Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #39

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, December 16, 2024

Ordinance No. 443-2024 authorizing the Director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development, or their designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with non-profit community development organizations, for the provision of neighborhood revitalization initiatives in order to carry out the intent and purpose of programs under the Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development for the year 2024; authorizing payment therefor; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 450-2024 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to apply for and, if awarded, accept and expend grant funds from the Ohio EPA Recycling Grant for the Akron Public Works Yard Waste, Organics, and Recycling Kurbside (Yard WORK) program; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 454-2024 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into an agreement or agreements with Downtown Akron Development Corporation to provide $50,000.00 per year for three years commencing in 2025 to support downtown economic and urban redevelopment initiatives; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 455-2024 authorizing the Director of Economic Development, or their designee, to enter into a contract with Akron Community Service Center and the Urban League, for the provision of operating the Minority Contractors Capital Access Program (MCCAP) to carry out the intent and purpose of programs under the Consolidated Plan for the year 2024; authorizing payment therefor; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

This legislation was introduced to the Public Safety Committee:

Ordinance authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without publicly advertising for bids, with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP for the provision of a comprehensive use of force and community engagement assessment for the Akron Police Department; and declaring an emergency. You can watch the meeting here. The Committee requested Time.

Council will resume regular meetings on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

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!

2025 Capital Budget Conversations

Recently, City of Akron Planning, Finance, and Mayor's Office staff have been making the rounds to ward meetings to discuss the 2025 Capital Budget. Residents have had an opportunity to hear how the process works and participate in an exercise that puts them in the driver seat of decision making about budget priorities. So far, they’ve visited Wards 6, 7, 4, 1,10, 3, 5, and 9. You can see the upcoming dates in the graphic above—anyone is welcome to attend, regardless of which ward you live in.

You can watch the livestream where an overview was given on what the Capital Budget is, the process to decide the budget, and some of the takeaways learned from the ward visits.

Per Charter, the Capital Budget must be submitted to Council prior to January 1st and it must be adopted prior to February 15th. Review Sessions will be held in Council Chambers at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, January 6th and Monday, January 13th. These will be livestreamed on YouTube.

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.

Each week, we will feature a different

City Council Member.

Be sure to check out upcoming issues of our legislative spotlight for more!

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 can 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, to receive the information to join remotely.

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.

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.

Rule 5.3

Speaking by Non-Members of Council

Any person may initially address Council concerning matters scheduled for public hearing during committee meetings and public hearings of Council. A person may comment on additional matters at a committee meeting if that person receives prior approval from the committee Chairperson.

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