Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2026 Issue #8

Watch Meetings

Find My Ward

From the Desk of

Akron City Council President

Greetings!

Welcome to the Akron City Council Legislative Spotlight—your essential guide to staying informed, engaged, and connected to the legislative work driving our community forward.

This publication is designed to bridge the gap between City Hall and your front door, ensuring every resident is aware of the issues shaping our city and the deliberate actions your Council is taking to improve the lives of all Akronites.

Why the Spotlight Matters

We believe that an informed community is an empowered one. Each issue is carefully curated to provide you with transparency and clarity. Inside, you will find:

Legislative Updates: A breakdown of key ordinances, resolutions, and strategic initiatives.
Council in Action: Highlights of how your representatives are advocating for your interests in every ward.
Akron Community Hub: Local news, upcoming events, and direct opportunities for you to get involved.

Strong neighborhoods are built on communication and collaboration. By staying informed, you help us build a more resilient and vibrant Akron.

Looking Ahead

As we navigate the year’s challenges and opportunities, we do so with a clear vision and unwavering determination. From infrastructure and public safety to economic development and housing equity, our priority remains the same: moving Akron forward together.

Your perspective is vital to our success. We encourage you to remain an active partner in this journey—share your ideas, attend our meetings, and stay engaged with the process.

Stay Connected: Follow Akron City Council on Facebook and help us grow our reach by sharing this Spotlight with your neighbors, friends, and family.

Thank you for being a vital chapter in Akron’s ongoing story. Now, let’s dive into the latest updates from your City Council.

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, March 9, 2026

Ordinance No. 66-2026 authorizing a Conditional Use to expand the zoo on property south of Diagonal Road and east of Auldfarm Road (Parcel Nos. 6701439 and 6761223); and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 11, Nays: 0 (Davis & Kammer absent). Learn more about the Akron Zoo here.

Ordinance No. 69-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with Stryker Sales, LLC, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, for the purchase of three (3) LifePak35 cardiac monitors, equipment, and a four (4) year service plan; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Davis absent). The purchase will provide additional capacity for community events, large scale incidents, and allow for possible expansion. The department currently uses the same model and seeks to maintain uniformity.

Ordinance No. 71-2026 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids and/or obtaining quotes, as appropriate, for the purchase and installation of speed tables, solar signs, raised crosswalks, and other traffic calming interventions; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0 (Davis absent). Traffic calming measures help to ensure the safety and health of motorists, pedestrians, and City residents. Learn more about Traffic Calming here.

Remember...

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

2026 Operating Budget

The Operating Budget was introduced to the Budget & Finance Committee on Monday, March 9th. An overview was given, which you can watch here.

Council will hear from departments during Operating Budget Hearings next week.

These meetings will be held in Council Chambers and will be livestreamed on YouTube.

Citizens' Police Oversight Board

Akron City Council opened applications to fill the vacant seat on the

Citizens' Police Oversight Board.

Completed applications are due

via email to

citizenoversight@akronohio.gov

Friday, March 20, 2026 at 12:00 Noon.

See the full Press Release here.

flyer for The Aron Civic Assembly on Housing Opening Ceremony March 13 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Unify Akron

The Akron Civic

Assembly on Housing

Opening Ceremony

On Friday, March 13, 2026, Akron will be one of the first cities in Ohio to hold a Civic Assembly on Housing...and you're invited!

Visit http://eventbrite.com/.../civic-assembly-on-housing to RSVP and take your seat.

image depicting the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 14, 2026 stepping off at noon on Main Street downtown

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.

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.

Charter Section 28
Vacancy:

Upon a vacancy in the office of any Councilman where one-half or less of said term is remaining, the members of Council shall elect a qualified individual to serve the remainder of the term.