Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #29

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Akron City Council

Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Welcome to our new subscribers. We are glad that you joined us! To our regular subscribers, welcome back! Thank you for continuing to receive our newsletter and your commitment to staying informed and engaged through your continued subscribing to Akron City Council's Legislative Spotlight.

We hope you enjoy the information shared each week, including 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.

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 23, 2024

Ordinance No. 338-2024 authorizing the Mayor to apply for, and if awarded, accept and expend the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program Capital Construction Grant offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation to reutilize the Innerbelt to reconnect West Hill to downtown Akron; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. The RCP Program Capital Construction Grant will provide funds to offset the costs of the design and construction of the initial phase of the Akron Innerbelt Master Plan, to include reconnecting the West Hill and Sherbondy Hill neighborhoods to Downtown jobs, hospitals, retail, and recreational amenities using Complete Streets elements such as bike lanes, improved pedestrian facilities, traffic calming measures, and additional street trees. Learn more about the history of the Innerbelt and the city's community engagement efforts here.

Resolution No. 339-2024 acknowledging the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act and expressing support therefor; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. The Violence Against Women Act, signed by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994, was the first federal legislation acknowledging domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes and provided federal resources to encourage community-coordinated responses to combating violence against women.

The Public Safety Committee received a presentation from Fire Chief Henderson regarding the recent changes to Ladder 9. You can view that presentation here. Former Chief Natko also presented to the Public Safety Committee on this topic on February 26, 2024. You can view that presentation here.

Remember...

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

Ring Doorbell Cameras

Each ward was allotted 300 cameras. The staff has worked hard to distribute these at ward meetings, before Council meetings, and during office hours. We're continually working through waitlists, so please make sure you check your email if you applied!

Updates to Glass Recycling Bin Program

The drop off program, which launched in September 2023, has turned the recycling of glass in the City of Akron from a costly expense to taxpayers into a revenue generator which is ensuring the city is more successfully recycling this material.

To further the success of the program, the city is changing locations of some under-utilized bins and adding a sixth bin location:

Akron’s Dog Park, 499 Memorial Parkway (pre-existing)
Goodyear Heights Metro Park, 1950 Eastwood (pre-existing)
Goodpark Golf Course, 530 Nome Ave (pre-existing)
New Location! Kenmore Community Center overflow lot, 880 Kenmore Blvd.
New Location! Joy Park Community Center, 825 Fuller St.
New Location! Firestone Metro Park Little Turtle Pond Lot, 2620 Harrington Rd.

These bins are being removed:

· Diamond Crystal Ballfield (2175 Edwin Ave.)

· Behind Spaghetti Warehouse (510 S. Main)

You can read the full press release here.

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

City of Akron to Celebrate Trick or Treat on Saturday, October 26

from 5-7 PM

The City of Akron’s annual Halloween celebration will take place on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Any Akron resident that wishes to participate in “Trick or Treat” can do so by turning on their porch or front lights between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. that evening. Akron Police will be on patrol and pay special attention to children and families walking throughout city neighborhoods.

According to Akron City Council ordinance, “Trick or Treat Night” in the City of Akron is always the last Saturday in October from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All throughout Akron, there are several Halloween-themed events happening all month long!

Downtown Akron Partnership’s 3^rd Annual Akron Fall Festival (Saturday, Oct. 19 from 4-7 p.m.) – There will be Trick or Treat vendors all along Main Street, a magician, performers, musicians, crafts, a visit from Captain America and Elsa, and more! Learn more here .
Akron Children’s Museum Hands on Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10am-3:30pm) – Join the Akron Children’s Museum for a spooktacular day filled with tasty treats, STEM activities, crafts, and a dance party! You can learn more and purchase tickets here.
Boo at the Zoo with the Akron Zoo (Oct. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 from 11am-7pm.) – No tricks, all treats! Put on your costume, grab a candy bag and head to the zoo for this extraordinary Halloween experience, presented by Acme Fresh Market. Purchase tickets and learn more here.

Your Council Representative

Is Available to Serve You!

There are several ways to reach your Ward Representative:

View their information on the Council's website .
Attend their ward meeting .
Call or email them.

Upcoming Open Comment

Public Hearings

Up for Public Hearing October 3, 2024

2:00 p.m. Special Meeting:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct and operate a refuse and recycling transfer station and trash hauling business at 1400 E. Archwood Avenue.

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.

Please Help Us Get The Word Out!

Enjoying the Legislative Spotlight?

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311- Akron's One Call to City Hall

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, call 311, or download

the new "MyAkron311" app.

The app is available for free on all Apple or Android devices in the app store.

After downloading, residents can create a profile, enter a service request, look up timely city information, and set up notifications specific to their address such as trash/recycling collection reminders.

Public Comment Period

A public comment period is held at each regularly scheduled Council meeting, where up to ten (10) members of the public may address Council on matters within Council's authority. No member of the public shall be permitted to address Council during the public comment period more than once every 30 days.

Those who wish to participate in the public comment period of a regular Council meeting need to submit a public comment form by 4:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting.

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 is available to help.

Signing up is a requirement of Council Rules, similar to other bodies.