Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2026 Issue #17

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From the Desk of

Akron City Council President

Greetings!

Akron is moving — and you deserve a front-row seat.

Welcome to the Akron City Council Legislative Spotlight, your direct line to the decisions, debates, and developments happening right now at City Hall. No fluff. No runaround. Just the real work your Council is doing — for you, your block, and this city we all call home.

What’s Inside This Issue

Every Spotlight is packed with what matters most:

Legislative Updates — The ordinances and resolutions on the table, and what they mean for your daily life.

Council in Action — Your representatives, ward by ward, fighting for the neighborhoods that make Akron great.

Akron Community Hub — Local events, community news, and ways to make your voice heard.

Why It Matters

City Hall shouldn’t feel like a mystery. When you know what’s happening, you can shape what comes next. Informed neighbors become engaged neighbors — and engaged neighbors build stronger communities.

Whether we’re talking infrastructure, public safety, housing, or economic opportunity, the Spotlight keeps you plugged in and ready to act.

One Small Ask

If this newsletter speaks to you, share it. Forward it to a neighbor. Post it on your block’s Facebook group. Tag a friend who needs to know what’s happening in Akron. And if someone shared this with you — subscribe here so you never miss an issue.

Now — let’s get into it. Here’s what your Council has been up to.

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, May 11, 2026

Ordinance No. 130-2026 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, with the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition for operations assistance and maintenance services at the Summit Lake Shore Park; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. Learn more about the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition here.

Resolution No. 135-2026 expressing support for House Bill 58, as passed by the Ohio House of Representatives February 25, 2026 by a 92-0 vote, which creates state certification of Recovery Housing Residences, as well as a state Recovery Housing Task Force, and strengthens oversight of community addiction service providers, which City Council finds to be desperately needed; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Resolution No. 136-2026 condemning the United States Supreme Court's April 29, 2026 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, No. 24-109, which weakens the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and threatens the equal voting rights of Akron residents and Americans nationwide; urging the United States Congress to act to restore and strengthen federal voting rights protections; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Resolution No. 140-2026 approving and confirming the appointment by Akron City Council of Jennifer Boswell and Tamara Brooks to the Akron Citizens' Police Oversight Board, as established by Charter Section 68a; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. The Citizens' Police Oversight Board (CPOB) is composed of nine residents of Akron, Ohio. Three members are appointed by the City of Akron Mayor with the approval of the City Council, and the other six are appointed by a two-thirds majority vote of the City Council. Furthermore, no more than two members can come from the same ward. Learn more about the board and their meetings here.

The following legislation was introduced to the Public Service, Public Utilities, & Green Committee:

ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a development, community benefit, and service agreement, and related documents or instruments, with Waste Management of Ohio, Inc. and/or any of its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, in order to provide for the redevelopment real property and establishment of a new waste and recycling transfer station in Akron; and declaring an emergency. Read the City's full press release here. You can watch the presentation given to the committee here.

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!

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

May 18, 2026

5:00 p.m. Special Meeting

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a housing development at Exeter Road and Ericsson Avenue (PN 6762680).

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a towing operation and impound lot at 1065 Dublin Street.

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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flyer with a cell phone stating to call 311- Your one call to city hall.

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.