City Council Meeting

Margo Sommerville, President Jeff Fusco, Vice-President Brad McKitrick, President Pro-Tem Members of Council: Jeff Fusco, At-Large Johnnie Hannah, Ward 5 Linda F. R. Omobien, At-Large Brad McKitrick, Ward 6 Eric D. Garrett, Sr., At-Large Donnie Kammer, Ward 7 Fran Wilson, Ward 1 Bruce Bolden, Ward 8 Phil Lombardo, Ward 2 Tina Boyes, Ward 9 Margo Sommerville, Ward 3 Sharon L. Connor, Ward 10 Jan Davis, Ward 4 www.akroncitycouncil.org Council Agenda for March 16, 2026 1:00 P.M. Planning & Economic 2:30 P.M. Health & Social Services Development 1:45 P.M. Parks & Recreation 3:00 P.M. Budget & Finance 2:00 P.M. Rules 3:30 P.M. Housing & Neighborhood Assistance 2:00 P.M. Public Service, Public 6:30 P.M. Regular Council Meeting Utilities, & Green 2:15 P.M. Public Safety Regular Meeting held on March 9, 2026. All members were present, except Davis. Minutes of the previous meeting approved. Ayes: 12, Nays, 0. CONSENT AGENDA 1 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with non-profit organizations, for the provision of public services in order to carry out the intent and purpose of programs under the Consolidated Plan for the year 2026; authorizing payment therefore; and declaring an emergency. (Planning & Economic Development) 2 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with Let’s 1  Grow Akron, Inc., for the purpose of operating the Akron Grows public gardening program in order to carry out the intent and purpose of programs under the Consolidated Plan for the year 2026; authorizing payment therefor; and declaring an emergency. (Planning & Economic Development) 3 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of the Department of Planning and Urban Development, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with ABJ Apartments, LLC for the renovation and adaptive reuse of property located at 44 E. Exchange Street into 120 apartments affordable for residents across income levels in Akron; and declaring an emergency. (Planning & Economic Development) 4 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, requesting and receiving Requests for Proposals (RFPs), requesting and receiving quotes, and/or self-performing work, for the replacement of exterior lighting in various City-owned parks; and declaring an emergency. (Public Service, Public Utilities, & Green) 5 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, requesting and receiving Requests for Proposals (RFPs), requesting and receiving quotes, and/or self-performing work, for the rehabilitation of garages at the Akron Municipal Service Center; and declaring an emergency. (Public Service, Public Utilities, & Green) 6 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, requesting and receiving Requests for Proposals (RFPs), requesting and receiving quotes, and/or self-performing work, for maintenance and improvements at the Akron Municipal Service Center; and declaring an emergency. (Public Service, Public Utilities, & Green) 7 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, requesting and receiving Requests for Proposals (RFPs), requesting and receiving quotes, and/or self-performing work, for maintenance and improvements at the Mustill Store and House; and declaring an emergency. (Public Service, Public Utilities, & Green) 8 RESOLUTION in which City Council and the Administration commit to working together to establish a pre-activation look-back requirement for all body-worn cameras utilized by officers of the Akron Police Department; and declaring an emergency. (Public Safety) (Removed from Consent Agenda 03/10/26) 2  9 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, for the rehabilitation of Karona Park in keeping with the Akron Parks Challenge; and declaring and emergency. (Parks & Recreation) 10 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, for the rehabilitation of Waters Park in keeping with the Akron Parks Challenge; and declaring and emergency. (Parks & Recreation) 11 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts with Akron Parks Collaborative, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, for professional and supplemental services related to the improvements of certain parks within the City of Akron; and declaring an emergency. (Parks & Recreation) (Removed from Consent Agenda 03/12/26) RULES (McKitrick, Chair) NO ITEMS BUDGET & FINANCE (Lombardo, Chair) FIRST READING AND REFERRED: 1 RESOLUTION adopting an annual operating budget for the fiscal year 2026; and declaring an emergency. (03/09/26) 2 ORDINANCE to make the annual appropriation for the current expenses, other expenditures and the capital outlays of the City of Akron for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; and declaring an emergency. (03/09/26) PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (Fusco, Chair) TIME: 1 ORDINANCE authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a defense education training facility at 1928 Eastwood Avenue; and declaring an emergency. (02/23/26) (Public Hearing held 03/09/26) (Substitute offered as an amendment 03/09/26) 2 D-14 Petition of David Walker for a Conditional Use to Establish a Training Facility at 1928 Eastwood Avenue PC-2025-80-CU (02/02/26) 3 D-37 Petition of Mohammad Alzawahreh for a Conditional use to Establish a Tire Sales Business at 21 N. Arlington Street PC-2025-82-CU 3  (03/02/26) 4 D-38 Petition of Akron Summit Community Action Inc. for a Conditional Use to Expand Parking at 839 S. Arlington Street and 1037 Wyley Avenue PC-2026-01-CU (03/02/26) 5 D-179 Petition of Taco Bell of America, LLC, for a Conditional Use to Rebuild a Taco Bell Restaurant at 414 E. Exchange Street PC-2025-61- CU (10/06/25) 6 D-15 Petition of Ray of Hope International Church, Inc., for a Conditional Use to Place a Shed Within the Required Setback at 844 E. Archwood Avenue PC-2025-83-CU (02/02/26) 7 D-16 Petition of Akron Zoological Park for a Conditional Use to Expand the Zoo on Property South of Diagonal Road and East of Auldfarm Road (Parcel Nos. 6701439 and 6761223) PC-2025-91-CU (02/02/26) 8 D-8 Petition of Shunnah Tyler for a Conditional Use to Expand a Day Care Business Center at 1264 Copley Road, and Sale of Adjacent City- Owned Land PC-2025-88-CU&S (01/12/26) 9 D-132 Petition of Crasi Homes for a Conditional Use to Construct Two- Family Dwellings at 940 Pitkin Street and 953 Dayton Street PC-2025- 37-CU (6/30/25) 10 ORDINANCE amending/supplementing Title 15, Chapter 153, “Zoning Code”, Article 6 “Development and Area District Requirements”, Section 153.305 “Residence Requirements” and Section 4.3.3. “Walls and Fences” of the City of Akron Form-Based Code to amend fencing requirements; and declaring an emergency. (2/24/25) (To be scheduled for Public Hearing.) 11 ORDINANCE authorizing a Conditional Use to establish a Type A daycare home at 782 Bellevue Avenue; and declaring an emergency. (11/27/2023) (Public Hearing held 2/5/2024) 12 D-730 Petition of Keisha Burney for a Conditional Use to Establish a Type A Daycare Home at 782 Bellevue Avenue PC-2023-60-CU (11/06/2023) 13 ORDINANCE authorizing a Conditional Use to establish an auto dealership at 338 N. Arlington Street; and declaring an emergency. (11/28/2022) (Public Hearing was held 1/23/2023) 14 D-576 Petition of Abraham Zabay for a Conditional Use to Establish an 4  auto dealership at 338 N. Arlington Street (PC-2022-52-CU) 15 ORDINANCE authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a parking lot at 921 Cordova Avenue for the Maple Valley Resource Center at 1474 Copley Road; and declaring an emergency. (9/18/2023) (Public Hearing held 9/25/2023) 16 ORDINANCE authorizing a Conditional Use to establish and construct an addition to a bed and breakfast at 814 Bloomfield Avenue; and declaring an emergency. (Public Hearing was held 9/13/21) 17 D-285 Petition of Louie Berrodin for a Conditional Use to establish a bed and breakfast and construct an addition at 814 Bloomfield Avenue (PC- 2021-30-CU) (7/12/21) 18 ORDINANCE authorizing a Conditional Use to construct a parking lot on the east side of W. Center Street (PN 6716587); and declaring an emergency. (Public Hearing was held October 21, 2019) 19 D-774 Petition of Community Action Agency for a Conditional Use to construct a parking lot and the sale of City-owned land on W. Center Street. (Parcel No. 6716587) (PC-2019-63-CU & S) (9/16/19) PUBLIC SERVICE, PUBLIC UTILITIES, & GREEN (Kammer, Chair) REFERRED: 1 D-45 One (1) Objection to Unimproved Street Resurfacing per R-434- 2025 (03/09/26) PUBLIC SAFETY (McKitrick, Chair) TIME: 1 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, with Farber Specialty Vehicles for the purchase of a mobile command vehicle; and declaring an emergency. (10/28/2024) (Substitute offered as an amendment 11/4/2024) PARKS & RECREATION (Connor, Chair) NO ITEMS HOUSING & NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE (Bolden, Chair) 5  NO ITEMS HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES (Davis, Chair) NO ITEMS FILED D-42 Notice of Transfer of Type D5 Liquor Permit to Mega Maxx Sports Group LLC 271 S Main St Ward 1 D-43 Weekly Demolition Report – Week of March 2, 2026 D-44 Housing Appeals Board Meeting Agenda – March 19, 2026 ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT PREVIOUS MEETING: SPECIAL MEETING AT 5:00 PM: ORDINANCE NO. 65-2026 authorizing a Conditional Use to place a shed within the required setback at 844 E. Archwood Avenue; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 11-0. 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: 11-0. ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT PREVIOUS MEETING: REGULAR MEETING AT 6:30 PM: ORDINANCE NO. 67-2026 authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a Sponsorship Agreement with the City of Fairlawn for the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) for the project to remove a dam along Schocalog Run; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0. ORDINANCE NO. 68-2026 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a participatory agreement or agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the construction of road resurfacing along Tallmadge Avenue; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0. 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: 12-0. ORDINANCE NO. 70-2026 authorizing a Conditional Use to rebuild a Taco Bell 6 restaurant at 414 E. Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio 44304; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 12-0. 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: 12-0. ORDINANCE NO. 72-2026 authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into an agreement or agreements, after publicly advertising for bids and/or utilizing State of Ohio cooperative purchasing and/or consortiums, for the lease, purchase, and/or refurbishment of various vehicles and equipment; and declaring an emergency. Vote: 11-0 (Wilson abstained). NEW LEGISLATION BUDGET & FINANCE 1 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, without the formality of publicly advertising for bids, with Governmentjobs.com, Inc., dba NEOGOV, for the purchase of NEOGOV Human Resources Software for the Department of Human Resources; and declaring an emergency. PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2 RESOLUTION approving and confirming the appointments and/or reappointments of Mayor Shammas Malik, Chris Ludle, Kyle Julien, Helen Tomic, Margo Sommerville, Tina Boyes, and Fran Wilson for the year 2026 as members of the Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning and Development Organization (NEFCO), with alternates Michelle DiFiore (Mayor Malik), Jeff Bronowski (Ludle), Dylan Garritano (Julien), Kurt Mulhauser (Tomic), and Dr. Joan Williams/Sara Biviano (Sommerville); and declaring an emergency. PUBLIC SERVICE, PUBLIC UTILITIES, & GREEN 3 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his designee, to enter into a contract or contracts, after publicly advertising for bids, for the painting of fire hydrants in the City of Akron water service area; and declaring an emergency. 4 ORDINANCE authorizing the Director of Public Service, or his 7  designee to, if awarded, accept and expend grant funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and/or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the rehabilitation of Taxiway P at the Akron Fulton Airport; and declaring an emergency. 5 ORDINANCE determining to proceed with the improvement of Vernon Odom Boulevard (SR 261) between the termini of I-77 to Rhodes Avenue and Romig Road to Medina Line Road by resurfacing; and declaring an emergency. 6 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee, to file applications and enter into an agreement or agreements with the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and with the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) for planning, design, and/or construction of two (2) Water Supply Bureau capital improvement projects; and declaring an emergency. 7 ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor, or his designee to, if awarded, accept and expend funds from the State of Ohio for enhancements to the City of Akron’s Public Safety Training Facility; and declaring an emergency. PARKS & RECREATION 8 RESOLUTION congratulating the University of Akron's Men's Basketball Team on winning the 2026 Mid-American Conference Championship; and declaring an emergency. 9 RESOLUTION congratulating the Archbishop Hoban High School Girls Basketball Team on winning the Division II Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Championship; and declaring an emergency. *REMINDER* Operating Budget Hearings will be held March 17, 18, & 19th (March 20th if needed) at 3:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. For more information, scan the QR codes below or visit our website at www.akroncitycouncil.org 8 Public Comment Receive our weekly Upcoming Frequently Used Period Sign Up: legislative spotlight meetings: Terms: email: 9