InFocus - Issue 101 - December 2018

City Introduces New Utility Billing System Additionally:

Customers who currently auto pay via credit card will have to enroll in the new system in January The city of Goodyear Finance team is ringing in the New Year with a new and improved utility billing system that offers customers the convenience and flexibility to manage their accounts online. Some of the enhanced features include a comprehensive account summary; the option to link several accounts under one email/user ID; the option to submit a change of address form; and the option to set bill delivery preferences.

As part of the transition to the new system, customers need to enroll in the new system and/or provide information again.

Please note, all auto pay credit card transactions in the current system will be discontinued.

Customers who are registered in Click2Gov will have to enroll in the new system in January Customers who currently auto pay via a checking account (Surepay) require no action The city of Goodyear will send an email to all of its customers registered in Click2Gov with detailed instructions on how to enroll in the new system, and customers who are currently enrolled in the credit card auto pay will receive an email with instructions for setting up auto pay in the new system.

Questions? Please contact customer service at 623-882-7887.

IT’S AN

AIRSHIP

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has undertaken the biggest U.S. airship-pilot training program since World War II. And that’s huge, because airships are tricky -- even veteran pilots need a year or more to learn the ropes.

Learn more at goodyearblimp.com/ behind-the-scenes/airship-bases.html The Goodyear Airship (Blimp) during a recent visit at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport.

GOODYEAR CITY COUNCIL

GOODYEAR CITY COUNCIL CALENDAR December 17

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

Work Session Council Meeting

January 7

5 p.m.

Work Session

January 14

6 p.m.

Council Meeting

January 28

6 p.m.

Council Meeting

Work Session times are subject to change. Visit goodyearaz.gov/council-calendar to view updates. Council meetings and work sessions are held at Goodyear Justice Center, Goodyear Municipal Complex, 14455 W. Van Buren St., B101. Visit goodyearaz.gov for meeting schedules and to watch City Council meetings.

InFocus Magazine

(l to r): Joe Pizzillo, Vice Mayor Wally Campbell, Bill Stipp, Mayor Georgia Lord, Sheri Lauritano, Laura Kaino and Brannon Hampton.

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Goodyear Communications Writer: Dawn Reid Photographer: Geoff Kinnerk Layout Production: Sarna OBrien-Trayner Questions or comments, email: communications@goodyearaz.gov

From the Mayor Every few years, the city of Goodyear conducts a citizen survey to better understand the perception of our community, and how we prioritize future needs.

After each survey, I eagerly await the results

In 2015, residents expressed that they prefer to be outdoors and that improvements could be made to our local parks.

We listened, and we made parks and recreation a higher priority. Now, community members seem to be pleased with the enhancements made to the parks. In addition, I look forward to the day we break ground on the future Recreation Campus, currently in design.

I cannot express enough how happy it makes me to see that 95 percent of the respondents rated Goodyear as an excellent or Mayor good place to live! That number Georgia Lord is above the national average and was an increase from our last survey conducted in 2015. Overall, 28 percent of the questions showed results above the national average and only two percent of the questions saw a decrease.

As I mentioned, reviewing the survey results is one of my most treasured acts as a mayor. It is this type of citizen participation that truly helps shape the community in which we live. The city received more responses this year than in the past, and it is our goal to continue this upward trend in the future.

Have a safe and happy holiday season, everyone!

Goodyear councilmembers invite you to join them for a free forum.

Tuesday, December 11 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Saddle Mountain Brewery 15651 W. Roosevelt St., 85338

For questions, contact the Mayor and Council office at 623-882-7776.

Council Corner I am extremely pleased with the survey results, and recognize that great cities like Goodyear are created through partnership and collaboration with residents.

Goodyear has consistently received excellent survey scores, not only because we offer remarkable Council Member services, but also because we are Sheri Lauritano a community that looks out for our neighbors. I think these amazing results show that residents trust the city, and are proud to be a part of the community.

In December, as we are preparing for the holiday season, the city of Goodyear is gearing up for two amazing efforts that demonstrate this commitment to community: Fill-A-Need and Shop with a Cop.

The Goodyear Fill-A-Need program connects families in need with the gifts and donations made by city of Goodyear employees, residents and local businesses. The program provides toys, clothing, and school supplies for children in need, and food for families that may be struggling.

The Goodyear Police Department also holds the Shop with a Cop event in December. Police officers accompany underprivileged children for a unique holiday shopping experience. The day begins with a breakfast with officers, followed by a police motorcade escort to a store where the children can pick out gifts for themselves and their families. This great event, which brightens the lives of so many, is only possible thanks to the generous support of our residents.

These programs are just two examples of how the city and residents come together to serve the Goodyear community in which we proudly call home.

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Online Police Reporting The Goodyear Police Department is pleased to announce the launch of its new Online Reporting System. As a convenience to citizens, it is now possible to report certain crimes online.

It is important to emphasize, if reporting a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. If you wish to report a crime that already occurred in which a person was injured, threatened, or placed in danger, call the non-emergency police line at 623-932-1220.

The online reporting system is for the reporting of the following types of crimes that must have occurred within the Goodyear city limits.  Criminal damage

 Shoplifting

 Fraudulent use of credit card

 Supplement report or property list

 Graffiti

 Theft less than $10,000 total loss

 Harassing phone calls

 Vehicle burglary

 Identity theft

 To request vacation watch

 Lost property less than $1,000 The Goodyear Police Department’s easy-to-use online reporting system can be found at www.goodyearpoliceaz.gov. Simply follow the user friendly prompts and submit your report. Once submitted, you will receive a temporary report number and be given the option to print.

Once your report has been reviewed and approved, you will then receive your official copy via email. Please keep in mind that once you file your online report, it becomes available to the public under the public records law, A.R.S. 39-121. Thank you for using the Goodyear Police Department’s online reporting system.

For more information, visit

goodyearaz.gov/police

#GTK Good To Know

Why the 2020 Census matters

The U.S. Constitution mandates that the United States count its population every ten years at the location where each person usually lives. The census asks questions including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and race of each person. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.

Why should this matter to you? Goodyear benefits the most when the census counts everyone. When you respond to the census, you help Goodyear get its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs.

Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores. That creates jobs. Developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods.

Local governments like Goodyear use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness.

Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life and consumer advocacy.

For more information, visit census.gov

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C I T I Z E N

S U R V E Y

R E S U L T S

Goodyear: Better Than Ever Choosing where you live is very personal. For some, it’s where you raise your family and plant roots. For others, it’s about affordability or accessibility to the places and things that are most important. Maybe it’s about high-quality schools in the area or whether the community is safe and clean. What’s true for everyone – where you live is where you make memories that last a lifetime.

We all can probably remember the city where we grew up, and how that has shaped our lives.

The city of Goodyear is honored that you have chosen our great city as the place you call home. Your opinion of what makes Goodyear great is important, and helps city leaders make decisions that impact your life each day. For that reason, the city would like to thank everyone who participated and is excited to share the results of the recent Goodyear Citizen Satisfaction Survey which is conducted every few years.

National Research Center conducted the survey which is used by more than 500 government agencies around the country to provide valuable data. It surveyed 3,200 randomly selected households in Goodyear. Residents were asked about their quality of life, caliber of city service, and what makes a city a place where residents want to live.

For example, past survey results revealed that residents wanted more amenities like a new library branch and a recreation campus. The city of Goodyear approved the addition of both.

The city is proud to share the survey results which show that Goodyear is better than ever. Thank you to the residents who participated in the survey. And thank you to all Goodyear residents for making this great city the place you call home.

On the next two pages, you’ll see some of the highlights from this past survey. To read the full results and details, visit

goodyearaz.gov/residents/citizen-survey

“ Residents say…

is a highly desirable and safe place to live

continued on page 6

I am so proud to call Goodyear home. Since becoming City Manager in February, I have seen first-hand the hard work and dedication of city staff who strive to deliver only the best of services to our residents. Our Mayor and City Council are committed to making Goodyear better than ever and our residents are passionate about what’s most important in their everyday lives. It is the combination of all these things which make our city not just good – but great.

”

— Julie Arendall, City Manager

9 in 10

residents rated Goodyear’s quality of life as excellent or good.

87%

rated Goodyear as a good or excellent place to retire.

December 2018

5

2 0 1 8

% 95

of residents rated Goodyear as a good or excellent place to live.

9 in 10

residents rate the following as excellent or good: Overall feeling of safety

9 in 10

88%

rated the city as a good or excellent place to raise children.

residents would recommend Goodyear and plan to remain here.

81 %

Highest rated quality of Goodyear services

rated the overall image of the city as good or excellent.

Safe in neighborhood Safe downtown area Ambulance/EMS Police Fire

C I T I Z E N

84 %

Garbage, recycling and yard waste collection

rated the overall appearance of the city as good or excellent.

Sewer services Public library

FIRE STATION

BOOKSTORE

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S

U R V E Y

R E S U L T S

How residents rated the importance of program funding

84%

Maintaining and improving parks

68%

Bringing higher eduction to Goodyear

Where we did better than the national average Ease of traveling by car

76%

Housing options Traffic flow

Providing recreational opportunities

Where we can improve

61%

Providing senior services

Air quality Public transporation Employment Opportunties

Where residents get their city information

City website

InFocus magazine

Local news

For more information, visit goodyearaz.gov/residents/citizen-survey

POLICE DEPARTMENT

SUPERMARKET & PHARMACY

GAS & AUTO WASH

HOSPITAL & EMERGENCY ROOM

GOODYEAR CITY HALL

POLICE STATION

SCHOOL BUS

December 2018

7

Top five reasons to shop in Goodyear this holiday season What happens in Goodyear stays in Goodyear – at least when it comes to sales taxes.

City sales taxes are one of the largest sources of revenue for the city of Goodyear. The more people shop, dine and play in Goodyear, the more tax dollars the city has to use for services such as police and fire, parks and planning and development.

Success breeds success.

Goodyear is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, with a current population of more than 84,000. As more people choose to call Goodyear home, more businesses and restaurants will follow. Local entrepreneurs, trendy boutiques and power retailers alike are thriving, and there’s a lot more on the way.

It strengthens our community Locally owned businesses often hire Goodyear residents, offer specialized local or regional items unique to the area, and

Welcome to the

By The Numbers

Can make

15 million

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in

th e w

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100%

145

Opened:

Spring 2018

For more information, visit

Ball.com

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It’s good for the environment By staying in Goodyear, you’ll drive fewer miles in your vehicle, which means less traffic, less noise and less pollution.

It’s fun and you’ll have more free time Let’s face it: from casually strolling around a small arts and crafts store to checking out the newest gems at the family-owned jewelers, shopping locally can be a lot of fun. If shopping isn’t your thing, you’ll potentially save time by shopping in Goodyear, allowing for more free time to enjoy your day.

#WhatsThat?

The next time you’re driving around Goodyear and see new construction, you’ll be able to answer the question, “What’s that?”

COMING

SOON

Palm Valley Medical Center

aluminum cans per day

e most s th c e k

often contribute to local causes. They also provided gathering places where neighbors can socialize and connect with each other.

recyclable

team members

The old movie theater next to the Target on Litchfield Road is being renovated into a 50,000-square-foot medical building with an anticipated completion date in early 2019.

The Clubhouse at Ballpark Village This 39 unit, four-story building near the ballpark will accommodate the Cleveland Indians housing needs yearround and should be completed by spring/summer 2019.

Party City Party City is moving across the street – between Old Navy and Dollar Tree at McDowell Road and Pebblecreek Parkway, with an anticipated open date of January 2019.

T&T Bakery Sandwiches This new sandwich shop in the Canyon Trails Plaza is expected to open this month or early next year.

For all of the latest news, check out

developgoodyearaz.com

Giving back with Fill-A-Need

The holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration and joy, but they can also be stressful and difficult for some families who are struggling to make ends meet.

Each year, city departments, employees and community members help identify Goodyear families who are experiencing financial difficulty and could use a little help during the holidays to get back on track. The city’s Fill-A-Need program connects these families with toys, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies.

“Extraordinary life-changing events affect many people in our community. We want to help them provide joy to their children during the holiday season,” said Goodyear Fire Chief Paul Luizzi, who chairs the program.

City employees and community volunteers get together to donate their time for a massive gift-wrapping session. The gifts are then loaded into a truck and volunteers deliver the items to the very thankful families.

Since its inception 16 years ago, the program has distributed clothing, toys, food, and non-perishable items to more than 600 families, including approximately 1,800 children. It also benefits the Agua Fria Food Bank and the Southwest Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

For more information, call 623-882-7081 or visit

goodyearaz.gov/residents/fill-a-needprogram

December 2018

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’

’

Holiday Do s and Don ts Do’s B DO look for the label “Fire Resistant” when purchasing an artificial tree.

B DO check for freshness and green needles when purchasing a live tree.

B DO check to make sure outdoor lights have been certified for outdoor use.

B DO turn off all tree lights and decorations when leaving the home or going to bed.

B DO check your smoke alarms to make sure they’re working properly.

B DO keep poisonous plants out of reach of children and pets.

B DO refrigerate leftover food within two hours.

Don’ts B DON’T place any decorations too close to a heat source.

B DON’T leave burning candles unattended.

B DON’T plug outdoor lights into any outlet that is not a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacle.

B DON’T use nails to hang lights – you could damage the cords. Use clips instead.

B DON’T burn trees, wreaths or wrapping paper in your fireplace.

B DON’T pour cooking grease down your kitchen sink drain.

B DON’T leave a stovetop unattended or leave your house with the oven on.

B DO donate your old decorations, ornaments and lights instead of throwing them away.

B DON’T place old decorations, ornaments and lights in your recycle bin.

B DO recycle your live Christmas tree after the holiday is over.**

B DON’T place plastic bags or plastic packaging in your recycling bin.

**Goodyear residents can recycle their live Christmas trees at A to Z Equipment Rentals and Sales, 803 E. Van Buren St., Avondale, Ariz., 85323 (located on the southeast corner of Dysart and Van Buren streets) during their regular business hours from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. Please make sure the trees have all the ornaments and lights removed before dropping them off.

HOLIDAY TRASH COLLECTION SCHEDULE City offices closed and sanitation pickup changes City offices will be closed and there will be no trash, recycling or bulk pickup on December 25 in observance of Christmas Day. Waste collection will move to the day after the regularlyscheduled pickup day.

For more information and a holiday sanitation service schedule, call 623-932-3010 or visit goodyearaz.gov/trash.

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Register Early to Vote in Next Goodyear Election

In case you missed it

Here is a recap of some of the city events, programs and happenings that recently made headlines. Want more news? Subscribe to updates at goodyearaz.gov/news and join the conversation online by following us on social media.

The next Goodyear Primary Election isn’t until March 12, 2019 but now is the time to register to vote. Three Goodyear Councilmembers will be up for election.

The Maricopa County Recorder is responsible for voter registration.

The Recorder requires that each voter must be:

 A U.S. citizen.  18 years of age or older, on or before the date of the

next regular general election following registration.

 A resident of Arizona 29 days immediately preceding

the election, except as provided in section ARS §16-126.

 Able to write his/her name or make a mark, unless prevented by physical disability.

 Has not been convicted of treason or a felony, unless

GOODYEAR EMPLOYEE SURVEY Results from a recent independent survey show that nearly all city of Goodyear employees are highly satisfied with working for the city. 93% say the city is a good employer. The survey found that job satisfaction is strong and morale is at an all-time high. In addition, employees indicated strong confidence in city leadership.

restored to civil rights.

 Has not been adjudicated an incapacitated person as defined in section ARS §14-5101

Residents are encouraged to update their existing registration if they have moved, changed names, or would like to change their political party.

BEST COFFEE IN AZ According to USA Today, Enroute Coffee and Tea House in Goodyear takes the title for best coffee shop in the state, ranked by Yelp users.

The shop was recognized for specialty drinks like their cinnamon French toast latte and horchata frappe.

Voter Registration Deadlines for 2019 Election Primary Election: February 11 (Election Day is Tuesday, March 12) General Election: April 22 (Election Day is Tuesday, May 21) Contact the Maricopa County Elections Department at 602-506-1511, or 602-506-2348 (TDD), to:

GOODYEAR APPOINTS JUDGE MAYRA GALINDO After an extensive recruitment, the Goodyear City Council selected Judge Mayra Galindo to be the next presiding municipal judge.

An independent committee was called upon to make recommendations for the position. Judge Galindo will begin her duties in January.

 Register to vote, verify registration, or update current registration

 Request an early ballot for an election  Request to be placed on the Permanent Early Voting List

 Check polling location goodyearaz.gov/elections

LEAD PROGRAM Residents curious about how their local city works are invited to apply for Goodyear’s next Leadership Enrichment And Development (LEAD) class. The program begins on Jan. 8. Register at goodyearaz.gov/lead December 2018

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ECRWSS Postal Customer 190 N. Litchfield Rd. Goodyear AZ 85338 goodyearaz.gov 623-932-3910 A Top 10 Best U.S. City to Live – 24/7WallSt.com

DRIVE-THRU Holiday Lights Display November 23 – December 31 Monday – Saturday

ChristmasinColor.net Cost: $25 per car with advance purchase Goodyear residents save 20%!

Use promo code: GoodyearInColor (Valid through December 15)

The city of Goodyear is now on We are launching our new YouTube page and want you to follow us!

To subscribe, visit goodyearaz.gov/youtube