Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2023 Issue #27

Watch Meetings

Find My Ward

Akron City Council

Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Welcome our new subscribers. We are so excited that you have decided to join us! To our regular subscribers, thank you for continuing to read Council's Legislative Spotlight.

We share highlights from Council's legislative agenda from the previous Monday's Committee and Council meetings each week. Definitions and information about commonly used terms and council-related facts are also featured.

Please stay connected and abreast of the legislative agenda of Akron City Council.

The information shared in each week's Legislative Spotlight will continue to educate, empower and liberate you to become increasingly engaged with your City Council in making Akron a better place for all its residents.

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, September 11, 2023

Council held a public hearing on the Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish an apartment use at 133 Merriman Road. The Planning & Economic Development Committee requested to Refer this item, which means they are taking time. This Ordinance will stay on the Agenda in the Planning & Economic Development Committee. The Committee meets on Mondays at 1:00 p.m.

Resolution No. 244-2023 requesting that the Summit County Fiscal Officer make an advanced payment of tax funds for tax year 2023 payable in 2024 to the City of Akron Treasury Division; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes 11, Nays: 0 (Connor & Freeman were absent). Ohio Revised Code Section 321.34 authorizes local authorities to receive an advancement of local funds and/or taxes from the county fiscal auditor when the local authority requests such advancement through resolution.

Ordinance No. 248-2023 authorizing the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, requesting and receiving Requests for Proposals (RFPs), requesting and receiving quotes and/or self-performing work for construction of Firestone Stadium Batting Cages and Bullpens; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes 11, Nays: 0 (Connor & Freeman were absent). This project consists of installing batting cages and bullpens at the Firestone Stadium facility to meet OHSAA and NCAA standards for tournament play. This project was included in this year's Capital Budget. State Championships are held here, the MAC tournament will be back in May and the GMAC, which is a smaller division college tournament will be held there. These will also be rented out to non-City teams, which will generate revenue to upkeep the maintenance. Service Director Chris Ludle explained the positive investment here.

Remember...

You can see all the legislation discussed during the meeting at: https://onlinedocs.akronohio.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/

Technology Upgrades to Chambers

If you attended the meetings in person on Monday or watched on YouTube, you were the first to experience the technology upgrades in Council Chambers. The new screens, cameras, and updated audio system provide a better experience for all.

There is also a screen outside of Chambers in the event of exceeding the maximum number of occupants in Council Chambers.

Council and Council staff extend their gratitude to the team that worked hard to make these upgrades happen.

As with any new technology, there is a learning process. Staff would like to thank everyone for their patience as we learn these new systems to provide a better experience for you.

Public Comment Period

We are excited to announce a new and improved process to participate in the Public Comment Period. This new process will allow speakers to sign up directly from their computer or mobile device from anywhere instead of filling out paper forms.

For those that do not have a mobile device /computer to utilize, or need additional assistance, Council staff will be available in person before the meeting.

The sign-up form is available here.

Signing up is a requirement of Council Rules, similar to other bodies. The only change from our previous sign-up procedure is that we made the process digital!

Akron Riparian Setbacks

In August, the City of Akron released a draft ordinance focused on the preservation and maintenance of the lands surrounding our rivers and streams, known as riparian buffers. Feedback was received until September 8, 2023.

This legislation is expected to come to Council soon. If Akron passes this ordinance, the city would join many other Ohio cities who already have riparian setbacks including: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo and Youngstown. We would also join local municipalities such as: Tallmadge, Green, Cuyahoga Falls, Richfield, Barberton, Stow, and Coventry.

View the full Press Release here or view the draft ordinance here.

Eligible Households of Ward 3, Ward 4, and Ward 5:

Akron City Council is Reopening the Application Process

for 35 Unclaimed Doorbell Cameras

Application Process will reopen on

Friday, September 15th, 2023,

from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Supplies are limited. There is a limit of one camera per household. Previous recipients need not re-apply. Applications will be accepted until the 35 eligible households have been identified and approved.

Both homeowners and renters are eligible to apply. Renters will be required to submit a landlord attestation in conjunction with the program application to be considered for a camera. The attestation can be found at: https://bit.ly/landlordattestation.

Read the full Press Release and submit an application here.

Remember that the application link will not be active until

Friday, September 15th.

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

If you have a specific city issue that you'd like to see resolved (a pothole, water leak, tree down, missed trash collection, etc.), you can enter it in the online system or call 311.

Upcoming Open Comment Public Hearings

Up for Public Hearing September 18, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a four-unit apartment at 642 E. Wilbeth Road; and declaring an emergency.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a tree service business at 2514 East Avenue; and declaring an emergency.

Up for Public Hearing September 25, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a solid fence and carport at 2015 13^th St SW; and declaring an emergency.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an attached garage addition at 2232 Goodyear Boulevard; and declaring an emergency.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a parking lot at 921 Cordova Avenue for the Maple Valley Resource Center at 1474 Copley Road; and declaring an emergency.

Up for Public Hearing October 2, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish an auto repair business at 1152 Grant Street; and declaring an emergency.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an oversized garage at 677 Cuyahoga Street; and declaring an emergency.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to place an oversized pole sign at 725 S. Canton Road; and declaring an emergency.

***

Notices are posted on our website at least 15 days prior to the meeting date.

If the Ordinance is a Conditional Use (Zoning measure), a notice is also mailed to the owners and residents of property within, contiguous to, and directly across the street from the property involved in the Ordinance (per Charter Section 34). Notice is also published in the Akron Beacon Journal.

You do not need to fill out any forms to participate. You may attend in person in Council Chambers or remotely via videoconference.

Those wishing to attend remotely need to notify the Clerk of Council as outlined in the meeting notice in order to receive the information to join remotely.

Akron Safe Pledge Program

Akron City Council has launched the Akron Safe Pledge Program to provide funding for creating a safe dining experience during a rise in COVID-19 cases this season.

For more information on how to apply, visit:

Akron City Council Announces $250,000 Akron Safe Pledge Program Akron Ci ty Council.