Council voices traffic and bicycle safety concerns; votes to enter executive session over contracts and litigation

Council members on Sept. 8 raised concerns about traffic and construction impacts near future high‑traffic corridors and requested follow‑up from staff, and later voted to call an executive session for legal advice on contract negotiations and pending litigation.

Council discussion and requests: A councilmember reported resident concerns about traffic on "A Hundred And 70 Third Avenue" (as stated in the transcript) where traffic is expected to increase when students begin using the nearby Goodyear High School route; the member asked staff to consider engineered speed‑reduction measures (not necessarily speed bumps). The same councilmember described construction congestion along Yuma from the Loop 303 to Litchfield Road that has impeded access to some businesses, saying the McDonald's in the area was “completely blocked off” and noting the project was a Southwest Gas project. The city manager said staff would follow up on the Southwest Gas project and other traffic impacts. The council also noted curb damage under Interstate 10 near Bullard (referred to in transcript as "Bollard"/"Bullard") and asked for maintenance attention.

Bicycle safety: Councilmember Laura requested an update or follow‑up on bicycle safety on city roads following a recent accident on what the transcript calls the "Cotton Lane Bridal"; she asked where the city stands on plans, grants, and strategies to improve bicycle safety. The transcript records the request but not the staff response or timeline for a follow‑up report.

Executive session vote: Later in the meeting the council voted to call an executive session under Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 38‑431.03(A)(3) and (4) for legal advice and to instruct the city attorney and city manager on the city’s positions regarding (1) contracts subject to negotiation associated with the GSQ project, (2) contracts subject to negotiation associated with economic development, and (3) pending or contemplated litigation and settlement discussions in the matter described as Foresight v. City of Goodyear Manor. A motion and a second were made and the motion passed 7‑0.

Discussion versus action: The traffic and bicycle items were requests for staff follow‑up (discussion/direction). The call to executive session was a formal action (motion, second, and unanimous vote). The transcript does not disclose the substance of any legal advice or any subsequent action taken in executive session.