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
Mayor Lord 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 Arendall; City Attorney Roric Massey; City Clerk Darcie McCracken
| AGENDA ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION |
1.
RIDECHOICE PILOT PROGRAM REVIEW
Christine McMurdy, Project Management Coordinator, introduced Tom Young, Valley Metro Accessible Transit Services Manager. Mr. Young gave a brief overview of his background and reviewed the RideChoice program which was for ADA paratransit certified people with disabilities and seniors over 65 who reside in Goodyear. RideChoice providers include Uber, taxicabs and other wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
Mr. Young provided a customer comparison of Goodyear residents who use the programs. He also provided a trip comparison between Paratransit and RideChoice users as well as travel patterns and trip purposes.
Mr. Young spoke about the vision for the future of the RideChoice program. He reviewed the two agreements, one for RideChoice and the other for Paratransit and added that for the future, there would be one contract for one administrative call center for both the RideChoice and Paratransit programs.
Council asked if there was an assumption built into the request for a post COVID-19 increase in customers. Ms. McMurdy replied that it was difficult to predict what the ADA demand was going to be, but resources were available to meet the demand. Mr. Young added that there were many options available to adjust the program should there be an increase in demand.
Council asked if either of the programs covered all of Goodyear. Mr. Young responded that only the RideChoice program covered all of Goodyear.
Council mentioned that one of the barriers residents have is getting to the Mobility Center to become eligible participants. Council asked if there was a way to provide more mobile pop-ups in the City to allow residents easier access to become eligible for the programs.
Mr. Young provided a customer comparison of Goodyear residents who use the programs. He also provided a trip comparison between Paratransit and RideChoice users as well as travel patterns and trip purposes.
Mr. Young spoke about the vision for the future of the RideChoice program. He reviewed the two agreements, one for RideChoice and the other for Paratransit and added that for the future, there would be one contract for one administrative call center for both the RideChoice and Paratransit programs.
Council asked if there was an assumption built into the request for a post COVID-19 increase in customers. Ms. McMurdy replied that it was difficult to predict what the ADA demand was going to be, but resources were available to meet the demand. Mr. Young added that there were many options available to adjust the program should there be an increase in demand.
Council asked if either of the programs covered all of Goodyear. Mr. Young responded that only the RideChoice program covered all of Goodyear.
Council mentioned that one of the barriers residents have is getting to the Mobility Center to become eligible participants. Council asked if there was a way to provide more mobile pop-ups in the City to allow residents easier access to become eligible for the programs.
2.
FOREIGN TRADE ZONE POLICY
Council discussion to provide policy direction to staff regarding the Foreign Trade Zone Policy. (Harry Paxton, Economic Development Project Manager)
Council discussion to provide policy direction to staff regarding the Foreign Trade Zone Policy. (Harry Paxton, Economic Development Project Manager)
This item was postponed to a later date.
3.
FY2022-2024 STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Jenna Goad, Assistant to the City Manager, presented the development of the FY2022-2024 Strategic Plan. Ms. Goad discussed the history of some of the work that had already been completed adding that the City was currently operating under the FY2019-2021 Strategic Plan.
Ms. Goad went on to review the proposed Smart Goals and Focus areas. The first focus area was Fiscal and Resource Management with the following goals: Smart City Master Plan, Performance Measures, Public Safety Training Center Study, Employee Compensation Study and Employee Satisfaction.
A discussion ensued on the Smart City Master Plan. Julie Arendall, City Manager, stated that this category was slightly different since the City was conducting activities that already made it a Smart City, such as having electric vehicles in its fleet, smart meters, and smart lights.
Council asked about the goal of Performance Measures and what the plan was. Council stated that what was currently being measured was not measuring performance. Ms. Goad replied that a thorough review would be conducted on what was currently being collected to determine if it was still a useful measurement.
Ms. Goad continued on to the next focus area of Economic Vitality with the following goals: Internet Availability Study, General Plan Update, New Jobs and Regional Destination.
Council asked when the next Parks and Recreation Master Plan was due. Nathan Torres, Parks and Recreation Director, replied that the next Parks and Recreation Master Plan update would begin in July of the upcoming year and it was anticipated that it would take about six quarters to complete.
Council asked if the creation of the 4,500 new jobs was achievable and if it should be broken down into other sectors. Lori Gary, Economic Development Director, replied that she believed it was achievable for a variety of reasons adding that “product brings projects.” She stated that the reason the focus was on office jobs was due to the 100,000 square feet of Class A office space being built. She also stated that it was important to show the development community that Goodyear has the workforce to fill the new building.
Council asked if there were areas targeted for commercial growth. Ms. Arendall replied that a branding study would be conducted on how to brand and activate the entertainment district around McDowell Road.
A discussion ensued on conducting a study on the McDowell Road Entertainment District and the growth and development in Goodyear.
Ms. Goad discussed the next focus area which was Sense of Community with the following goals: Neighborhood Issues and Recycling Program.
Council asked what was the Neighborhood Issue goal trying to achieve. Ms. Goad replied that the goal was to identify issues that were coming up repeatedly in conversations as well as tracking changes over time on certain issues, such as barking dogs. Ms. Arendall added that there are services available to monitor social media that would send monthly reports to the City on the most common topics being discussed by the community.
Council asked what the status of the recycling plan was. Ms. Arendall responded that currently two trucks are picking up trash and recyclables, but both are still going to the landfill.
Council expressed that the City could not wait until June 2024 to complete the evaluation of the recycling program.
Javier Setovich, Public Works Director, stated that recycling is a complex subject. He added that the reality of recycling is that the market for it is changing and that the City needed to develop a program that was sustainable.
Ms. Goad went on to discuss the final focus area of Quality of Life with the goals of Human & Social Service Needs Study, Transit Options and a Library Master Plan.
Ms. Goad concluded with reviewing the next steps for the strategic plan noting that the full FY2022-2024 Strategic Plan package would be presented to Council in May for Council to consider adopting.
Ms. Goad went on to review the proposed Smart Goals and Focus areas. The first focus area was Fiscal and Resource Management with the following goals: Smart City Master Plan, Performance Measures, Public Safety Training Center Study, Employee Compensation Study and Employee Satisfaction.
A discussion ensued on the Smart City Master Plan. Julie Arendall, City Manager, stated that this category was slightly different since the City was conducting activities that already made it a Smart City, such as having electric vehicles in its fleet, smart meters, and smart lights.
Council asked about the goal of Performance Measures and what the plan was. Council stated that what was currently being measured was not measuring performance. Ms. Goad replied that a thorough review would be conducted on what was currently being collected to determine if it was still a useful measurement.
Ms. Goad continued on to the next focus area of Economic Vitality with the following goals: Internet Availability Study, General Plan Update, New Jobs and Regional Destination.
Council asked when the next Parks and Recreation Master Plan was due. Nathan Torres, Parks and Recreation Director, replied that the next Parks and Recreation Master Plan update would begin in July of the upcoming year and it was anticipated that it would take about six quarters to complete.
Council asked if the creation of the 4,500 new jobs was achievable and if it should be broken down into other sectors. Lori Gary, Economic Development Director, replied that she believed it was achievable for a variety of reasons adding that “product brings projects.” She stated that the reason the focus was on office jobs was due to the 100,000 square feet of Class A office space being built. She also stated that it was important to show the development community that Goodyear has the workforce to fill the new building.
Council asked if there were areas targeted for commercial growth. Ms. Arendall replied that a branding study would be conducted on how to brand and activate the entertainment district around McDowell Road.
A discussion ensued on conducting a study on the McDowell Road Entertainment District and the growth and development in Goodyear.
Ms. Goad discussed the next focus area which was Sense of Community with the following goals: Neighborhood Issues and Recycling Program.
Council asked what was the Neighborhood Issue goal trying to achieve. Ms. Goad replied that the goal was to identify issues that were coming up repeatedly in conversations as well as tracking changes over time on certain issues, such as barking dogs. Ms. Arendall added that there are services available to monitor social media that would send monthly reports to the City on the most common topics being discussed by the community.
Council asked what the status of the recycling plan was. Ms. Arendall responded that currently two trucks are picking up trash and recyclables, but both are still going to the landfill.
Council expressed that the City could not wait until June 2024 to complete the evaluation of the recycling program.
Javier Setovich, Public Works Director, stated that recycling is a complex subject. He added that the reality of recycling is that the market for it is changing and that the City needed to develop a program that was sustainable.
Ms. Goad went on to discuss the final focus area of Quality of Life with the goals of Human & Social Service Needs Study, Transit Options and a Library Master Plan.
Ms. Goad concluded with reviewing the next steps for the strategic plan noting that the full FY2022-2024 Strategic Plan package would be presented to Council in May for Council to consider adopting.
| INFORMATION ITEMS |
Councilmember Pizzillo stated he was excited to provide the welcoming remarks at the Phoenix Children’s Chorus Gala event being held in Goodyear.
Councilmember Lauritano thanked the Parks and Recreation Department for putting on the Hop and Hops event adding that it was a super event.
Ms. Arendall added that the Hop and Hops was a very successful event with an estimated 7,255 participants and over 1,400 cars driving through it.
Councilmember Lauritano thanked the Parks and Recreation Department for putting on the Hop and Hops event adding that it was a super event.
Ms. Arendall added that the Hop and Hops was a very successful event with an estimated 7,255 participants and over 1,400 cars driving through it.
| ADJOURNMENT |
There being no further business to discuss, Mayor Lord adjourned the Work Session at 6:51 p.m.
| __________________________ Darcie McCracken, City Clerk |
__________________________ Georgia Lord, Mayor |
Date:___________________ |