Goodyear council backs design for first phase of Municipal Operations Complex, prioritizes hazardous‑waste collection
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Summary
City staff presented a three‑phase Municipal Operations Complex concept and council directed staff to begin design on phase 1 (HHW facility, consolidated field facility, and access improvements) using up to $4 million budgeted for design; council emphasized interim fixes for hazardous household‑waste storage.
Deputy City Manager Katie Knudson and Public Works leaders briefed the Goodyear City Council on Sept. 15 on a proposed Municipal Operations Complex, or MOC, that would consolidate field crews, fleet and hazardous household‑waste (HHW) operations on nearly 60 acres south of MC 85 along Estrella Parkway. Council gave staff direction to begin design for phase 1 of the project and to prioritize addressing hazardous‑waste handling at the existing site.
Why it matters: city staff said the consolidation would reduce travel time for field crews, improve operational efficiency and safety, provide resident‑facing HHW services, and create long‑term capacity for a rapidly growing city. Staff estimated the city’s field workforce would roughly double by fiscal year 2046.
What staff proposed: the MOC concept is three phases. Phase 1 would build a resident HHW and solid‑waste operational yard (estimated $35,000,000, to be paid from the solid‑waste enterprise fund), a consolidated field facility for multiple departments (estimated $53,800,000), and site improvements including a second access at 150 Ninth Avenue (estimated $4,700,000). Staff gave a phase‑1 total estimate of $93,500,000. Phase 2 would expand fleet operations and improve interior roads and outdoor storage (estimated $90,900,000). Phase 3 would add centralized warehousing (estimated $17,300,000). Staff presented the three‑phase total in the meeting materials as approximately $201.7 million.
Budget and next step: Knudson told council that $4,000,000 is available in the current capital improvement program to fund design of phase 1 only, and she emphasized that beginning design would not commit the city to construction. "Beginning design does not necessarily commit us to construction," she said. Staff said more precise cost estimates would result from the design process, and that construction funding would be brought back to council for separate decisions.
Safety and interim fixes: council members repeatedly raised concerns about the current HHW canopy and trailer at the existing Public Works campus, describing hazardous materials stored outdoors and citing past lithium‑battery fires. Council asked the fire marshal to inspect the existing HHW collection area; a councilmember told staff, “That looked very dangerous to me.” Several councilmembers urged staff to explore interim, lower‑cost fixes (for example, metal containers used in neighboring cities) while pursuing the longer‑term MOC design.
Funding questions: council discussed possible funding sources including use of the solid‑waste enterprise fund, user fees, future bond programs or voter‑approved bonds, sale of other city properties, and grants. Staff said the current voter‑approved bond program has no capacity for MOC construction and that a range of funding options would be developed after design provides refined cost estimates.
Operational detail: staff said the fleet facility currently maintains over 600 vehicles and that the proposed site would not displace the dog park or BMX track adjacent to the public works campus. A contractor (identified in meeting discussion as a hazardous‑waste vendor) currently handles off‑site disposal of collected hazardous materials.
Council action: council provided direction to initiate design for phase 1 using available CIP funds and prioritized improving the HHW site in the near term; staff will return with design results and funding options for construction.
