Akron City Council

Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Welcome to our new subscribers. We are so excited that you are joining us! To our regular subscribers, thank you for your commitment to staying informed and engaged through your continued subscribership to Akron City Council's Legislative Spotlight.

We hope you are enjoying the wealth of information shared with you each week.

We share highlights from the Council's legislative agenda from the previous Monday's Committee and Council meetings. Definitions and information about commonly used terms and council-related facts are also featured.

We want you to stay connected and abreast of the issues before Akron City Council.

The information shared in each week's Legislative Spotlight will continue to educate, empower, and liberate you to become increasingly engaged with your City Council in making Akron a better place for all its residents.

Sincerely,

Margo Sommerville

Council President

Ward 3 Council Member

Legislative Highlights From Monday, April 15, 2024

Ordinance No. 132-2024 authorizing a Conditional Use to establish adult day care services on the Ohio Living Rockynol campus at 1275 West Exchange Street; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Hannah absent)

Resolution No. 136-2024 opposing Dominion Energy Ohio’s proposed 30% rate increase and requesting that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio deny Dominion Energy Ohio’s request for the same; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Hannah absent) The Ohio Consumers' Counsel presented to the Public Service Committee on March 25th. You can view that presentation here or visit the Ohio Consumers' Counsel website for more information and how to share your opinion with the PUCO.

Ordinance No. 137-2024 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with TomTod Ideas, Inc. for a partnership with the City of Akron in the Creative Akron Summer Program for 2024; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Hannah absent) The Creative Akron Summer Program is a four-week program designed to empower middle schoolers across the city to grow personally in core soft skills, explore their civic structures and community impact potential, develop creatively through active arts engagement, and prepare vocationally for the world ahead.

The City of Akron Recreation & Parks division offers active adult activities, sports for kids and adults, programs and classes at community centers, and events for the whole family to enjoy. Find out more here.

Resolution No. 138-2024 approving and confirming the appointments of Barb Waress and Hartense Pryear for one-year terms ending on February 14, 2025, Valerie Moss, for a two-year term ending on February 14, 2026, and Robin Rohrich, Michael Howard, and Alyssa Figueroa for three-year terms ending on February 14, 2027, to the City of Akron Housing Appeals Board; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Hannah absent) You can learn more about the Housing Appeals Board 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!

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers, who participate in the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive — the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

To donate, just place a box or can of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers mail on May 11th. The carrier will do the rest. The food is sorted and delivered to an area food bank or pantry, where it is available for needy families.

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

Up for Public Hearing May 6, 2024:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to replace a static billboard with a digital billboard at 236 Annadale Avenue.

Ordinance amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code”, Article 6 “Development and Area District Requirements”, “Section 153.310 Business and industry requirements” by changing signage requirements within the Kenmore Urban Overlay Area.

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct an addition at 134 Western Avenue.

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Notices are posted on our website at least 15 days before the meeting.

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). Notices are also published in the Akron Beacon Journal.

You do not need to fill out any forms to participate. You're able to 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 in order to receive the information to join remotely.

Please Help Us Get The Word Out!

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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 new "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.

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.