Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2025 Issue #1

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Happy New Year! 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, January 6, 2025

Ordinance No. 2-2025 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, for topsoil and grass-seed installation as part of the 2025 Lawn Restoration Program; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. The project will include the installation of temporary and permanent topsoil and grass seed to cover excavations within the City of Akron Water and Sewer service area.

Ordinance No. 3-2025 amending and/or supplementing Title 15, “Land Usage,” Chapter 153, “Zoning Code,” Sections 153.110, “Certificates of occupancy,” 153.130, “Enforcement,” 153.140, “Definitions,” 153.150, “Notice of violation and order to comply,” 153.199, “Penalty,” 153.412, “Appeals from Superintendent’s decision,” and 153.422, “Transmission to planning staff and Superintendent,” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Akron; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 4-2025 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into an agreement or agreements with Premier Truck Sales and Rental, Inc., without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, for the lease of 26 packer trucks over a 36-month period; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. This lease agreement will replace 22 side arm packers and 4 rear load packers in the Sanitation Division every 18 months. This agreement will cover 2 cycles (or 36 months). This will result in significant operational cost savings by preventing the need to repair an aging fleet.

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

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. The first review session was held on Monday, January 6th. You can view it here. The second session will be held Monday, January 13th in Council Chambers at 3:30 p.m. An open comment public hearing will take place on January 27th during the Special meeting at 5:00 p.m. These will be livestreamed on YouTube.

You can review the proposed budget that was provided to Council on December 30th here.

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

January 13th, 2025

During 6:30 p.m. Regular Meeting

Resolution approving the renewal application of Mary Politz to have agricultural property at 1661 Dreisbach Drive placed in an agricultural district pursuant to Revised Code Section 929.01.

January 27th, 2025

During 5:00 p.m. Special Meeting

Resolution adopting the 2025 Capital Investment and Community Development Program, legally referred to as the Capital Investment Budget.

Ordinance approving the Glendale Avenue Redevelopment Plan.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a Type A daycare home at 1075 Lane Street.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a tire sales and repair shop at 1475 Massillon Road.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a Type A daycare home at 934 Reed 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 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!

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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.

Chairperson:

The member of Council who presides over a particular committee and its meetings. In the absence of the chairperson the vice-chairperson shall preside over the committee.

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