Deputy City Manager Kenny Keeney and Ryan Biddle, finance manager, presented Goodyear’s multi‑year utility rate proposal covering water, wastewater and solid waste. Staff described drivers: treatment for poor groundwater quality (nitrates, salts), Central Arizona Project (CAP) water, PFAS treatment obligations, specialized staffing, energy and operational costs. The city engaged Willdan Financial Services and a Citizens Water Advisory Committee to develop options.

Staff’s recommended plan phases increases over four years with typical annual increases around 5.5–6.75% depending on program. Examples cited: an average residential water customer’s bill would rise about $2.71 in 2026 (compounding in later years); wastewater increases were shown at about 5.5% annually and solid‑waste increases were more modest. Staff said the total combined impact for the average residential customer would be about $8.50 per month next year (about 5.8–5.9% overall) under the posted scenario. Staff also stated the stormwater fee proposed earlier was removed from consideration at the council retreat and would not move forward at this time.

Representatives of the Citizens Water Advisory Committee described a 4–2 committee vote in favor of the recommendation but noted dissent: former chair (and Commissioner Chad Gallego) and another member opposed the scale of increases and urged the council to consider general‑fund support or other mitigations to lower bills. The new committee chair, Robert Shirey (water‑industry background), said rate increases are necessary to meet regulatory and operational costs.

Council members pressed staff for sensitivity analyses and asked what 1% adjustments to the proposed rate would cost the general fund, whether a one‑time general fund subsidy could be used to soften 2026 impacts, how enterprise funds are legally constrained, and what amounts could be absorbed without violating financial policy. Staff said statutory public‑notice requirements have been met for the maximum posted rates; staff will run scenarios and provide an executive summary of subsidy impacts before the Dec. 15 public hearing if council desires, but doing so may complicate public‑notice timing.

No action was taken; the council set a public hearing on the rates for Dec. 15, 2025.