11/09/2011
Voters elect four new council members
City Council will have four new members in 2012. In Ward 6, Bob Hoch defeated Dave Goodspeed. In Ward 7, Donnie Kammer defeated John Jones. Marilyn Keith will represent Ward 8. The wife of Council Clerk and former Ward 8 representative Bob Keith defeated David Sutter in her race. Gary Monneypenny made a successful comeback bid for a seat he gave up to work for the Sheriff's Department. He defeated Laura Asbury. Incumbents Jim Hurley (W1), Bruce Kilby (W2) and Mike Freeman (W10) won their races. Councilmen Russ Neil (W4) and Ken Jones (W5), and Council President Marco Sommerville (W3) faced no opposition. The three At-large Council seats were not up for re-election this year. All 13 members of Council are Democrats.
11/08/2011
Schools, city swap Kenmore land
A land swap between Akron Public Schools and the city that lays the groundwork for a new senior housing complex in Kenmore was approved by Council. The equal-value trade gave the city ownership of vacant Heminger Elementary School on Kenmore Boulevard. The city plans to sell the property to Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, a Columbus-based developer and operator of senior housing complexes. Buckeye will raze the school building and invest more than $5 million to create a 40-unit senior complex.
Nov. 7, 2011 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
10/31/2011
Resource center for vets, homeless approved
Conditional use zoning necessary to create a resource and referral center at 111 East Voris Street for veterans and the homeless was approved by Council at Monday's meeting. Community Support Services, a nonprofit provider of behavioral and primary healthcare services to persons most in need, will renovate and remodel a vacant industrial building and operate the center. The project is federally funded.
October 31, 2011 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
10/24/2011
Grant would pay for bulletproof vests
Council approved legislation that authorizes Mayor Plusquellic to apply for a Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant will pay between 20 and 50 percent of the cost to equip all Akron law enforcement officers with body armor. Council also approved legislation allowing the mayor to seek a High Visibility Enforcement Overtime Grant from the state. The grant would pay for traffic officers to monitor high-accident intersections for speed, DUI and seatbelt violations.
October 24, 2011 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
10/18/2011
City to accept grant from Summit County for housing
Akron will receive $272,000 from Summit County for affordable housing. Council passed an ordinance at Monday’s Council meeting authorizing the mayor to accept the grant, which will be used to help the city acquire and redevelop neglected properties primarily in the Summit Lake area. Council also passed a resolution supporting Issue 25, a renewal levy for Summit County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The agency serves more than 4,000 residents with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. The levy provides 72 percent of its funding.
10/10/2011
Columbus Day
Council and Committees will not meet today because of the holiday. The next meetings will be Monday, Oct. 17.
10/04/2011
School levy, sewer overflow reform win Council support
Resolutions supporting a 5.5 mill school levy and urging Congress to reform the Clean Water Act sewer overflow policy won unanimous approval by Council Monday night. School Superintendent David James spoke about the levy to Council and said that the success of the school system and the success of the city are joined. more...
09/27/2011
Council to consider limits on street memorials
A letter signed by three West Side city block club presidents and read at Council Monday evening asked Council to set time limits on street-side memorials. The issue is how long a memorial - usually consisting of stuffed animals, candles, balloons and flowers attached to a telephone pole - should be allowed to remain on display. (more...)
09/20/2011
City to install electric charging stations for cars
Akron is entering into an agreement with Clean Fuels Ohio to obtain a Federal grant to install five vehicle electric charging stations. Council approved an ordinance at Monday's meeting authorizing the city to obtain the grant money from the 2009 American Recovery and Investment Act. Council also passed a resolution encouraging voters to support repeal of Ohio House Bill 194, a Republican plan for redrawing congressional districts. Ward 5 Councilman Ken Jones said that HB194 "oppresses voters." To see the entire Council meeting, click on any of the following links: 9-19-11 from Akron City Council on Vimeo.
09/20/2011
Ward 1 meeting rescheduled
Ward 1 Councilman Jim Hurley has changed the date of his ward meeting from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28. It remains at the Highland Square Branch Library where the new neighborhood Mustard Seed grocery store will be discussed. Future ward meetings will return to Patterson Park Community Center, 800 Patterson Ave.