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Public Service Committee advances multiple infrastructure, parks and trail measures on consent
Summary
The committee approved a consent agenda advancing a package of ordinances including a Diagonal Road speed designation change, a new restroom at Elizabeth Park, preventive roofing maintenance contracts, hydrant repainting, water treatment optimization work, and several grant applications for trails and street improvements.
The Public Service Committee of the Akron City Council on Tuesday approved a consent agenda that advanced a series of ordinances and grant applications covering traffic-calming, park facilities, building maintenance, hydrant maintenance and multimodal trail projects.
Most items were moved on consent and carried by voice vote. Committee members and department staff provided brief descriptions of the work, timelines and funding requests during the meeting; committee leadership said several of the items will return to full council for final action.
Key items advanced on consent included: - Diagonal Road speed designation: Staff said a traffic-engineer analysis found segments of Diagonal Road should not be designated a through street. The ordinance would change certain sections of the corridor to a 25 mph designation (making the stretch from Frederick to Copley consistent at 25 mph) to permit traffic-calming measures such as speed tables on those 25 mph segments. "This is not a through street," said Mr. Loehr, who presented the analysis, and staff indicated they will change signage to conform with city code.
- Elizabeth Park restroom: The committee advanced an ordinance to construct a new two-stall restroom near the park splash pad that will serve the splash pad and surrounding courts. Mr. Lettl said the restroom will be placed behind the sidewalk, visible to users, will include cameras, lights and automatic locks that can be timed to open during activity hours and be winterized (no added heat) and closed in winter months.
- Preventative roofing maintenance contract: The committee moved forward an emergency ordinance authorizing the director of public service to enter into a contract with Innovative Roofing Systems (via the state TIPs program) for preventive maintenance on flat roofs the Building Maintenance Department oversees. Staff described the work as annual inspections and minor repairs aimed at extending roof life on city-owned buildings.
- Hydrant repainting program: An ordinance to publicly bid painting work for fire hydrants advanced. Staff said the annual program will repaint roughly 2,000 of the city's approximately 12,000 hydrants, including sandblasting, priming, and color-coding domes for flow information used by the fire department.
- Professional engineering for treatment-plant optimization: Committee advanced a contract authorization to work with Fontis/Fortis Blue Incorporated for professional engineering services on a treatment plant process optimization project. Staff credited the vendor for prior optimization work in water and wastewater operations and said the partnership "saved well over $101,500,000 in chemicals" since 2018, while maintaining water quality, a figure presented by Mr. Liddle during the discussion.
- WSRLA planning loan application: Staff were authorized to apply for a planning loan through the Ohio Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA) with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority to support water supply bureau initiatives, including filter-building and pumping station planning.
- River City Heritage Trail (phase 2): The committee authorized applying for and accepting, if awarded, an ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Special Solicitation Grant seeking $750,000 to construct phase 2 of the Rubber City Heritage Trail. Staff said the phase would continue from Fire Station No. 2 at Arlington and Market along the old rail bed to Exchange.
- Main Street Phase 3 application: Staff were authorized to apply for and accept a $500,000 award from the Summit County Transportation Improvement District (TID) for South Main Street improvements (Main Street Phase 3) covering concrete saw cutting and asphalt replacement while leaving curb intact; additional utility and water-main work may be required depending on design.
- Akron Peninsula Multipurpose Trail project funding: The committee moved forward two related ordinances to apply for an ODOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Special Solicitation Grant ($1,500,000 request) and a Clean Ohio Trail Fund (COTF) grant (seeking $500,000). Planner Daniel D'Angelo described the project as a 10-foot-wide separated asphalt trail on Akron Peninsula Road to connect West Portage Trail to the Riverwood Open Space Preserve. He said the project budget is about $1,900,000; the city has committed riverwood TIF funds and said the city of Cuyahoga Falls has committed approximately $183,000 toward the trail.
Committee members asked questions about project locations, buffers and crosswalk treatments for the trail, with staff saying the trail would likely sit on the west/south side of Akron Peninsula Road and include continental crosswalks but not necessarily flashing lights without additional funding.
All items were advanced on a motion and second for the consent agenda and carried by voice vote. Staff and committee members said several projects are contingent on grant awards, and some will require further design and utility coordination before construction.
