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Akron City Council
Weekly Legislative Spotlight
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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
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Legislative Highlights From Monday, October 7, 2024
Ordinance No. 344-2024 authorizing the Director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development to enter into an agreement or agreements with local agencies to carry out the Emergency Solutions Grant Program for program year 2024 authorizing payment therefor; all in furtherance with Mayor Malik’s objective of supporting local emergency and transitional homeless shelters to provide shelter and supportive services to homeless individuals and families and to prevent an individual or family from moving into an emergency shelter through housing prevention, relocation and stabilization services; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.
Ordinance No. 352-2024 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to apply for and, if awarded, accept and expend grant funding from the Department of Justice FY 2024 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG); and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.
Ordinance No. 356-2024 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to apply for and, if awarded, expend grant funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling (SWIFR) Grant Program to support the Akron Public Work’s Yard Waste, Organics, and Recycling Kampaign (Yard WORK) program and to enter into a grant agreement or agreements with the EPA; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. This program is proposing innovative solutions for the collection, diversion and re-use of organic materials such as leaves, yard waste, tree debris, and organic material from street sweeping to support a circular economy. You can hear from City representatives about this program by viewing the Public Service Committee meeting here.
Remember...
You can see all the legislation discussed during the meeting at: https://onlinedocs.akronohio.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/
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No Council Meeting
Monday, October 14th
City Offices Closed
City offices will be closed on Monday, October 14, 2024, in observance of Italian-American Heritage and Culture Day.
In 2020, Council passed Resolution No. 184-2020 recognizing and declaring the second Monday in October as Italian-American Heritage and Culture Day in the City of Akron to honor the Italian-American Community's history, culture, and contributions to the City of Akron and Summit County.
Council, without infringing on the rights of the Italian-American community to continue its traditions and celebrations, encourages other governmental bodies, businesses, organizations, and public institutions to similarly recognize the second Monday in October as Italian-American Heritage and Culture Day, rather than Columbus Day.
There is no delay in trash collection. View the full 2024 Trash & Recycling schedule here.
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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!
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Check out the calendar on
Council's website for
upcoming Ward Meetings!
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Early Voting
Early voting is available! To avoid traffic congestion at the Early Vote Center and the Ballot Drop Box for the 2024 General Election, the Summit County Board of Elections is instituting several changes and new traffic patterns.
View the information from the Summit County Board of Elections here.
Please call the Board at 330-643-5200 with any questions.
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City of Akron to Celebrate Trick or Treat on
Saturday, October 26th
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 the Akron City Council ordinance, “Trick or Treat Night” in the City of Akron is recognized on the last Saturday in October from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Throughout Akron, several Halloween-themed events are happening all month long!
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Downtown Akron Partnership’s 3rd Annual Akron Fall Festival (Saturday, Oct. 19 from 4 pm -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.
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Akron Children’s Museum Hands-on Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 am-3:30 pm) – 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.
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Boo at the Zoo with the Akron Zoo (Oct. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 from 11 am-7 pm) – 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.
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Your Council Representative
Is Available to Serve You!
There are several ways to reach your Ward Representative:
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Upcoming Open Comment
Public Hearings
Up for Public Hearing October 21, 2024
5:00 p.m. Special Meeting:
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a second driveway at 1395 Superior Avenue.
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a commercial garage at 629 Flora Avenue (Parcel No. 6830969).
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a dual-use cannabis cultivation and processing facility at 1055 Home Avenue.
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a dual-use cannabis dispensary at 10 S. Canton Road.
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a dual-use cannabis cultivation facility at 1956 S. Main Street.
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a dual-use cannabis processing facility at 844 E. Tallmadge Avenue.
Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a dual-use cannabis dispensary at 1568 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.
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Please Help Us Get The Word Out!
Enjoying the Legislative Spotlight?
Why not share it with your friends and neighbors? The QR code will take them directly to the sign-up page on our website.
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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.
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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.
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CHARTER SECTION 34
Procedure of Council
"...When considering an ordinance or resolution changing the use area, and/or height classification of any zoning district, or any building line, or granting a conditional use in any zoning district, Council shall not act until it has held a public hearing on such legislation. Council shall give public notice not less than fifteen (15) days before the date of the required hearing. The Clerk shall provide notice of such public hearing by first class mail to owners and residents of property within, contiguous to, and directly across the street from property involved in the ordinance, and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city."
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You can view the Rules of Procedure for Akron City Council here.
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Are You a New Legislative Spotlight Subscriber?
You can see past issues of the
Legislative Spotlight on our website.
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Margo Sommerville, President
166 S. High Street, 3rd Floor
Akron, OH 44308
www.akroncitycouncil.org
(330) 375 - 2256
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