Left to right: Goodyear Police Chief Brian Issit, PC Democratic Club President Vicki Barber, Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo, Acting Deputy City Manager Paul Luizzi, Deputy Fire Chief Ed Paul (photo by Gillian Driscoll)
Gillian Driscoll
The PebbleCreek Democratic club welcomed Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo and city Department Heads to their Nov. 5 meeting. The Mayor gave a summary of current development, long–term plans, budget, and finances. He discussed the development of GSQ into the long awaited hub of the city. He laid out plans for future development including the building of a Nordstrom Rack that will anchor retail in the area. Also highlighted was the search for a new City Manager following the retirement of Wynette Reed in 2026. Mayor Joe answered questions from club members that ranged from the building of apartments—not many more will be built and those that have been built were zoned years ago—to the responsibilities of the city council.
Police Chief Brian Issitt addressed changes he has made to the patrol side of police responsibilities, increasing the number of officers on daily patrol around the community. He emphasized that Goodyear is a very safe city. There is little violent crime and it is mostly focused in a small area around the freeway. Officers like to work for Goodyear so much that they have no shortage of recruits applying from other forces. He pointed out that, as seniors in a gated community, the crime that can impact us most is fraud. He urged us to be diligent about our use of the internet and to be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls.
Deputy Fire Chief Ed Paul also addressed the meeting. A veteran of 24 years in the Fire Service, he gave information about the short response times of both fire and ambulance in Goodyear. The Fire Service has its own Ambulance division that makes response to emergencies shorter. At times of increased need they employ outside services to augment their own. Asked about lithium batteries and the dangers of keeping them in golf carts, he emphasized rigorous maintenance and awareness of dangerous practices such as connecting chargers to golf carts via long extension cables that can overheat and combust. Deputy Chief Paul also informed the group they are building several more fire stations in the near future leading to better services for residents.
City Engineering Director Steve Scinto answered questions about roads and traffic congestion. He pointed out that short term inconvenience (e.g., at Estrella Parkway and I-10) is a small price to pay as it will lead to long–term smoother driving around the city.
In addition, the club heard from Giovanni Orozco, Principal of Lattie Coor Elementary School, who thanked the Veterans Committee of the club for their efforts in organizing a gift drive for students at the school. These students are K through 2 and the gifts will brighten their holidays.
The December meeting of the PebbleCreek Democratic Club will take place on Dec. 3, with social hour at 6 p.m. and the meeting at 6:45 p.m. We meet in the Tuscany Falls Clubhouse Ballroom and all are welcome.