Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2026 Issue #23

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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 29, 2026

Ordinance No. 213-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, with Youth Success Summit to support the organization’s operations, coordinate activities for after-school and summer programming providers, and deliver technical assistance and coaching to programs serving Akron’s youth; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. View the presentation given during the June 22nd Parks & Recreation Committee here.

Resolution No. 214-2026 expressing the opposition of the City of Akron to House Bill 249 and affirming the City’s commitment to the dignity, safety, and equal treatment of LGBTQ+ residents; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. This resolution states that Akron welcomes and values residents of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions and urges the Ohio Senate to reject legislation that targets or marginalizes transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and LGBTQ+ Ohioans. In addition to affirming the City’s support for transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and LGBTQ+ residents, the resolution calls on state leaders to pursue policies that protect the rights and equal treatment of all Ohioans.

Resolution No. 215-2026 expressing the sincere sympathy and condolences of the City of Akron to the family and loved ones of former Councilman Warner Mendenhall on the occasion of his passing; expressing appreciation for his decades of dedicated service to the Akron community; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. Warner Mendenhall served on Akron City Council from 1992-1995. His service on City Council inspired him to attain his Law Degree from the University of Akron in 1998, after which he founded the Mendenhall Law Firm. Warner’s law practice found him fighting for the underdog and against powerful interests in the best spirit of the legal profession. Warner also founded Freedom Counsel, an organization dedicated to helping lawyers, experts, and citizens understand and address government overreach, corporate misconduct, and systemic shortcomings.

Ordinance No. 216-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of advertising for bids, with Minority Behavioral Health Group for a one-year term for the purpose of operating the Street Team Program (Credible Messengers Initiative); and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 13, Nays: 0. View the presentation about the program given to the Budget & Finance Committee on June 22nd here. The Committee placed this item on the Consent Agenda, though it was pulled from the Consent Agenda by President Sommerville prior to the June 29th meeting and a Substitute Offered as an Amendment that increased the funding was introduced and passed.

Remember...

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

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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

July 13, 2026

5:00 p.m.

Ordinance approving the 2026 Consolidated Plan Annual Action Plan for the City’s Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership and Emergency Solutions Grant Programs.

Ordinance amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code”, Article 17 “Unified Planned Development District-Class UPD” of the Code of Ordinances, City of Akron, 2004, to amend developmental standards.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to install additional signage at 1960 W. Market Street; and declaring an emergency.

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.

Consent Agenda:

One or more ordinances and/or resolutions that can be acted on at one time under a single motion. Per Council Rules, any member may remove an item from the Consent Agenda before the beginning of the meeting.

This video explains more!