Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2023 Issue #33

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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 the Council's Legislative Spotlight.

We hope that you are enjoying the wealth of information being shared with you each week.

We share highlights from the Council's legislative agenda from the previous Monday's Committee and Council meetings. 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, October 30, 2023

Ordinance No. 311-2023 authorizing the Director of Public Service or his designee to execute the Consent Legislation with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the resurfacing of Route 8; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Holland absent) This is for resurfacing of Route 8 from the Route 8 Bridge to Graham Road.

Ordinance No. 312-2023 authorizing the Mayor or his designee to apply for, and if awarded, to accept and expend the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Safety Intervention Grant for a portable traffic signal; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Holland absent) The portable automated traffic signal would be used for traffic control in work zones.

Ordinance No. 319-2023 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to apply for, and if granted, enter into agreements with the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) for the Akron Water Resiliency Plan Update project; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Holland absent) This plan update is to promote and maintain the integrity of the water supply system.

Ordinance No. 321-2023 authorizing a Conditional Use to place an oversized pole sign at 725 S. Canton Road; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Holland absent) This public hearing was held 10/2/2023. A Substitute Offered as an Amendment was read in on 10/30/2023 to include additional conditions.

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Council held a public hearing on the East Market Street Urban Overlay Area. The Planning & Economic Development Committee requested Time. Neighborhood Network will be sharing information at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 7th at 6:00 p.m. at Family of Faith United Methodist Church (800 E. Market Street). See information about Neighborhood Network here . Information will also be shared at the Ward 10 meetings on Wednesday, November 15th. The 12:30 p.m. meeting will be held at Reservoir Park and the 6:00 p.m. meeting will be held at the Goodyear Branch Library.

The Riparian Ordinance is still in the Planning & Economic Development Committee and is expected to be considered soon.

Remember...

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

Issue 17

A levy that will fund the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board and critical services for more than 5,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities for the years 2025-2030.

Summit DD has operated for 17 years without an increase in revenue, while serving 30% more people. See these Frequently Asked Questions.

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 November 13, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an outdoor advertising display on the east side of Sumner Street, south of I-76.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a Type A daycare business center at 493 S. Canton Road.

Up for Public Hearing November 20, 2023:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an oversized detached garage with a home office at 2280 Tinkham Road.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to vary the required side yard setback to construct an addition at 2259 Cross Creek Trail.

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Notices are posted on our website at least 15 days before the meeting.

Suppose the Ordinance is a Conditional Use (Zoning measure). In that case, 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). Notices are also published in the Akron Beacon Journal.

You do not need to fill out any forms to participate. You're able to 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.

Public Comment Period

Those that wish to participate in the public comment period of a regular Council meeting need to submit a public comment form.

The sign-up form is available here.

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.

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!

CHARTER SECTION 29.

QUALIFICATIONS OF COUNCILMEN.

Members of the Council shall be electors of the Municipality. They shall not hold any other public office except as a notary public or in connection with the State military service and shall not be interested in the profits or emoluments of any contract, job, work or service for the Municipality. Any member who shall cease to possess any of the qualifications herein required shall forthwith forfeit his office; and any such contract in which any member is or may become interested may be declared void by the Council. Any member of Council who shall have been convicted of a felony while in office shall thereby forfeit his office. Each Councilman shall take the oath of office not later than the last Council meeting in December following his election.

(V 97 p 487; Approved by voters Sept. 12, 1967)

You can view the Rules of Procedure for Akron City Council here.