Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2026 Issue #18

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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 18, 2026

Ordinance No. 147-2026 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. Vote: Ayes 12, Nays: 1 (Hannah). Read the City's full press release here. You can watch the presentation given to the committee here.

Resolution No. 148-2026 approving and confirming the appointment of Victoria L. Ferrise as a member of the Human Resources Commission; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. The Human Resources Commission is governed by Akron City Charter Section 103 and is responsible for the development and interpretation of the Human Resources Commission Administrative Rules. The Commission consists of (3) three Commissioners who are appointed by the Mayor, with the consent of City Council, and serve three-year staggered terms. Commissioners hear disciplinary appeals.

Resolution No. 149-2026 approving and confirming the appointment of Scott Hardway as a member of the Human Resources Commission; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

Ordinance No. 153-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, with Akron Assurance Hospital DBA Summa Health to provide education and training necessary for Fire Division employees to achieve required paramedic certification; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0.

The Public Safety Committee received a presentation on the recently released PERF report. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is a nationally recognized policing research organization. Read the City's Press Release here and read the full report here. You can watch the Committee meeting here.

Remember...

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

President Sommerville, Tina Boyes, and Mayor Malik presenting a proclamation to Dan Rice

Congratulations Dan Rice!

Council was honored to recognize Dan Rice and congratulate him on his retirement. Dan has devoted more than three decades of visionary leadership and public service to preserving, promoting and advancing the historic, cultural and recreational assets of the Ohio & Erie Canalway. As a key leader of the Akron Civic Commons initiative, Dan Rice helped guide the transformation of Lock 3 Park, Ohio & Erie Canal Park, Summit Lake Park and the development of Summit Lake NorthShore Park, leveraging millions in public and private investment to create vibrant, accessible, and welcoming public spaces for residents and visitors alike. Dan Rice’s leadership, integrity, humility and dedication to public service have left a lasting legacy across the City of Akron and the entire Ohio & Erie Canalway corridor.

Municipal Offices closed for

Memorial Day

All City of Akron municipal offices will be closed for business on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. There will be no curb service on Monday, May 25. There will be a one-day delay of trash/recycle collections for the remainder of the week, with curb service resuming on Tuesday, May 26 and continuing through Saturday, May 30.

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

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.

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.

Open Comment Public Hearing:

When a hearing is held before Council or a committee of Council on a particular piece of legislation. Members of the public wishing to testify before Council at a public hearing are asked to first take an oath to swear or affirm that the testimony they will provide is the truth.

This video explains more.