Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2026 Issue #20

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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, June 8, 2026

Ordinance No. 162-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with the Akron International Soapbox Derby for the City of Akron to provide funding for operational support for planning and implementation of the 2026 Akron International Soap Box Derby; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Lombardo abstained). Learn more about the Soap Box Derby here.

Resolution No. 172-2026 declaring it necessary to improve certain streets in the City, between certain termini, by providing street-cleaning services and street lighting; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Lombardo abstained). The assessment rates have remained unchanged since 2014. Property owners may file objections for consideration by the Assessment Equalization Board. The jurisdiction of the board is limited to determining (1) whether the property has been benefited by the improvement(s), and (2) whether the amount of the assessment is a proper apportionment of those benefits. The board cannot consider whether the project is necessary or revise the nature or the scope of the project, because City Council has already conclusively decided those matters. If you have questions about the special assessments, you may call the City Assessor at 330-375-2484.

Ordinance No. 175-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, with Community Hall Foundation dba Akron Civic Theater to provide professional services for the management of the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Lombardo abstained). Read the City's Press Release about the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival here. For more information and a full schedule please visit www.akrondancefestival.org.

Ordinance No. 176-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the County of Summit for animal control services provided by the Executive’s Division of Animal Control, for a two-year term, for the period of January 01, 2026 to December 31, 2027, with two options to renew for an additional two-year term; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 9, Nays: 4 (Greer, Hannah, Kammer & Lombardo).

Remember...

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

Civic Assembly on Housing

The Housing & Neighborhood Assistance Committee had a meaningful and energizing June 8th meeting, welcoming guests from Unify Akron to share the fruits of months of hard community work.

The 2026 Unify Akron Civic Assembly brought together randomly selected, representative Akron residents united around one shared mission: housing. From March through May 2026, delegates deepened their understanding of housing challenges in our city, honored each other’s diverse perspectives, and thoughtfully deliberated a dozen Community Proposals. Their preliminary report details those community proposals alongside the real benefits, honest tradeoffs, and guidance the delegates worked hard to develop together.

What’s particularly affirming? Council’s commitment was already in motion. The operating budget includes an allocation of additional funds to increase the number of housing inspectors citywide — an investment made before the Unify Akron report was released. That the report aligns with this direction is a powerful confirmation that Council and community are moving together toward the same goals: safer homes, stronger neighborhoods, and better support for residents across Akron.

Council looks forward to continuing this important conversation.

View the presentation to the committee here. Learn more about Unify Akron here.

flyer advertising the pools at Perkins Park and Reservoir Park

Check out the calendar on

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upcoming Ward Meetings!

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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

June 15, 2026

5:00 p.m.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a day care business center at 943 Springdale Street.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to install digital signage over the height limitation at 1 S. High Street.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a parking lot at 921 Cordova Avenue.

Ordinance approving the Lincoln-Mill Redevelopment Plan.

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.

President:

The member of Council who presides over Council and its meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall be the presiding officer. In the absence of both the President and the Vice President the President Pro Tem shall be the presiding officer.