Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #18

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Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

Happy June and a hearty 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 enjoy the wealth of information we share each week, including 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.

Please 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, June 3, 2024

Ordinance No. 193-2024 amending and/or supplementing Title 9 “General Provisions,” Chapter 106 “Prohibition of Conversion Therapy on Minors,” Section 106.03 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Akron in order to impose a first-degree misdemeanor penalty for the commission of the offense of conversion therapy on minors; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Sommerville absent).

Resolution No. 203-2024 declaring that Akron City Council shall begin reviewing the designated police towing districts, and the assignments thereof, as set forth in 70.52 of the Akron Codified Ordinances; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Sommerville absent). Parties interested in being assigned to a towing district should submit their qualifications via email to the Clerk of Council at sbiviano@akronohio.gov on or before July 5, 2024. Read more about Tow Districts here.

Resolution No. 204-2024 recognizing and declaring May 29th of each year as “Sojourner Truth Day” in the City of Akron to honor the human rights activist and to commemorate her famous “Ain’t I A Woman?” speech that she delivered on May 29, 1851 in Akron, Ohio; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Sommerville absent). The Council encourages the community to visit the recently dedicated Truth Plaza, which was built at the location in which Sojourner Truth gave her famous speech. Learn more here.

Resolution No. 208-2024 recognizing Sonia Luciana Ducksworth for her hard work and accomplishment as the first Black woman to achieve the rank of Equipment Operator III in the City of Akron; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0 (Sommerville absent). Ms. Ducksworth was promoted to this position on April 21, 2024. She was recognized during the Public Service Committee. You can view this meeting here. Are you interested in a career with the City? Check out employment opportunities here.

Remember...

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

The Planning & Economic Development Committee welcomed Jimmy Gilman, the head of Government Partnerships for Spin.

View the presentation here.

Have you ever used a Spin Scooter?

Yes

Ring Doorbell Cameras

Council Staff has been working hard to distribute Ring Doorbell Cameras to approved applicants.

All applicants were notified via email whether they were approved, rejected, or put on a waitlist. If you applied for a Doorbell Camera, please be sure to check your email for the notice!

If approved applicants do not schedule to pick up, we will distribute those cameras to residents on the waitlists.

June 2, 2024 Shooting Update

On Saturday evening, at approximately 10pm, patrol officers responded to a private residence on Kelly Ave (in the area of Kelly Ave and 8th Ave) after reports of a large gathering which included fireworks and loud noise. Officers arrived on scene to a large birthday party with approximately 200 individuals taking over the street. Officers dispersed the crowd. No arrests were made at that time.

Between 10pm and midnight, people began coming back to the scene and the party resumed. Just after midnight, patrol responded again to the same location after the dispatch center received calls about shots fired. Between EMS and self-transports, it was later found that 25 people total were injured.  Of the 25 victims, one 27-year-old male has been confirmed deceased.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2Tip.

Residents may also provide anonymous information to any of the following: 

The Summit County Crimestoppers, call 330-434-COPS. 
Text TIPSCO with your tips to 274637.
Download the Akron PD app and submit information by texting Tip411 or by accessing the link on our website www.AkronCops.org.

The Blue Heron Homecoming is an annual environmental festival that provides community members with a chance to learn about the Akron Waterways Renewed! (AWR!) program. The festival features representatives from the City of Akron, firms involved with the AWR! program, and community partners, including local non-profits and environmental groups. This year’s theme is “Where Does Your Water Shed?”

Learn more here.

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

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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.

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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

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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.