Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2025 Issue #39

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From the Desk of

Akron City Council President

Greetings!

A Warm Welcome to This Week’s Edition of the Council’s Legislative Spotlight!

Hello Friends, Neighbors, and Engaged Citizens,

As the year gently winds down and the holiday season fills our hearts and homes, I’m delighted to welcome you to this edition of the Legislative Spotlight. While we prepare for a brief council recess, our commitment to keeping you informed never takes a holiday.

Why the Spotlight Still Matters - Even During The Season

Our purpose remains the same: to keep you informed, educated, and civically engaged. Each edition of the Spotlight is designed to shine a light on:

Legislative Updates: The latest actions and developments from your City Council.
Council Business: Clear and simple explanations of how council work is done, so you stay in the know.
Akron Facts & Events: Highlights about our great city and upcoming community happenings where you can stay connected and involved.

We truly believe that an informed resident is an empowered resident—during every season of the year.

Stay Engaged, Be Proud, and Share the Spirit of Civic Pride!

As we reflect on the year and look toward a new one, we encourage you to remain proud and engaged in the legislative life of the City of Akron. This is your city, and your voice continues to matter—now and always.

To stay connected in real time and keep the conversation going through the holidays, we invite you to follow our Facebook page and share this Spotlight with friends, family, and neighbors.

Thank you for being an important part of this work and this community. Wishing you a joyful, peaceful holiday season—and now, let’s take a look at the latest updates!

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, December 1, 2025

Ordinance No. 389-2025 authorizing the reopening of DRK Partners, LLC’s petition for Conditional Use to allow the Planning Commission to consider its modified plan; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. Council declined the petition for Conditional Use on February 24, 2025. Council Rule 6.18 states that if Zoning changes, requests for zoning changes, or Conditional Zonings are rejected or withdrawn after a public hearing before Council, these shall not be considered again for twenty-four (24) months, unless a majority of Council vote to consider such request prior to the expiration of the 24-month period. DRK Partners, LLC has modified its parking plan, which is now consistent with a forty-foot setback from nearby homes and includes a landscape buffer, and seeks authorization from the Council to reopen its request for Conditional Use so that the Planning Commission can consider its modified plan.

Ordinance No. 395-2025 approving the addition of property located in Copley Township, Summit County Parcels 1505630, 1504125, and 1504082, to the Copley-Akron Joint Economic Development District on a temporary basis during construction; authorizing the Mayor or his designed to amend the Copley-Akron JEDD Agreement to include Summit County Parcels 1505630, 1504125, and 1504082 on a temporary basis; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 1 (Wilson). These properties will be added to the JEDD on a temporary basis during construction and each subdivided property/lot will be removed from the JEDD once an occupancy permit is issued.

Ordinance No. 396-2025 authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into an agreement with Summit County for the boarding of City of Akron Prisoners; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 1 (Wilson). The City has contracted in the past with Summit County to incarcerate prisoners who are charged and convicted of violations of City ordinances in the Summit County Jail.

Remember...

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

Council Representatives Fran Wilson (Ward 1) and Bruce Bolden (Ward 8) were sworn in at Monday's meeting by Judge Kani Hightower.

Check out the calendar on

Council's website for

upcoming Ward Meetings!

The City of Akron is launching a new CodeRED Mass Notification System to help keep residents informed.

Learn more 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.

Upcoming Open Comment

Public Hearings

December 8, 2025

5:00 p.m. Special Meeting

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a warehouse and distribution center at 2322 Manchester Road.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to place a digital outdoor advertising display on McIntosh Avenue, adjacent to Interstate 277.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to retain a solid fence within the Emmons Avenue and Ardendale Avenue setbacks at 110 Emmons Avenue.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to retain a three unit apartment house at 151 Ruckel Road.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a gas station/convenience store, two-bay car wash and truck parking area at 1805 E. Market Street.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to place oversized directional way-finding signage within the building line setback at 350 Opportunity Parkway.

Notices are posted on our website.

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). These 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 "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.