[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6449946,"mediaKeyId","5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705","parentId",5897033,"title","Avondale holds public hearing on wastewater impact-fee update tied to $155 million plant expansion","audioSeconds",868,"startMs",2358000,"endMs",3226000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705&start=2358&end=3226","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705/thumbnail_2358000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6449946/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-holds-public-hearing-on-wastewater-impact-fee-update-tied-to-155-million-plant-expansion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449946-391c37b9be2a9af2571e548bb4871404/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600131&Signature=LkSn70RjO4tDEwH8e9569JSnz90S3NO8lyqVvlwNgdtANk14sCOsc~LgIWq6W7041VD5worAcHKhK1oAdQ0zCdwV9hZ5jYogge228ussxHahjDFsJ0g72IlH24O6596N2pcBTSS8gtenyd~jFKovXFMor9j7PUZIxgfOhD~rIGrHfcIMEgMai3CfRTDQ7CqQUvlhIL~Gmn6Jk8lJuNsmUFPQ~N-RPf1MgcZJiTzqlA9m57KVZJl-zC5Y3Hu8Jyo~YgFnPMcKpmclHuGuhFUztXoQKTM3OUvn5EtDaAKXzb5Vpy4g432HOi4Na2p95EbUQqk4obGlrlLKYlwtsaXQ-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avondale","date","2025-10-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Avondale City Council held a public hearing Oct. 6 on proposed land use assumptions and an infrastructure improvement plan that will form the basis for updated wastewater development impact fees.

The hearing focused on a planned expansion of the city's Water Reclamation Facility from 9,000,000 to 12,000,000 gallons per day and a project budget the presentation described as approximately $155,000,000. Eric Bey, public works assistant director, said, “This particular expansion is adding an additional 3,000,000 gallons a day of treatment capacity which will take our plant from 9,000,000 gallons a day of permitted capacity up to 12,000,000 gallons a day to accommodate these growing flows.”

Why it matters: the expansion’s cost and the city’s decision to debt‑finance the project are the main drivers of a proposed increase in the wastewater portion of the city’s development impact fees. Renee, the city’s finance and budget director, told council the current wastewater fee for the most common single‑family meter (3/4‑inch) is $3,153 and that the study-supported fee would be $10,854 before an adjustment made after stakeholder comments; the total combined development impact fee for a single‑family home would rise from $14,432 to $22,133 under the updated wastewater figure presented to council.

City staff said the fee calculation followed a cost‑allocation approach: existing utility rates are applied to portions of the plant that replace or rehabilitate existing infrastructure, prorated rates were used for elements serving both existing and future capacity (roughly 75% existing/25% new capacity), and pure new‑capacity costs are allocated to development impact fees. Bey said the line‑by‑line analysis produced an overall split roughly equivalent to 15% covered by utility rates and 85% by impact fees for the expansion to reach 12,000,000 gallons per day.

Staff and the city’s consultant said the update is required under state law and the city’s internal timelines. The report posted online was updated after two stakeholder meetings (Aug. 28 and Sept. 11) and a written comment from the home‑builder community led staff to revisit an assumption about plant capacity; that revision reduced the proposed wastewater fee from the earliest posted draft. Renee said staff sent the revised report to the targeted developers and home builders who had participated in the stakeholder meetings.

No action was taken at the meeting; staff recommended the council accept the land use assumptions and infrastructure improvement plan process and return for formal adoption later. The timeline staff presented calls for a council recommendation on Nov. 17, 2025; formal adoption on Feb. 23, 2026; and an effective date 75 days after adoption (May 9, 2026) if the adoption occurs as scheduled. Renee told council projects already in the pipeline would be subject to the new fees only when typical contract or permit triggers occur after the effective date.

Council members asked about meter sizes and typical users (single‑family, apartments and commercial), the city’s longer‑term capacity needs and timing for a future expansion to 15,000,000 gallons per day (staff estimated roughly 2037 under current trends), and the expected asset life of major plant components. Bey said design was roughly 60% complete and moving toward 90% as required for compliance submittals.

The record of this hearing will be used in the city’s notices under the Arizona Revised Statutes governing development impact fees. Staff will return with recommendations following the public process outlined in the posted documents.

For now, the item remains a public hearing and discussion; council did not vote on the fees or the infrastructure plan on Oct. 6.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a public hearing on updated land-use assumptions and an infrastructure improvement plan that would raise wastewater development impact fees to help pay for a planned water reclamation facility expansion from 9 to 12 million gallons per day. No council action was taken; adoption is scheduled for early 2026.","taxTitle","Avondale, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2567,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449931,"Votes at a glance: council approves consent agenda; adjourns to executive session",1007,2332000,3339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705&start=2332&end=3339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705/thumbnail_2332000.jpg","/articles/6449931/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-consent-agenda-adjourns-to-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449931-6342ba3736bb15cc28a8b69e082ea35e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600131&Signature=JJpp4vwIj5ffPxlPIII4jHJXNV0xEmjhrZsowWWP6IQspmu45SJGPabsuvr2nPfpVC0ML4Du0KN8QYglj2OMFuHbZymGvc0hIM4vvzoUHMzKrotBt4B8PcCYfDvoNhq0Ok5EtjClYdQ5NRnZjYwOrLmfH~l-fj~Re2Dq1only7MBlsgBuwb6hQnbEPwZAgCjG~YuBN~1YkwmZfiGW8dmrn5jl-7qYRKnFIM6iBwoyH72sjPi-0dyyVdaBWOHZ3cUhlfxB2~~s6uVZ-Eg6VDkJ3UQ1bbj-sIcSMHkehVs-a7DDpqWnQgm~mvTjD61iPYbqZyU84sPRDZuS9jLp1Q1MQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Oct. 6 Avondale City Council meeting, the council approved the consent agenda and later voted to adjourn to executive session. The public transcript records the motions and seconds but does not include a roll‑call vote tally in the chamber record.

Consent agenda: Council Member White moved to approve the consent agenda; Council Member Condie seconded. The meeting clerk recorded that the item \"passes.\" No further details or separate votes on items removed from consent were recorded.

Adjournment to executive session: Council Member Garcia moved to adjourn the meeting to executive session; Council Member Solorio seconded. The mayor asked the council to vote; the clerk recorded the motion and the meeting proceeded to executive session. The public livestream noted the council would not return to the chamber.

The transcript does not list individual yes/no votes for either motion; therefore no detailed tally is reported here. When vote tallies are recorded in future minutes, they will be reflected in the official meeting record.","The Avondale City Council approved the consent agenda and later voted to adjourn to executive session. No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449936,"Avondale public comments urge limits on local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement; residents report dangerous parking",192,1974000,2166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705&start=1974&end=2166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705/thumbnail_1974000.jpg","/articles/6449936/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-public-comments-urge-limits-on-local-cooperation-with-federal-immigration-enforcement-residents-report-dangerous-parking","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449936-30287ad274adff19a99e0eb9817d9e5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600131&Signature=cc9CdOkz~Zpsd0TCe-FY0jODZQARalSJ0q7lDsVZFL7VVu1pIinuigMIHuHz6sFBEPw1i5rOudEHv1lh6Z-5Qo9Lm-rBuS66ckDIMGpiKa-Y~nZGY9zJT1HNaEGk4RbBOPX2VupqJNf-ahNBiardZJ1JkCgM72EsVRgHLYzpOk1rmsHX8vdvgcWyha3mU7BpcbCC8aL0mm1C9iV4d0cIm08eTkiDyfCrv~79LRmDbiDVl~Y8ticvNMjTVGYpMC9~PikQ~Fg8xi9InNIE9zy--jMHa6XQdc5ox6YOtIfOCa1wn6ASIQbyfeWWPkjckfWiigTSD8K5J~7i5DUaRcl6hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the Oct. 6 public‑comment period, two residents raised public‑safety and community‑trust issues and asked for staff follow‑up.

Maribeth Couture, who identified herself as an Avondale resident, urged the council to ensure local law enforcement verify warrants and proper identification before allowing outside agencies to remove residents from the community. Couture recounted a recent case in which, she said, a farmworker stopped at Avondale police was not handed over to federal immigration authorities and was released, allowing the person to return to her seven children and secure counsel. Couture said the example showed the city could protect residents’ dignity while following the law.

The council directed staff to follow up with Couture’s concerns; the chief of police was asked to speak with the speaker after the meeting.

In a separate public comment, David Scanlon, a resident who provided photographs to council, described repeated parking that obstructed the intersection at West Sienna and North Silverstein Lane in the Garden Lakes Estates neighborhood. Scanlon said he had contacted dispatch several times and that the condition creates a dangerous situation; city staff in the chamber noted code enforcement and the police department would follow up. The mayor asked the chief to speak with Scanlon and to coordinate with code enforcement staff.

Neither item generated formal council action. Staff committed to follow up with the speakers and to coordinate police and code responses where appropriate.","Two residents used the public‑comment period to ask the council to shield residents from federal immigration enforcement without proper documentation and to press police and code enforcement to address vehicles blocking a neighborhood intersection. Staff agreed to follow up; no council action was taken.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6449941,"Avondale engineering update details Lower Buckeye grant, traffic‑signal projects and new geese management policy",1438,3763000,5201000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705&start=3763&end=5201","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5897033-e235e643d85044f2759d900e5068d705/thumbnail_3763000.jpg","/articles/6449941/Avondale/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Avondale-engineering-update-details-Lower-Buckeye-grant-trafficsignal-projects-and-new-geese-management-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449941-d35f6dd440d2b7b3294a230c48281dc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770600131&Signature=iI6Ln8jsFdzdeJGJ6wyet9IXZaXf8f8j2MDUgHTl18EPU3coSLMFSn2rDMl-j2l4qhhYaX5CYxIl0InXWSXr5VBouyKp3uoRfQq-0qNbwNF7pTE6r0M8cuO5Y7Y~H6isilRwNJ0i3KTik0RlEZ1L35VhExrFFWN3qaUz5b0Z84JiewfRWXsfTB7jZkbNpzUhCukhIjMhXkzzzqrmJzHfwukgwbDgYAJbNoliJmxI6EK90MC8QPcVFLwuOavqS4N94sNpdsqMeCD02837UTti4PCaVnXncIMFHk4~ybtOz0D4o2RgJRXhkl6nV7Mztngi4c0vbcLszarUIKFQ7iQpiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kim Moon, the city engineering director, gave the City Council a broad capital improvement program update Oct. 6 that covered transportation projects, federal grant awards, and a newly developed policy for humane management of Canada geese along transportation corridors.

Moon told council the city had been awarded a competitive Arterial Lifecycle Program grant administered through the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) for Lower Buckeye Road improvements: $28,064,725 in federal funds with a city match of $7,742,025, producing a total project budget slightly above $35,000,000. Moon described the Lower Buckeye project as widening the corridor, adding through and turn lanes, completing sidewalk and bike lane gaps, and coordinating jurisdictional transfer issues with Maricopa County and ADOT. \"The city has been awarded a MAG Arterial Lifecycle Program (ALCP) competitive grant award for this widening and improvements of Lower Buckeye Road, which [is] over $28,000,000 of federal grant funds with a match from the city of about just over $7,700,000,\" Moon said.

Moon also summarized near‑term projects: adding turn lanes and signal updates at McDowell Road and Dysart Road (design underway; construction scheduled for 2027), a new traffic signal at Thomas Road and 100th/11th Avenues (the location met multiple MUTCD warrants), a signal at Encanto Boulevard and 99th north of Costco that requires an intergovernmental agreement across Avondale, Phoenix and Maricopa County, and several developer‑funded signals at intersection locations where developers are contributing or building off‑site signal work.

A new city policy on Canada geese was presented as part of the transportation discussion. Moon said geese and similar birds are protected under federal law and the city policy integrates humane, evidence‑based management practices — natural deterrence, strategic attractants, low‑cost physical barriers and public education signage — into transportation projects where birds create safety or maintenance problems. \"This policy provides for integration of humane and cost effective Canadian geese management best practices,\" Moon said, and noted project elements such as landscaping modifications and low walls or rock outcroppings may be incorporated into the Thomas Road signal project to reduce bird hazards.

Council members thanked engineering staff for pursuing grant funding and asked staff to consider corridor‑level approaches for bird deterrence and pedestrian connectivity. Several council members highlighted access and safety benefits that the Lower Buckeye grant is expected to deliver, particularly pedestrian and bicycle connections to Festival Fields and Friendship Park.

Moon closed by noting ongoing trail and pedestrian projects, bridge lighting retrofits, and upcoming ribbon cuttings for Fire Station 171, the Civic Center and Friendship Park.

No formal council action was taken; Moon’s presentation was for information and discussion.","City engineering director presented multiple transportation capital projects including a $28 million federal grant for Lower Buckeye Road widening, new traffic signals, and a new policy for humane management of Canada geese on city transportation projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Avondale holds public hearing on wastewater impact-fee update tied to $155 million plant expansion

Votes at a glance: council approves consent agenda; adjourns to executive session

Avondale public comments urge limits on local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement; residents report dangerous parking

Avondale engineering update details Lower Buckeye grant, traffic‑signal projects and new geese management policy