Council approves IGA to annex Liberty Elementary school site and supply water, sewer and street access

The Goodyear City Council on April 28 approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Liberty Elementary School District No. 25 that lays out infrastructure responsibilities for a proposed 16-acre school site and clears the way for the district to pursue annexation and city services. The resolution was adopted by a 6-0 vote.

Deputy City Manager Kenny Knutson and other staff described the site as a 16-acre parcel near Lower Buckeye Road and 180th Avenue, currently in unincorporated Maricopa County. The school plan calls for five buildings and capacity for about 850 students at full build-out; the district is aiming to open the school in August for the next school year.

Under the IGA, the district must construct half-street improvements on Lower Buckeye Road and 180th Avenue along its frontage, provide two points of access (Durango to the north and Lower Buckeye to the south), fund and construct a traffic signal at 180th Avenue/Lower Buckeye, and build water and sewer infrastructure required by the city. The city will continue plan review and inspections during construction, and will provide water and wastewater service after the IGA commitments are met and annexation is completed.

Knutson told council the district’s governing board has approved the project and staff believe the sequence of concurrent construction and approvals can meet the district’s schedule. “Liberty is planning on opening the school, in the summer August,” Knutson said. Council members asked about public safety services, water availability and the ambitious construction schedule; city staff said the IGA was drafted after department review and city services will be provided once infrastructure and in-lieu fees are completed.

The city adopted Resolution No. 2025-2462 approving the IGA and directed staff to finalize the annexation steps and execute the agreement.