Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Operations Contracts Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Akron council approves multiple emergency ordinances, contracts and pilot program funding
Summary
At a single meeting, Akron City Council suspended rules and approved a series of ordinances and contracts — including funding for the Akron International Soapbox Derby, emergency demolition payments, a pilot legal-counsel program, and adoption of a master tree planting plan — most by unanimous votes or placement on the consent agenda.
The Akron City Council moved through a package of new legislation and the consent agenda that included several emergency ordinances, contract authorizations and program approvals.
Councilman Lombardo sponsored multiple items that the body approved or placed on the consent agenda: an ordinance authorizing the mayor to contract with the Akron International Soapbox Derby to provide operational funding for the 2025 event (passed 13-0 after suspension of rules), and ordinances authorizing contracts with Power Engineers Incorporated to continue work on the city's special assessment system and accepting a grant from the city's Firm Financial Empowerment Fund (both placed on the consent agenda). Lombardo also presented an ordinance to establish a three-year pilot program to advance eligible residents' access to legal counsel; the council suspended the rules and passed that item 13-0.
Councilman Kammer moved ratification of emergency demolition contracts with Butcher and Sons Inc. to pay a contractor that had already completed emergency demolitions around the city; that ordinance passed 13-0 after suspension of the rules. Councilman Kammer also offered an ordinance authorizing a design contract with Burgess & Niple Inc. for the Cuyahoga Street storage facility disinfection project; that item was placed on the consent agenda.
Vice President Fusco offered and the council formally adopted a master tree planting plan by resolution and placed related amendments to City of Akron Codified Ordinances Title 9, Chapter 101 (trees and shrubs) on the consent agenda for later handling. Several conditional-use requests (high-rise sign, commercial building, vape shops, marijuana dispensary) offered by Fusco were referred to appropriate committees rather than voted on.
Where the council voted immediately, the committee reports were recorded as favorable, rules were suspended for immediate consideration, and the items passed unanimously (13-0) unless otherwise noted. Items referred to committees were not decided at this meeting.
