Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #9

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Akron City Council

Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Happy Women's History Month. Join us in recognizing the importance and contributions of revolutionary women throughout history, and celebrating their stories.

Welcome to our new subscribers. We are so excited that you are joining 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 you are enjoying the wealth of information 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 want 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, March 18, 2024

Ordinance No. 84-2024 amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code”, Article 2 “Districts and Maps” and Article 5 “Accessory Uses in Residence Districts” by adding use districts to the Form-Based Zoning Code; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. The Public Hearing for Summit Lake rezoning was held on 3/11/2024. You can learn more about this rezoning here.

Resolution No. 93-2024 acknowledging the work that has been put into the creation of the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. Akron's Sojourner Truth Project and Legacy Plaza has made its way into the national spotlight as a project that highlights Women's History Month. Smithsonian magazine’s March edition features “The Remarkable Untold Story of Sojourner Truth.” The article focuses on Truth's life and legacy and also features her time in Akron, where she delivered her historic speech known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” You can watch the presentation given to the Parks & Recreation Committee here. Mark your calendar for May 29 for the official unveiling!

Resolution No. 94-2024 congratulating The University of Akron’s Men’s Basketball Team on winning the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

2024 Operating Budget

Council held Operating Budget Hearings last week. If you missed them live, they are available on our YouTube channel. You can view the budget and supporting documents in our Agenda Portal. Residents can also share their feedback or ask questions by visiting the city's engage page here .

The Final Appropriation Ordinance and Budget Resolution must be passed by March 31, 2024.

Remember...

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

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

Welcome Junior Leadership Akron!

Last week, Junior Leadership Akron Class 37 visited City Hall.

These area high school juniors explored city functions and offered ideas to real-world issues.

Our staff had a great time working with the students and conducting a mock Council meeting where these young leaders experienced being

the decision makers!

Learn more about the Junior Leadership Akron program here.

Cheri Prough was the first woman to be appointed Clerk of Council on a provisional basis.

Cheri began her career with the City on May 22, 1978. She progressed from a Clerk Typist to Council Aide to Deputy Clerk of Council.

She served as the Clerk of Council from February 13, 2006 until her retirement in December 2008.

When asked, she told us that her entire career was with Akron City Council and that it was such a privilege.

Sara Biviano was the first woman to be appointed Clerk of Council on a permanent basis.

She began her career with the City in July 2002. She progressed from a Clerical Intern to a Secretary I, II, and III, then from Council Aide to Deputy Clerk of Council.

She was unanimously appointed Clerk of Council on November 8, 2021.

She is Akron's first Clerk to achieve a Certified Municipal Clerk designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Solar Eclipse

Monday, April 8th

No Committee or Council meetings

The city will have a mix of community centers, parks, and one downtown location available as viewing sites to help folks enjoy the eclipse no matter where they are. Downtown city services will be limited in person after noon on April 8. View all of the City of Akron’s Eclipse Viewing Sites here.

Visit the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau site for a list of other eclipse events happening around the Akron area.

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 March 25, 2024:

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

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct additional parking at 2330 Smith Road.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to expand an auto salvage business at 1483 Triplett Boulevard.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to place an off-premises hi-rise sign at 1570 Frederick Boulevard.

***

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?

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.

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.

Point of Information:

A point of information is a request by a member of Council to the Presiding Officer requesting additional information relevant to the business at hand. The Presiding Officer shall direct the request to the appropriate person and all information shall be exchanged through the Presiding Officer in order to maintain decorum. (Rule 4.13)

You can view the Rules of Procedure

for Akron City Council here.

Check out this glossary of terms from Signal Akron.