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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 Akron City Council's Legislative Spotlight subscription.


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 13, 2025



Resolution No. 8-2025 honoring the life of Mary L. Lombardo and expressing condolences and sympathy to her family on her recent passing; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Garrett absent). Mary was an excellent florist as well as an integral member of several community organizations and societies. The members of Akron City Council mourn with the Lombardo family and extends their deepest condolences.


Resolution No. 13-2025 supporting the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge of AT&T’s Tariff Application at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Garrett absent). The Tariff Application proposes tariff changes which will require municipalities in which AT&T is located in the municipality's public right of way to pay the full cost of any relocation or undergrounding of AT&T's facilities, regardless of the reason for the relocation. Any challenges to the application must be filed prior to January 17, 2025 to allow the PUCO to pause the automatic approval process.


Ordinance No. 14-2025 amending Title 11, “Business Regulations,” Chapter 111, “Regulations Governing Specific Businesses,” Article 1, “Ambulances and Emergency Medical Services,” Section 111.008 “Charges for emergency medical services and other public safety services,” of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Akron; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Garrett absent). This updates the charges to better reflect current costs associated with Akron EMS transport and life-support services.


The Budget & Finance Committee received an ARPA update. You can view that presentation here.


Remember...

                                   

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


Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day


Council will not be meeting on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.


Municipal Offices will be closed and there is a one day trash delay.

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.


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


  • View the January 6th Review Session here.
  • View the January 13th Review Session here.


An open comment public hearing will take place on January 27th during the Special meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Your Council Representative

Is Available to Serve You!


There are several ways to reach your Ward Representative:



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 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.

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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.


Legislation: 


An official act of Council that takes the form of either an ordinance or a resolution.



***


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

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Legislative Spotlight on our website.

 Akron City Council

Margo Sommerville, President

166 S. High Street, 3rd Floor

Akron, OH 44308

www.akroncitycouncil.org

(330) 375 - 2256

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