Goodyear, one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, is reaching out to its residents by mail to shape its future. As reported by ABC15, the city is hosting an all-mail ballot election to allow voters directly to decide on revising its General Plan, set to guide Goodyear's growth strategy for the next decade.
The current plan, crafted a mere four years ago, is already facing the test of a city that has surged by 15% in population size. "Goodyear is only about 12% built out, so our future is development," Vice Mayor Laura Kaino told ABC15. With this significant chunk of land still to shape, city leaders are hoping to closely align their development strategies with the needs and desires of their rapidly expanding community.
Concerns such as increased traffic congestion and public safety are squarely on the ballots for the special election. "You know, I have the application Nextdoor, and it's always someone stole something from a car, somebody broke into a house. So security is a big thing that we need here in Goodyear," a resident named Alejandro Jimenez explained in an ABC15 interview. His is one of many voices pushing for the city to prioritize a safer community in their planning.
Meanwhile, details about the special election procedures are exhaustively outlined on the city's website. With the General Plan 2035 hanging in the balance, voter turnout will crucially shape the identity of a city still carving out its place in the Valley. The election is slated for Tuesday, May 21, as confirmed by the City of Goodyear's election information page. The deadline to ensure a ballot makes its mark is creeping closer, with city officials urging residents to mail back their ballots by May 14 at the latest.
The ultimate question posed on the ballot: SHALL GENERAL PLAN 2035: GROWING GOODYEAR, PLANNING OUR FUTURE, be approved by the voters? Its approval would mark a significant shift from the current plan adopted in 2014. Response to this question will to be revealed shortly after the ballots are tallied following the close of polls at 7 p.m. on election day. Until then, Goodyear's future hangs in what one could call a democratic balance, awaiting the verdict of its electorate.
