as economic barriers or community benefits.
Mr. Sandstrom went on to discuss the individual department fees that included the City Clerk’s Office, Finance Department, Police Department and the Public Works Department.
Council asked if the City was able to collect 100 percent of what it cost to provide paper copies of public records requests. City Clerk Darcie McCracken responded that it would cost $0.25 per page for a commercial public records request.
A discussion ensued between Council and staff regarding the fees involved in reviewing police officer bodycam footage.
Mr. Sandstrom continued his presentation with development related fees for Building Safety, Planning, Engineering and the Fire Department.
Council inquired how much a false alarm would cost. Fire Chief Paul Luizzi responded that the first two false alarms would be free, the third false alarm would incur a fee of $425. He noted that the false alarm fees would be for commercial buildings only.
Mr. Sandstrom reviewed the project examples with cost comparisons to other cities.
A discussion followed regarding Planned Area Development and straight rezoning and the fees associated with each type of zoning.
Council inquired about the stakeholder outreach for Planning and Development and Engineering. Mr. Sandstrom replied that stakeholder outreach began in April 2021 with a Development Advisory meeting.
Council expressed concern that the updated use permit fees were a little too high and could discourage new business from coming to Goodyear.
Mr. Sandstrom reviewed the implementation steps noting that implementation of the fees would be 30 days following the adoption of the resolution.
| INFORMATION ITEMS |
There were no information items.
| ADJOURNMENT |
There being no further business to discuss, Vice-Mayor Stipp adjourned the Work Session at 6:55 p.m.
| __________________________ Darcie McCracken, City Clerk |
__________________________ Georgia Lord, Mayor |
Date:___________________ |