City of Akron Council Committee Meetings - 10.26.2026

Akron City Council’s Public Service, Public Utilities and Green Committee and Budget and Finance Committee met on October 26, 2026, according to the meeting title. The public-service discussion covered a South Main Street improvement project—paving, sidewalks, curbs and water-main work—with bidding expected later in 2026 and construction planned to begin in early 2027 over roughly two years; final property assessments would follow completion. The committee also considered the ODOT-managed Talmadge Avenue resurfacing project from Route 8 to Britain Road; ODOT will handle design, bidding and inspection, and the city reported receiving a $150,000 STBG grant toward its share. The committee advanced that item with a favorable report after suspending the rules. It approved for the consent agenda a purchase of four replacement pumps directly from their manufacturer, citing the need for identical equipment. A proposed water-distribution capital master plan, expected to use city staff and consultants and take two to two-and-a-half years, was held for further review rather than acted on. The accompanying presentation discussed planned water-rate increases averaging about $5 monthly for typical residential use beginning in 2027, and increasing water-main replacement investment.

In Budget and Finance, the committee considered a Salesforce constituent-response system contract with Carahsoft Technology Corporation: $200,000 for implementation and $130,000 for licenses, with licensing prices under state contract MSA 0016. Council members urged that councilmembers be included in the system’s design and rollout; the item was placed on the consent agenda. A budget amendment included, among other items, $35 million for water-project reimbursements under a changed OWDA payment process and $1.05 million for previously authorized motor-equipment tools; the amendment passed 5–0. The committee also advanced 2026 debt measures totaling $26.75 million for new-money purposes, including $9 million for transportation projects, and approved a $41.1 million one-year refinancing of existing notes. Other measures addressed parks, public facilities and economic-development projects, including demolition of the Firestone facility. A separate note issuance to finance a court-approved settlement was advanced on a 4–1 vote; the city described a likely 10-year repayment period with annual debt service of about $570,000.