Council OKs special election on city charter

By Kelly O’Sullivan
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

The city of Goodyear will hold a special, mail-in election in March 2021 to ask residents to approve updates to the city’s charter.

After a presentation by City Manager Julie Arendall, the council unanimously approved a resolution calling for the special election at its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 5.

Goodyear’s charter, originally adopted in 1987, has been updated several times, most recently in 2019, Ms. Arendall said, noting the last comprehensive review was conducted in 2004. In January, the council appointed a committee to review the charter and its recommendations were presented to the council during a work session in September.

Residents who go to the polls Tuesday, March 9 will be asked to vote yes or no on 10 proposed changes. Cost of the special election is expected to be $114,000, Ms. Arendall said.

Among the changes voters will consider:

• Whether council districts should be implemented once Goodyear’s population reaches 150,000;

• Whether a committee should be established to consider City Council compensation every two years;

• Whether there should be a specific process for removing a council member. Three council members would be required to submit charges of unlawful conduct against the mayor or a fellow councilmember, with removal requiring an affirmative vote of five.;

• What processes should be used for filling mayoral or council vacancies. The committee recommended addressing mayoral vacancies separately from council vacancies and recommends different processes based on when the vacancy occurs in the person’s term.;

• Whether a written contract with the city manager should be required. Current language makes a written contract optional.

Additional changes proposed are available in the council’s Sept. 14 work session agenda staff report at goodyear.legistar.com/calendar.aspx.

The notice of election and call for public arguments for and against each change will be published in the Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Friday, Oct. 30, editions of the Arizona Republic.

Ms. Arendall said arguments are due to the city by Wednesday, Dec. 9. Cost to submit a 300-word argument is $50.

The last day to register for the March 9 election will be Monday, Feb. 8. Ballots will go out Wednesday, Feb. 10, and must be returned by mail no later than March 9.

Ms. Arendall said the city will conduct public education and outreach via its website, social media, good neighbor alerts and city events to inform voters about the election and what they will find on their ballots.

Kelly O’Sullivan can be reached at kosullivan@newszap.com or 760-963-1697.