Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2025 Issue #41

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From the Desk of

Akron City Council President

Greetings!

Season's Greetings From

Akron City Council!

As we approach the close of another meaningful year and prepare to embrace the warmth of the holiday season, I’m pleased to welcome you to this special edition of the Legislative Spotlight.

Though Council will soon pause for a brief recess, our dedication to keeping you informed and engaged remains steadfast. The Legislative Spotlight continues to serve as your trusted source for updates, insights, and opportunities to stay connected with the work of your City Council.

Why the Spotlight Still Matters - Even During The Season

Each issue is crafted with purpose: to keep Akron residents informed, empowered, and civically involved. Here’s what you’ll find inside:

Legislative Updates: The look at recent Council actions and decisions .
Council Business: Clear explanations of how your Council operates and serves.
Akron Facts & Events: Community events, local facts and ways to stay involved in our vibrant city.

We truly believe that an informed residents build stronger communities —through every season .

Looking Ahead With Civic Pride!

As we reflect on the progress made in 2025 and look forward to the promise of a new year, we encourage you to stay proud, stay engaged, and continue sharing in the spirit of civic pride. Your voice matters—today, tomorrow, and always.

To stay connected during the holiday season, follow us on Facebook and share this Spotlight with your neighbors, friends, and family.

Thank you for being an essential part of Akron's story. Wishing you peace, joy , and a wonderful holiday season. Now, let's dive into the latest updates!

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, December 15, 2025

Ordinance No. 416-2025 authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into a contract or contracts with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns, & DeHaven, Inc., dba GPD Group, Inc., for redevelopment and operational expansion; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. GPD Group is an employee-owned architecture and engineering firm that employs 900 people across 14 offices. The company plans to add about 120 professional positions over the next five years. This development agreement addresses the purchase and renovation of Goodrich Buildings 24 and 25 and the Spaghetti Warehouse. You can read the City's full Press Release here.

Resolution No. 424-2025 amending Resolution No. 373-2023 to implement, supplement, and/or amend Rules 1.4, 2.3, 2.12, 3.1, 3.7, 4.8, 4.16, 5.4, 5.9, 5.10, 6.5, 7.3, 7.7, 7.8, 8.1, 8.3 and 9.3 of the “Rules of Procedure for Akron City Council;” and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 10, Nays: 3 (Garrett, Omobien, & Wilson). This legislation made some updates to the rules of procedure including updating terminology, adding requirements for the usage of Council logo, and combining Public Service, Public Utilities, & Green into one standing committee.

Ordinance No. 425-2025 amending Ordinance No. 107-2025, passed March 31, 2025, which established the annual appropriation for the current expenses, other expenditures and the capital outlays of the City of Akron for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025; and declaring an emergency. A Substitute Offered as an Amendment was read in. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 428-2025 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with Akron Community Development Association (ACDA), dba Minority Behavioral Health Group, for implementation of Akron’s Hospital-Linked Violence Intervention Program pilot; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. This is part of a citywide initiative to reduce violence through prevention, intervention, and recovery.

Resolution No. 431-2025 encouraging the City Administration to identify alternative solutions for saving the clock and/or clock tower portion of the former Firestone Plant 1, located at 1200 Firestone Parkway; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Council will resume regular meetings on January 5, 2026.

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!

The Parks & Recreation Committee welcomed guests from the Akron Public Art Commission.

The Akron Public Art Commission (APAC) has officially launched the Akron Public Art Inventory, a comprehensive, interactive database of over 700 pieces of public art and cultural items across the city. View the inventory here.

View their presentation to the Committee 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

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.

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 "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 2.9

Organizational Session of Council

An organizational session of Council shall occur during the first meeting of Council held in January of even numbered years. The Clerk of Council shall preside at the organizational session of Council until the President of Council is elected.

Rule 3.3

Selection of Committees

Immediately after the organizational meeting, and their election to Council leadership, the President, Vice-President, and President Pro-Tem shall meet to select the chairpersons, vice chairpersons, and other members of the standing committees. The President shall formally announce Council leadership's selections.

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