Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #3

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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 your commitment to staying informed and engaged through your continued subscribership to Akron City 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.

We encourage you to stay connected and abreast of the issue before 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, January 29, 2024

Resolution No. 11-2024 acknowledging Akron Police Detective Larry Rhodaback for his heroism displayed in saving a life; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. On January 11th, Detective Rhodaback saved the life of a 23-month-old girl who was unconscious and was not breathing. He contacted 911 to activate EMS and began CPR. It was discovered later at the hospital that the child had ingested fentanyl. Detective Rhodaback's dedication to his duties and to the City of Akron help make Akron a safer community.

Resolution No. 12-2024 appointing Samuel DeShazior to fill the vacancy in the Akron City Council Ward 1 position until a new Ward 1 representative can be elected at the next regularly scheduled primary and general elections at which all electors of the City are eligible to vote; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 19-2024 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to apply for and expend (if awarded), accept and expend the United States Department of Transportation for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 21-2024 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts for construction and professional services related to renovations of an addition on the Reservoir Park Community Center; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. Open Houses will be held at Reservoir Park on February 6th from 12:30- 1:30 p.m. and 6:00- 7:00 p.m.

The Health & Social Services Committee met to hear from Summa representatives regarding the proposed sale. You can view this discussion here.

The second Capital Budget review session was held this week. View the full presentation here. See a brief overview of the Capital Budget here. Per Charter, Council must pass the Capital Budget by February 15th each year.

Remember...

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

Council Hard At Work!

On Saturday, January 27th, Council held its retreat at the Bounce Innovation Hub.

A wealth of information was shared by several departments.

Council would like to thank the staff members from Public Service, Neighborhood Assistance, Akron Police Department, Law, Planning, and Finance for joining us and sharing their knowledge.

The city is blessed to have such a fine group of public servants.

The City of Akron is developing plans for several roadway safety improvements on North Main Street between the All-America Bridge and the High-Level Bridge over the Gorge (northern city limit). This safety project is a result of years of study and public engagement, beginning with Akron Better Block in 2015. Read more here .

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

Your Councilperson Is Available

to Serve You!

There are several ways to reach your Ward Representative:

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

Upcoming Open Comment Public Hearings

Up For Public Hearing February 5, 2024:

(during 5:00 p.m. Special Meeting)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a laundromat at 147 N. Arlington Street. (PC-2023-49-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a Type A daycare home at 782 Bellevue Avenue. (PC-2023-60-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a charter high school at 375 W. North Street. (PC-2023-57-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a gas station and convenience store at 1526 Vernon Odom Boulevard.(PC-2023-65-CU)

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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.

Please Help Us Get The Word Out!

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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.

Suspension of the Rules:

Allows Council, upon a two-thirds vote, to temporarily suspend or set aside the Rules of Procedure for Council. This motion is most commonly used to pass legislation as an emergency.

Declaring an Emergency:

Allows Council to dispense with the requirement that a piece of legislation be read at three separate Council meetings, and allows the legislation to go into effect earlier than 30 days from passage of the legislation.

You can view the Rules of Procedure

for Akron City Council here.