[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6679705,"mediaKeyId","2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde","parentId",2108708,"title","Akron council approves resolutions and ordinances on consent; list of passed items and actions","audioSeconds",638,"startMs",1782000,"endMs",2420000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde&start=1782&end=2420","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde/thumbnail_1782000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6679705/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Akron-council-approves-resolutions-and-ordinances-on-consent-list-of-passed-items-and-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679705-5e5e8a4011e2cf2a73e68b249c340004/orig.mp4?Expires=1775476240&Signature=RoOfFU93-lZVHwCiARtieyA7Y6pEUMw5aJaWsMJsUaO3QfcSz4KVvDoCVNqa7EyIRHHeZDUC9za1ld0WyRWX4CL1x6gLfypBXZYg8J5Su3zMvAoQMnOnlBGCFv2CxX7NcWjtpX-kbjvGtgfeDKAs0Mr3pWy7A-TORS1HL-GmtT1rDQyHGsV9OpUJE4oB4idcKJKxLAiat9~-zZuRhZEvVTY2pKaY~OyomKevhuxSW0GU7-x-HGeUZdmiAx82C-7tlbmeIu7tmKs6clXXLBHO0GVcb1hTLAZqi4de0anSRdkbWgS6te8WJyrBwSbMA33F878vn96JZ5t8LDp9tQsiYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Akron OH","date","2025-01-13T22:00:03Z","article","Akron City Council approved multiple resolutions and ordinances at its Jan. 13 regular meeting. The measures were acted on largely by suspension of rules and unanimous votes recorded as 12–0. Below is a summary of items the council approved, items placed on consent, and one item sent for additional time.

Votes at a glance

- Agricultural-district renewal for property at 1661 Drysbach Drive (Frank and Mary Pulitz): Resolution approving the renewal application to have 13.72 acres designated agricultural under Ohio law. Planning staff recommended approval; the council suspended the rules and adopted the resolution 12–0.

- Resolution honoring Mary L. Lombardo: Offered by Councilman Hannah; the council adopted the emergency resolution honoring Mary L. Lombardo on the occasion of her passing, 12–0.

- Ordinance authorizing contract(s) with Navient for OnBase production support, license maintenance and project implementation services: Committee report favorable; rules suspended; ordinance adopted 12–0.

- Coventry-Akron JEDD addition (Coventry Township parcel 220-0706): Ordinance placing a Summit County parcel into the Coventry-Akron joint economic development district (JEDD) zone 2; item placed on the consent agenda and approved as part of consent (consent passed earlier 12–0).

- Easement to East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) for sign access at Middlebury Plaza (parcels 685-9582 and 672-7717): Committee recommended granting a long-standing easement for signage discovered during refinancing; rules suspended and ordinance adopted 12–0.

- Agreement with Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition for Summit Lake vision-plan projects and funding pursuit: Placed on consent and approved as part of the consent agenda.

- ODOT improvements on State Route 261 (concrete bridge patching, netting, fence replacement): Committee report favorable; rules suspended and ordinance adopted 12–0.

- Contracts for underground utility locating services (engineering bureau): Item placed on consent and approved with consent.

- Purchase from Xylem Inc. for water meters and transmitters (citywide water meter replacement program): Committee report favorable; rules suspended and ordinance adopted 12–0.

- Resolution supporting the Ohio Municipal League’s challenge to AT&T tariff application at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio: Committee report favorable; rules suspended and resolution adopted 12–0.

- Ordinance amending ambulance and EMS charge schedules (Title 11, Chapter 111): Committee report favorable; rules suspended. Council said the updated billing will not increase resident transportation fees; ordinance adopted 12–0.

- Intergovernmental agreement extension with Summit County for boarding city prisoners: Placed on consent and approved as part of the consent agenda.

Items sent for additional time

- Resolution recognizing the tragic loss of Jasmere Tucker (offered by Councilman Garrett): Committee requested time; council granted time. The resolution was not adopted at the Jan. 13 meeting.

Procedure notes

Several items were handled by suspension of the rules after favorable committee reports. The consent agenda was approved earlier in the meeting by a 12–0 vote; items listed as placed on the consent agenda were adopted as part of that action unless otherwise noted.

Why this matters: The passed measures enable procurement and contracting for city operations (document management, water meters), advance local infrastructure projects (ODOT work, Summit Lake planning support), preserve a property tax designation for agricultural use, and update emergency medical-service billing rules — all items with fiscal or operational implications for city services.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Akron Council Meeting - 1.13.2025","oneSentenceSummary","Akron City Council approved a slate of resolutions and ordinances Jan. 13, most by suspension of rules and unanimous votes, including renewals, contract authorizations, infrastructure measures and budget-related updates.","taxTitle","Akron, Summit County, Ohio","taxId",2666,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6679708,"Speakers urge Akron to use $10 million planning grant to avoid repeating Inner Belt displacement",215,525000,740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde&start=525&end=740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde/thumbnail_525000.jpg","/articles/6679708/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Speakers-urge-Akron-to-use-10-million-planning-grant-to-avoid-repeating-Inner-Belt-displacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679708-aa9f64cb6e3f4ad08c2d5db68dd87638/orig.mp4?Expires=1775476240&Signature=Ws9trGa0cReE010utp-wC21omdW1IMMWaoyyPdPUhuDxXe80XL9EhyE7aTF8f7yrd3umbSxrJ7pUS3a1pm1Q9X-pG6zBQgf7hbPYsu0zjLkozVQVwNnIS6aFsw1YokjyNMlEvuvN6XVm9s~Ako6T0AxPUNQFU6KYqp4KSSDtwoDClzgiN0bai1S4JBHVzPjRN-rV80y3Pfb-itDM4t0-GvsSH2xghafr6DTRrvQToPA3FTe6bx9lS-JabKnXP~n8mPgC928cB4XvxN5wSDKBJRaXo~wueVgf9eIM6yQltVbhSBBZNSEPmpdy-FhQdrNGI~q0T2oInwJhCjogPyYChA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Thomas Statham, a retired city planning director and former Akron planning staffer, urged Akron City Council on Jan. 13 to spend a recently announced $10 million planning grant cautiously and with attention to communities historically harmed by past highway projects.

Statham contrasted the new planning money with the decades-long harm caused when the Inner Belt and related highway projects displaced more than 1,300 families in the 1960s and 1970s. He warned that “90 seconds” saved in driving time was not a sufficient public benefit to justify repeated displacement and argued for accountability for outside consultants and empathy in planning.

“We got $10,000,000. Now, you spend about $100,000,000 for the renovation of the route 59,” Statham said, and then added an historical cost comparison: “In real time money right now, you're talking 1,500,000,000.” He urged council to “add some empathy when you work on these plans and hold these groups accountable that you're bringing in.”

Harrington Hargrove, a Ward 3 resident, urged targeted investment for his neighborhood, asking council to allocate funds directly into Ward 3 rather than allowing development dollars to flow to downtown and to outside developers. “Ward 3 is probably been the most underserved community in this city,” Hargrove said, and asked for a formula to “uplift our community.”

Why this matters: Speakers tied a new planning grant to the city’s long history of highway-driven displacement and asked council to prioritize neighborhood investment rather than enabling outside development that could price out existing residents. The comments framed the grant as an opportunity to repair past harms.

Council response and next steps: No formal vote or committee action on the planning grant was recorded at the Jan. 13 meeting; Statham’s remarks were delivered during the public comment period and Hargrove’s remarks followed. Planning and economic-development committees were listed on the council’s committee schedule; any funding or project decisions will come through the council’s committee process or future legislation.","At City Council public comment, a former planning director and residents urged the city to spend a new $10 million planning grant with empathy for displaced neighborhoods, and requested targeted investment for Ward 3.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6679711,"Residents and police union clash over proposed $700,000 policing contract; council urged to demand open process",624,304000,928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde&start=304&end=928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2108708-4d0c173dd548eb356732ee1ce2bbafde/thumbnail_304000.jpg","/articles/6679711/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Residents-and-police-union-clash-over-proposed-700000-policing-contract-council-urged-to-demand-open-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6679711-49eb51e8cdbf5afbb1dd66541229b52e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775476240&Signature=f75IbySwbvSQGru-MFZu3~TStu6cFVFr-S98yieC7ucnptscebuL8MhpOtIlzQ5ynGh~p0cJESgc~k6nMYZ~7rtX-icyIKCytEmfZaVQoBvi7qsgoQK2KUuE6EQfApyCj6cmfScAG6TK1ubpOGlKWij2LuIstWQfbVjBvmm73VOh1R1rRVwmD5FZBYPezMyRGe~w-ZnGG9-qFdGAEx3sPmBo4ZazXpk3ZT5ys0FuywdXeEu~kglcx5xSbmxRpQQrMbJWGClAiqelMSBwpgWY0LZEo8qwJHFvGdNpLplZpcUQcE8W9Ks1-oUih98vugfkeCfWLGuY0Quin3ekMxmJKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Lucey, president of Akron FOP 7, and several residents addressed Akron City Council on Jan. 13 about policing, officer conduct and a mayoral contract the speakers say would spend about $700,000 in taxpayer funds.

Lucey, who identified himself as president of Akron FOP 7, defended the union and local officers against criticism that followed a December incident: “It was not our members throwing items like this pig at people standing in line to get inside the building. It was not our members shouting profanities at anyone.” He detailed community activities by FOP members, including donations and participation in Shop With a Cop, and said the union gave more than $30,000 in 2024 to a local safety support center.

The most contested matter raised by multiple speakers was a contract the mayor intends to award, which Dr. Richard Montgomery said would cost roughly $700,000. “Is it $700,000 of taxpayer dollars? Is it the trust of a community already betrayed?” Montgomery asked, urging council to reject what he described as an opaque, noncompetitive process and to insist on local expertise and community input. He criticized the mayor’s selection of a law firm he said is “tied to his alma mater” and argued residents should have a role in choosing contractors for police-review work.

William Reynolds urged changes to how officers under investigation are treated, asking that pay be withheld during active investigations until officers are vindicated. “Make these officers suffer an economic hardship like anybody else,” he said, arguing for parity with civilian due-process consequences.

An online commenter who identified themself as Janos linked calls for accountability to recent police-involved deaths in Akron and criticized council and the mayor for inaction. “My disappointment in Akron City Council, mayor Malik, and the police is immense,” Janos said, naming multiple shootings and urging council to act.

Council did not take formal action on the contract during the meeting. Council members accepted public comments and later moved through consent and calendar items. Item 2 on the agenda — a resolution formally recognizing the tragic loss of Jasmere Tucker — was taken under committee request for time and was not adopted during this meeting.

Why this matters: Several speakers framed their remarks around long-standing concerns of accountability and public trust in the Akron Police Department and asked city council to use its oversight authority over contracts and processes. Speakers offered specific requests including open bidding, local firms with knowledge of Akron, and procedural changes for officers under investigation.

Speakers presented sharply different views: the FOP emphasized community service by officers and rejected accusations of misconduct, while other residents asked the council to slow or reject an apparently noncompetitive contract and to press for more transparent investigatory and contracting processes.

Council action and next steps: Council did not vote on the contract at the meeting. The council accepted public comment and referred or granted time on some items; any future action on contracting or procurement would be taken in a separate legislative item or committee report.","Public commenters at the Jan. 13 Akron City Council meeting debated police accountability, a proposed $700,000 contract reportedly tied to an out-of-state firm, and the conduct of Akron officers. The Fraternal Order of Police defended officers; other speakers called for transparency and changes to how investigations and contracts are handled.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Akron council approves resolutions and ordinances on consent; list of passed items and actions

Speakers urge Akron to use $10 million planning grant to avoid repeating Inner Belt displacement

Residents and police union clash over proposed $700,000 policing contract; council urged to demand open process