City Council - Regular Meeting

5:58•MSMargo Sommerville

Good evening. We're going to call the meeting for Akron City Council to order. At this time, our clerk will read the roll. Bolden.

6:29 – 6:46•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. For those who voluntarily wish to do so, would you please stand at this time as we are led in prayer by Pastor Jimmy Rogers of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. He joins us virtually. Immediately following our prayer, I'm going to ask if Councilman Garrett will lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

7:24 – 7:54•MSMargo Sommerville

Amen. United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The minutes from our previously held meeting have been provided. Are there any additions or corrections?

8:09 – 8:21•MSMargo Sommerville

We'll now move to our public comment period. We do have two individuals who have signed up to participate. I'm going to ask if those two individuals will please stand at this time so that you may be sworn in by our clerk.

8:29 – 8:41•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. And just going to ask, when you hear your name... If you will please approach the podium. Just as a reminder, you'll have three minutes to speak to this body. And we're going to begin with William Reynolds.

11:55•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Mr. Reynolds. Thank you. Charlotte?

14:47 – 15:08•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Charlotte. Thank you so much, Charlotte. Again, this concludes our public comment period. We do want to thank both of you for taking the time to come down and to participate. We have no items on our consent agenda, which means we'll move right into old business, starting with planning and economic development. Councilman Kamer.

15:09 – 15:27•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to, or number five, the committee's report is consent agenda. And then 6, 7, 9, and 10, I would like to file. Those are public hearings that we did. And continue time on the balance.

15:28 – 15:40•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much. Public safety, Councilman McKittrick. Thank you. Time will be granted. That concludes our old business. We'll now move into new legislation.

16:07•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to refer this for a public hearing to be held on October 19th, 2026.

16:26•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. Committee's report is favorable and we're asking for a suspension of the rules.

16:30 – 16:45•MSMargo Sommerville

Are there any objections to suspension of the rules? Is there a second? Seeing and hearing no second, suspension of rules will go forward. Councilman Kamer, do you have any further comments?

16:45•DKDonnie Kammer

Sure. I just would like to mention that this is to move forward with the ARC data center to assemble land.

16:53•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. Councilperson Wilson, did you have some comments?

16:57 – 17:49•FWFran Wilson

If I may, Madam President. You sure can. I appreciate, you know, this legislation is in essence and on paper about a vacation plat and a utility right-of-way, but it is also tied directly with utilities and the expansion of a data center in our city, one that I took a tour of and I was happy to take a tour of. and learn more about a facility that's around 15 megawatts that's growing out to 41 megawatts. I personally have shared and asked for legislation to hopefully appear on the public docket. I know some of us have received some information about utility usage and projections. I would like t

17:51 – 18:34•FWFran Wilson

Thank you. I think I just want to go very quickly. I won't take too much time, but I am concerned about how quickly this was rushed through council. I talked with many of my colleagues about different questions around data centers, the utilities at the specific facilities. Many of us have also taken a tour of the facilities. I also, you know, personally, I read the legislation and have a problem with our use of the emergency clause standards there. And personally, I have questions about the risk for public safety and health long-term of the facility, and in general, these types of businesses i

18:34•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you, Councilperson. Councilwoman Omobian?

18:40 – 20:56•LOLinda F. R. Omobien

Thank you, Madam President. Can you hear me okay? Yes, we can. Thank you. I just want to state that for everybody who may not know, this original business came in as Involta either 10, 15 years ago. At that time, I was serving on the Economic Development Committee. I may have been chair at the time. But I just want people to know that this particular data center has been a good neighbor and has provided valuable services to major businesses in our community. I have not heard, and I don't know if anyone else has, of any complaints at all about this particular facility. And when I spoke with one

20:56 – 22:58•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Councilwoman. Any other comments at this time? I do just want to have one comment. I do want to thank Arc Data Center for reaching out to Akron City Council and making sure that we were involved in the process at the very beginning, inviting us out to take a tour. Majority of Akron City Council members attended that tour. And I just want to thank Councilwoman Omobian for hitting on some of those points. We want people to know that Arc Data Center did not just pop up. You have been providing critical services to our local hospitals, manufacturers, and local governments for ov

23:54•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. Committee's report is favorable, and we're asking for suspension of the rules.

23:59•MSMargo Sommerville

Are there any objections to suspension of the rules? Seeing and hearing none, the rules have been suspended. Do you have a comment before he goes into this? Yes. Okay.

24:11 – 24:31•MGMark Greer

Thank you, Madam President. I'm just stating that I actually will be abstaining from the vote. I am in total support of this, and I cannot praise Carla McDade and her staff more, but I am on the board of the Summit County Continuum of Care, of which Harmony House is a part. So I will be abstaining.

24:31•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Councilman Greer, for sharing that with us.

24:37•DKDonnie Kammer

Okay. Committee's report is favorable, and we're asking for suspension of the rules. I lost my train of thought there. So this afternoon, we had a really good discussion.

24:46•LOLinda F. R. Omobien

I'm sorry, Madam President. My hand was up.

24:48•MSMargo Sommerville

Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Councilwoman Obian.

24:52 – 25:22•LOLinda F. R. Omobien

Thank you. Thank you very much. I too would just like to say that anything Carla McVeigh is involved in, I want to be a part of it. She has just provided outstanding services for young people that are homeless, that are struggling. And I went to her fundraiser and the testimonials that you would have heard from the young people, the parents, and it just blew me away. And I am forever grateful for what she's doing for our city and our children. Thank you very much.

25:26•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. I'll just end that this is a great piece of legislation and very supportive among my colleagues, and with that, we're asking for passage.

25:35•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. So the committee's report is favorable. All in favor, signify by saying aye.

26:20•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. Committee's report is favorable, and we're asking for suspension of the rules.

26:25•MSMargo Sommerville

Are there any objections to suspension of the rules? Seeing and hearing none, the rules have been suspended.

26:29 – 26:44•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you. Actually, since the mayor is a co-sponsor, I'm going to yield to any members of his office or even the ward council person that I do know that has worked and has been involved with this piece of legislation.

26:46•MSMargo Sommerville

Anyone from the administration have any comments?

27:11•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. Councilperson Wilson, do you have comments?

27:13 – 27:34•FWFran Wilson

Thank you, Madam President. Yeah, like I said earlier, this has been a decade plus in the works. We are really excited to get this off the ground and get moving. And I'll keep you guys updated on the progress. This is a gem of our city, and it must be protected and preserved. So looking forward to doing that work ahead. Thank you.

27:35•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. Any other comments at this time? Seeing and hearing none, the committee's report is favorable. All in favor signify by saying aye.

27:50•MSMargo Sommerville

Did we have a nay? Yes, roll call, please.

28:39•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. Committee's report is favorable and we're asking for suspension of the rules.

28:49•MSMargo Sommerville

Okay. Okay. Any objections to suspension of the rules? Seeing and hearing none, the rules have been suspended.

28:56 – 29:11•DKDonnie Kammer

All right. Well, thank you, Madam President. This is to move forward with acquiring and replacing some old facility automotive lifts in our service garages, and they're greatly needed, and we're asking for passage.

29:11•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you. The rules have been suspended. The committee's report is favorable. All in favor signify by saying aye.

29:42•MSMargo Sommerville

Councilman Kamer? Set. This item will be placed on the consent agenda.

30:09•MSMargo Sommerville

This item will be placed on the consent agenda.

30:32•MSMargo Sommerville

This item will be placed on the consent agenda.

31:40•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you, Madam President. Committee's report is favorable. We're asking for suspension of the rules.

31:45•MSMargo Sommerville

Are there any objections to suspension of the rules? Seeing and hearing none, the rules have been suspended.

31:49•DKDonnie Kammer

Thank you. I do know the mayor is a co-sponsor on this, but I'm not sure. I know he's not here. If somebody from his office would like to say anything, if not, we're asking for passage.

32:00 – 32:11•MSMargo Sommerville

Okay. Thank you so much. The rules have been suspended. The committee's report is favorable. All in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it.

32:33 – 33:17•MSMargo Sommerville

This item will be placed on the consent agenda. That does conclude our new legislation for this evening. We'll now move into our committee assignments. Rules, Councilman McKittrick. 2 p.m. Budget and Finance, Councilman Lombardo. 3 p.m. Planning and Economic Development, Councilman Kamer. 1 p.m. Public Service, Councilman Kamer. Public Safety, Councilman McKittrick. Parks and Recreation, Councilwoman Conner. 25. Housing and Neighborhood Assistance, Councilman Bolden. Health and Social Services, Councilwoman Davis. 230. Is there anything else coming before Council? No problem. 330 for housing. Councilperson Wilson, did I see your hand?

33:18 – 34:17•FWFran Wilson

Thank you. This weekend, a lot of people might have heard there was a tragic incident in Highland Square about 2 a.m. Friday night, Saturday morning. An individual who was supposedly intoxicated drove at a very, very high rate of speed through a busy bar district, Highland Square, late at night. and hit a pedestrian, killing them, and also injuring another man who was driving. That other man has been taken out of the hospital and is at home resting. I visited them yesterday. Just as our meeting was started, the family of Mr. Franklin was gathering in Highland Square for the second vigil. honor

34:18•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Councilperson. Thank you. Councilman Bolden.

Thank you, Madam President. Friday morning, very early, about 6.30, I got a call from a resident of a water main break down in Parkway Estates. For those of you who don't know, first of all, I want to thank the water department, the service department, for the work they did. One of the things in the valley, as was said earlier, Service Director Luddle mentioned this, that the water pressure down there is very, very strong in the valley. It's probably the strongest in the city. This was a water main break that started, ended up, someone decided to drive through standing water. And this ended up

35:40•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Councilman Bolden. Councilwoman Omobian?

35:43 – 36:54•LOLinda F. R. Omobien

Yeah, I just wanted to recognize the two individuals who came to the Health and Social Services meeting this afternoon. They shared some critical information with us, the importance of men's health. It was a men's health awareness piece. And it sounds like the two individuals, Mr. Jason Casey and Naomi Allstock, were the two nurses, they're advanced practice nurses, and they will go around and talk about PSA, prostate cancer, prostate screenings, testosterone screenings. It just is so important for Men to take care of themselves and our women to help take care of our men because there are so m

36:55•MSMargo Sommerville

Thank you so much, Councilwoman Omobian. Is there anything else coming before this body at this time? We have a motion on the floor, no objections. Meeting adjourned.