Akron council hears public pleas for police reform and road safety, approves capital plan and grants

Akron City Council on the night recorded in the transcript heard sustained public comment pressing the council to speed police reform, improve winter road safety and take clearer positions on immigration enforcement before approving a slate of legislative items, including the capital investment program and several grant-authorizing ordinances.

Residents used the public-comment period to press the council on accountability. Allison Otterman, a Ward 8 resident, urged the council to revise the city’s snow-and-ice control plan, saying many level‑3 streets are not routinely plowed unless residents call 311 and that crashes often occur during refreeze periods up to 19 days after the last snowfall. "Road safety should not depend on individual requests," Otterman said.

Multiple speakers called for stronger police oversight. Tasha Mills told the council that a public stance against federal partnerships, such as with ICE, rings hollow if the city tolerates unchecked misconduct inside the Akron Police Department. "If the city claims it won't work with ICE because it undermines trust," Mills said, "then tolerating unchecked behavior within APD undermines that claim." Acacia Reynolds urged adoption of policies including bans on head strikes for low-level offenses and…