City of Akron Council Committee Meetings - 9.21.2026

The City of Akron Council held committee meetings on September 21, 2026, covering public service, public utilities, green initiatives, and public safety. Key procurement discussions included the authorization of a new contract with Premium Parking to operate city parking facilities, replacing the expired ABM contract. The contract features a transaction-based fee model and an associated $672,000 investment in parking technology to improve efficiency and reduce the general fund subsidy. The council also approved emergency water service agreements with Medina County and Cleveland, and authorized contracts for emergency water main repairs and design services for a 2028 water main replacement program, supported by applications for low-interest loans from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the council approved grant acceptances totaling over $1.2 million for public safety initiatives, including crisis response training, equipment maintenance, elder abuse training, and youth gang prevention programs. A significant portion of the public safety committee meeting focused on surveillance technology, specifically the use and oversight of 145 Flock cameras, with council members requesting a 30-day audit and ongoing transparency reports to ensure proper use and accountability. The meeting concluded with a presentation on public safety metrics, highlighting reductions in use-of-force incidents and complaints, increased firearm recoveries, and concerns about rising attacks on officers.