Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #35

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Welcome to our new subscribers. We are glad 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 subscription 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, 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, November 18, 2024

ORDINANCE NO. 398-2024 authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract or contracts with the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce to provide economic and neighborhood development, marketing and promotional services for the purposes of job creation, investment, retention and expansion of existing companies in the City of Akron; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Davis absent). You can view the information provided to the Planning & Economic Development Committee here.

ORDINANCE NO. 399-2024 ratifying the actions of the Director of Public Service in contracting with Cardinal Environmental for emergency services to restore residential basements after the August 2024 storm event; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Davis absent).

RESOLUTION NO. 410-2024 approving and confirming the appointment of Gabriel Forte, Brittany Robinson, Patrick Gsellman, and Jacqui Ricchiuti, and the reappointment of Patricia Wyatt, as members of the Akron Tree Commission; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. (Davis absent). On October 28, 2024, Council passed Ordinance No. 371-2024 to increase the number of members of the Tree Commission.

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!

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

Akron City Council

attends the

National League of Cities Conference

From November 12th to November 16th, several members of Akron City Council traveled to the National League of Cities Summit and Centennial Celebration to learn from colleagues across the nation and hone their skills to serve the citizens of Akron better.

Attending were: Council President Margo Sommerville, At-Large Councilman Jeff Fusco, At-Large Councilman Eric Garrett, At-Large Councilwoman Linda Omobien, Council Clerk Sara Bivano, and Chief of Staff Joan M. Williams.

While there we have an opportunity to have a spirited conversation about public safety with the City of Akron's Youth Opportunity Strategist Denico Buckley-Knight and Public Safety Strategist Tony Ingram.

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

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.

This brief video demonstrates how to fill out the form.

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.