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Akron council approves vape licensing, zoning and sewer charge changes; Leeds contract passes
Summary
At its meeting the Akron City Council approved a package of ordinances that license vape/smoke shops, add related zoning restrictions, and amended sewer charge sections; the council also approved a contract for law‑enforcement support software. Most measures passed unanimously; the sewer charges ordinance passed 11‑1.
Akron City Council on Tuesday approved a set of ordinances and contracts covering vape and smoke shop licensing, related zoning limits, sewer charge changes and a law‑enforcement software contract.
Councilman Pete Fusco presented an ordinance to license vape and smoke shops in the city, citing rising numbers of such businesses. The council suspended the rules, received a favorable committee report and passed the licensure ordinance 12‑0. Fusco told the council the city expects to send applications to eligible operators soon and said fines in the ordinance are $200 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense and $2,000 for subsequent offenses. The ordinance also allows revocation of a license if a smoke shop operator is declared a nuisance under the city code.
Council also passed the zoning companion ordinance intended to limit locations for vape and smoke shops; that zoning measure passed 12‑0. Councilman Fusco described a 1‑mile radius prohibition (language in committee materials) and a 500‑foot buffer from parks, schools and community learning centers as part of the zoning scheme.
An ordinance amending Title 5 (Public Works), Chapter 50 (Sewers) — including sections 50.2, 50.21, 50.22 and 50.23 — was read into the record and passed by roll call 11‑1; Councilwoman Keemer voted no. Councilman Kamer said the committee met earlier and recommended passage under emergency declaration.
Council approved a contract with Leeds Online LLC for law‑enforcement software services, which the committee reported favorably and the council adopted 12‑0. Several other public‑service and public‑works purchases and emergency contracts — including agreements for Lock 3 landscape maintenance (Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition), parts for 36‑ and 48‑inch water repairs (Core & Main LP), water distribution pump upgrades (Rexel USA Inc.), and replacement parts for sludge collection systems (Pelton Environmental Products Inc.) — were placed on the consent agenda and passed as part of the consent package. The consent agenda passed 12‑0.
The meeting record shows the council voted to file several items and to withdraw one petitioned item; no further public hearings or contested amendments to these ordinances were recorded during this session.
