Akron Council's Weekly Legislative Spotlight! 2024 Issue #24

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Akron City Council

Weekly Legislative Spotlight

From the Desk of the Council President

Hello Joan,

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

We hope you enjoy the information shared 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. Feel free to let us know if there is anything else you would like to see included in each issue.

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, July 15, 2024

Ordinance No. 264-2024 authorizing the Director of Law to enter into a contract with the Summit County Public Defender Commission to provide legal services for indigent defendants in Akron Municipal Court, in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution of the United States with respect to the provision of legal representation to indigent defendants; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0. Learn more about Summit Legal Defenders here.

Resolution No. 265-2024 opposing and objecting to the renewal application of Andy’s in Firestone Park, LLC, 1751 S Main Street, Akron, Ohio 44301 for Class D5 and D6 liquor permits (0211611) pending before the Division of Liquor Control; and declaring an emergency. Vote: Ayes: 12, Nays: 0.

Ordinance authorizing and directing the submission to the electors of the City of Akron a proposal to amend Sections 68, 70, 105, and 106 of the Charter of the City of Akron, to permit the consideration and hiring of both internal and external candidates for the positions of Police Chief, Fire Chief, and their respective Deputy Chief positions subject to eligibility qualifications set by the City’s Director of Human Resources, in order to provide authority for the City to consider a broad and diverse candidate pool for key leadership positions with the Akron Police and Fire Departments; designating the positions of Police Chief and Fire Chief as members of the unclassified civil service; clarifying that whenever practicable, vacancies in the classified civil service shall be filled by promotion, to be voted upon at the next regularly scheduled general municipal election to be held on November 5, 2024; and declaring an emergency. You can watch the presentation given to the Rules Committee here . The Committee continued to take Time on this legislation.

Remember...

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

Ring Doorbell Cameras

APPLICATIONS REOPENING FOR WARD #'s 1, 3, & 5

Council Staff has been working hard to distribute Ring Doorbell Cameras to approved applicants. These doorbell cameras were purchased with ARPA funds and applications were processed in compliance with federal guidelines.

All applicants were notified via email whether they were approved, rejected, or put on a waitlist.

If you applied, please be sure to check your email!

Each ward was allotted 300 cameras. We will reopen the Doorbell Camera Safety Program application process to distribute a limited number of unclaimed cameras to eligible Akron residents living in Ward #'s 1, 3, and 5.

Starting Wednesday, July 24^th at 8:00 a.m., and concluding on Thursday, July 25^th at 4:00 p.m. residents residing in Wards 1, 3 & 5 who have not previously received a doorbell camera can apply for their free camera via the online application. Residents can confirm that they reside in one of these wards at akroncitycouncil.org/find-my-ward.

This program is available to Akron residents, both homeowners and renters. Homeownership will be verified through Summit County Property Records. Renters must submit an Attestation form signed by their landlord with their online application. The attestation form is available here.

Applications submitted from residents outside Wards 1, 3, & 5 will not be considered.

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

Up for Public Hearing July 22, 2024

5:00 p.m. Special Meeting:

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a child daycare business center at 1584 Creighton Avenue. (PC-2024-18-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a contractor’s office at 1684 S. Arlington Street. (PC-2024-19-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a child daycare business center at 121 Rhodes Avenue. (PC-2024-20-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a commercial use at 441 White Pond Drive. (PC-2024-21-CU)

Ordinance authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a deck and solid fence at 1869 Daniels Avenue. (PC-2024-22-CU)

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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.

Section VII: Election Procedures When Council Vacancy Must Be Filled by Council

Rule 7.3 Requests to Become a Candidate

Those wishing to be considered as a candidate for the vacancy shall apply in writing. The deadline for accepting these written notices or applications shall be seven (7) days before the day of the election.

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Ward 8 residents who are interested in serving as the Council representative should email their letter of interest and resume to the Clerk of Council sbiviano@akronohio.gov by Monday, June 22 at 12:00 noon as outlined in the Press Release.

You can view the Rules of Procedure

for Akron City Council here.