Twinsburg City Council approves rezoning referral and a series of contracts, appropriations and emergency measures

Twinsburg City Council on Monday approved a package of ordinances and resolutions, voting unanimously to refer a rezoning request for 1816 East Aurora Road to the May 6, 2025 primary election and to adopt a series of emergency contracts and budget appropriations.

The council’s action sends Ordinance 07-2025 (rezoning parcel 64-00589 from C-2 commercial to R-5 single-unit open-space cluster residential) to voters after the council suspended the three-reading rule and then adopted the ordinance on a 6-0 roll call. The council also adopted Ordinance 08-2025 to request that the Summit County Board of Elections place the rezoning question on the May 6 ballot; that measure passed as an emergency on a 6-0 vote.

Why it matters: The council’s referral puts the specific rezoning decision before voters rather than completing the rezoning as a legislative act at this meeting. Other measures the council adopted immediately affect city operations and contracts.

The council’s other votes listed below were unanimous (6-0) and generally adopted as emergencies to allow immediate implementation or contracting: - Resolution 10-2025: authorized the mayor to contract with the Summit County Legal Defender’s Office for representation of indigent defendants (adopted as an emergency, 6-0). - Resolution 11-2025: affirmed the mayor’s action to enter or renew a contract with the Summit County/Akron regional radio system (adopted as an emergency, 6-0). - Ordinance 12-2025 and Ordinance 13-2025: authorized labor contracts with AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Local 1313 (service/office units) and were adopted as emergencies (each 6-0). - Ordinances 14-2025 and 15-2025: amendments to current-year appropriations and the 2025 appropriation ordinance; both adopted as emergencies (each 6-0). - Resolution 16-2025: authorized the mayor to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the city service garage; suspended rules and adopted as an emergency (6-0). - Resolution 17-2025: authorized the mayor for calendar year 2025 to use joint and cooperative purchasing programs pursuant to Ohio law; adopted as an emergency (6-0).

Several other ordinances (Ordinances 01-2025 through 05-2025 and Ordinances 02-2025 through 04-2025 as read aloud at the meeting) were placed on the council docket as second readings; no final votes on those items occurred at this meeting. The council read their captions and left them for future consideration.

Council members cited timing as the primary reason for suspending the three-reading rule on multiple items, noting deadlines for the board of elections and the need to implement contracts and appropriations promptly. During the adoption of Ordinance 07-2025 a council member raised a point of order asking whether the ordinance was being adopted as an emergency; the record shows that Ordinance 07-2025 was not adopted as an emergency, while Ordinance 08-2025 (the ballot-placement measure) was adopted as an emergency.

The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel and pending litigation under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(1) and to confer with the city attorney about pending court action.

Votes at a glance (each passed 6-0 unless noted): - Ordinance 07-2025 — Rezoning, 1816 East Aurora Road (parcel 64-00589): adopted (suspension of three-reading rule passed 6-0; adoption passed 6-0). Not adopted as an emergency; referral to ballot handled by separate ordinance. - Ordinance 08-2025 — Request Summit County Board of Elections place rezoning question on May 6, 2025 ballot: adopted as an emergency 6-0. - Resolution 10-2025 — Contract with Summit County Legal Defender’s Office: adopted as an emergency 6-0. - Resolution 11-2025 — Renewal/contract for Summit County/Akron regional radio system: adopted as an emergency 6-0. - Ordinance 12-2025 & 13-2025 — Labor contracts with AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Local 1313 (service/office units): adopted as emergencies 6-0. - Ordinances 14-2025 & 15-2025 — Appropriation adjustments for 2025: adopted as emergencies 6-0. - Resolution 16-2025 — Feasibility evaluation for expanding the city service garage: adopted as an emergency 6-0. - Resolution 17-2025 — Authorization for joint/cooperative purchasing for 2025: adopted as an emergency 6-0.

Items remaining at second reading (no final vote at this meeting): Ordinance 01-2025, Ordinance 02-2025, Ordinance 03-2025, Ordinance 04-2025, Ordinance 05-2025 (captions read; details not acted on).