2026-11-09 - City Council

Good evening. We're going to call the meeting for Akran City Council to order. >> At this time, we will have our clerk call the role. >> Balden, >> I. >> Boy, >> I >> Connor, >> I >> Davis, >> hi. >>

Garrett, >> present. Rear. >> Hi >> Hannah. >> Hi >> Kr. >> Hi >> Lombardo. >> Hi >> Mkhitrich. >> I >> Amobian >> I >> Somerville >> I >> Wilson >> I >> All members are present. >> For those who

voluntarily wish to do so, would you please stand at this time as we are led in prayer by William Reynolds. Immediately following our prayer, I'm going to ask if Councilman Lombardo will lead us in

the pledge of allegiance. Hi. Um, it's important to reflect on the dangers that our emergency forces experience. For those that don't know, today a brotherhood which I am part of said a sad farewell

to one of their own lost in line of duty. Last Monday night at roughly 8:30 p.m. firefighter paramedic Ryan C. Milligan of the North Royaltton Fire Department died in the line of duty while fighting a

residential house fire in Broadview Heights where he responded as mutual aid. A 36-year-old husband and father of two young children, Ryan made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the community and

answering the call to help others. Ryan had served the North Royaltton Fire Department since August 2016 and on November 2nd, 2026. He suffered fatal injuries when a floor collapsed. Another

firefighter was seriously injured in the same incident, but is expected to recover. Ryan's loss is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers firefighters face and the sacrifices made by those who

dedicate their lives to protecting others. as well as their family sacrifices. His service, courage, and sacrifice will not be forgotten. Now, I'm going to read the firefighter's prayer. When I am

called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage, give me strength to save some life, whatever be its age, help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an older person from the horror of

that fate. Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shouts and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and give the best in me to guard my every neighbor and protect

their property and if according to your will I should lose my life. Please Lord bless with your protecting hand my children and my right wife. Amen. Rest easy my brother. We'll take it from here.

Lastly, next time that you see fire apparatus going by, please remember that this could be their last call. And if you would please say a quick prayer for them and their family. Thank you and God

bless our emergency forces. >> Amen. >> Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the 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? >> Motion to approve. Is there a second? >>

Second. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any oppose? >> The eyes have it. >> The motion to approve the minutes passes 13 to zero. >> We're now going to move to our public comment period.

We do have two individuals who have signed up to participate. If you'll please stand at this time so that you may be sworn in by our clerk. And we have Carolyn Collins and Shawn Rice. Could you please

raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give will be the truth? If so, please say I do. I do. >> Thank you. Thank you. So, just going to ask when you hear your name, if

you'll please approach the podium, just as a reminder, you do have three minutes to speak to this body. And we're going to begin with Mrs. Collins. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Carolyn

Collins and I serve on the Legacy Building Project Task Force as co-chair. The Legacy Building Project is more than a building. It is an opportunity to restore a community that was fractured by the

construction of the Interbelt. Our project is identified as one of the first short to midterm opportunities in the inner belt master plan and is central to the long overdue renaissance of the Lane

Worster community. When the inner belt cut through this neighborhood, the damage extended beyond the roads, properties and buildings. Families were dispersed, neighbors were separated, and the entire

community networks were disrupted. As a result, generations lost opportunities to learn from one another, share traditions, preserve community knowledge, and maintain the connections that help who

define help defi define who we are. The effects of this disruption are still felt today. That is why the legacy building project matters. It is not simply about preserving a structure. It is about

preserving history, restoring community connections, and ensuring that future generations understand the stories, culture, and contributions of those who came before them. We have already demonstrated

our commitment to this work. October 20 26 last month, we opened the AOPI Legacy Center, showing that we are are delivering results and investing in the future of this community. We also, I'm sorry,

and the community showed up. They showed up. We have also secured $600,000 in state capital funding across two budget cycles, including $200,000 this year that requires a local match. Tonight, I

respectfully call on Mayor Malik to allocate $50,000 immediately toward the legacy building project, and I ask the city council to support the remaining 550,000 over the next three years. The

community has waited long enough. Reinvestment should be more than a promise discussed in plans and in reports. It must be reflected in meaningful action and tangible investment that helps repair past

harms and create opportunities for future generations. The state has invested. Our organization has delivered. And now it is time for the city of Akran to do its part. Thank you for your time and

consideration. >> Thank you so much, Mrs. Collins. [applause] I do believe that uh Sean Rice is joining us virtually. Can you hear us? >> I can. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> All right. Should I

begin? >> Yes, you can. >> All right. My name is Sean Rice and I'm a member of the Akran chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. We have to ask ourselves if we want Akran to be the type of

city that allows its citizens to be surveiled and tracked 24/7 without their permission. I believe that Akran should cancel their contract with Flock, enjoy the more than 200 municipalities across our

country who have canceled their flock contracts as of September 2026, including the city of Los Angeles who discovered that their automatic license plate readers or ALPRs had a 32.3% error rate in

detecting stolen cars. meaning that the ALPD had one in three chances of pulling over an innocent driver. Nationwide, police officers are misusing flock to perform unauthorized searches on current or

former romantic partners to track their movements. Investigations by the Washington Post and watchdog groups like the Institute for Justice have documented at least 69 individual cases of police

officers and law enforcement personnel misusing ALPRs. The most common abuse being stalking. Here in Akran, as reported by Signal, we have discovered that our flock database has been regularly access

for searches related to immigration and abortion, despite changing our preferences on what gets searched back in May. Our database is still accessed millions of times with no reason for the searches

listed. We also share information with several municipalities in Ohio who do permit searches related to immigration and abortion. And there is nothing stopping them from accessing our data and sharing

it with whomever they please, including ICE and states that criminalize abortion. The risks far outweigh the benefits. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. A data for progress poll conducted in

September showed that Democrats, independents, and Republicans all have a net negative view of flock with 68% of Democrats holding a negative view of flock. Governor Elect Amy Actton has said, quote,

"Keeping Ohioans safe will always be my top priority, and public safety should never come at the expense of our rights." It's become clear that flock cameras pose serious risks to our privacy and are

too easily abused. As governor, I'll work across the aisle to ban their use statewide and protect Ohioans from the misuse of AI surveillance." unquote. Given the mandate that Ohio has just given the

governor elect, I urge this city council to consider the risks I presented, the views of your constituents, and whether or not remaining pro- flock is a politically tenable position as a Democrat in a

city with a Democratic mayor and Democratic city council. It is time for Akran to cancel its contract with Flock. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Rice, for sharing. Thank you. That concludes our public

comment period. I do want to thank those who took the time to come out and participate. Council, before you is the consent agenda. I do want to make a note that item number four on the consent agenda

has been pulled. So, we will be voting on all items minus item number four. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> All in favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Any oppose? The eyes

have it. >> The consent agenda passes 13 to zero. >> We'll now move to old business starting with planning and economic development. Councilman Kr. >> Thank you, Madam President. I'm not sure you want

to read in the item that was pulled. >> Yes. Item number four that was pulled from the consent agenda is in the Planning and Economic Development Committee. It's an ordinance approving the sale of an

interest in real property of city-owned land in the form of a right of first refusal and authorizing the mayor or his designate to enter into an agreement regarding the same, determining said property

is not needed for public use and declaring an emergency. >> Councilman Cameron. >> Thank you. I'd like to pull uh my committee for a favorable report with suspension of rules. Uh Connor >> I. >>

Balden abstain. >> Boy, >> I >> and Hannah >> I. >> All right. and myself. I uh reason we pulled this is uh brought it back into the committee so uh a council person could could abstain. >> Okay. >>

So with that, we're asking for passage. >> Thank you so much. So the committee's report is favorable. All in favor? Oh, I'm so sorry. Council person Wilson. I'm sorry. I didn't see your hand. >> So

sorry. I just according to the council rules just asking about the abstension reason for abstension. Thank you. Did did you did you did you get the um did you get the reason or would you like

Councilman Balden to state that? Councilman Balden, can you state that? But we haven't actually voted yet. So, >> you want to state it? You can. >> Hickory Harvest is a >> Hickory Harvest is a

customer of my company that I work for. >> Okay. >> So, I am abstaining. >> All right. Thank you. So, he made the conflict clear. Thank you. The committee's report is favorable. All in favor signify

by saying I. >> I >> abstain. >> And we'll do a roll call. >> Balden >> abstain. >> Boy, >> I >> Connor, >> I >> Davis, >> I >> Garrett. >> I >> Greer. >> I >> Hannah. >> Hi, >> Kimer. Hi, >>

Lombardo. >> I >> Mkhitrich. >> I am Omobian. >> I >> Somerville. I >> Wilson >> I >> this ordinance passes 12 to zero with one abstension. >> Okay. Thank you Councilman Kamer. Wisher pleasure on the

remainder of the agenda. >> Thank you Madam President. I'd like to uh file items number five, six, and seven. They all had to do with public hearings that was held earlier today. And time on the

balance. >> Thank you. Time will be granted. Public safety council McKitrich. >> Continued time, please. >> Thank you. Time will be granted. That concludes our old business. We'll now move into new

legislation starting with budget and finance. >> Item number one offered by Mayor Mllik and Councilman Lombardo. Ordinance providing for the temporary appropriation for the current expenses and other

expenditures of the city of Akran for the period of January 1st, 2027 through March 31st, 2027 and declaring an emergency. >> Councilman Lombardo. >> Consent agenda, please. >> Thank you. This item

will be placed on the consent agenda. >> Item number two offered by Mayor Malik. Councilman Mkhitrich and Councilman Garrett. Ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designate to, if awarded, accept

and expend grant funding from the Office on Violence Against Women to improve the criminal justice response to domestic violence program and declaring an emergency. >> Councilman Kitrick. >> Consent

agenda. >> This item will be placed on the consent agenda. >> Item number three, offered by Mayor Malik and Councilman Mkhitrich. Ordinance authorizing the mayor or his design to if awarded accept and

expend grant funds from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office and declaring an emergency. >> Council Mkhitrich. >> A consent agenda. >> This item will be placed on the consent agenda. >> Item number four

offered by Mayor Malik and Councilman Mkhitrich. Ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designate, if awarded, to accept and expend grant funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY2025 Justice

Reinvestment Initiative Grant, strengthening state and local operations to reduce crime and recidivism and declaring an emergency. >> Council Mkhitrich. >> Consent agenda, please. >> This item will be

placed on the consent agenda. >> Item number five, offered by Mayor Malik, Councilman Mkhitrich, and Councilman Garrett. Ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designate, if awarded, to accept and

expend grant funds from the Spirit of Blue Foundation and declaring an emergency. >> Councilman McKitrich. >> Consent agenda. >> This item will be placed on the consent agenda. >> Item number six,

offered by Mayor Malik, Councilman Mkhitrich, and Councilman Garrett. Ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designate to enter into a contractor contracts with Summit County, Ohio without the

formality of advertising for bids for the use of its training center and firing range by the city of Akran Police Department and declaring an emergency. Councilman McKitrich. >> Uh also consent

agenda. >> Thank you. This item will also 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

McKitrich >> 2 p.m. >> Budget and finance Councilman Lombardo >> 3 p.m. >> Planning and Economic Development Councilman Kurr >> 1 p.m. >> Public Service Councilman Kimer >> 2 p.m. Public safety,

Councilman McKitrich, >> 215. >> Parks and Recreation, Councilwoman Connor, >> 145. >> Housing and Neighborhood Assistance, Councilman Balden, >> 3:30. >> Health and Social Services, Councilwoman

Davis, >> Is there anything else coming before council at this time? Councilman Greer. Oh, I'm sorry. Councilman Greer. >> Thank you, Madam President. My apologies. I'll be okay. Um I just wanted to

uh stand and recognize the task force from the legacy building project. Uh also want to recognize Dr. NJ Akbar who is the executive director of this uh ongoing initiative and thanking him for his

continued work. I have the privilege of serving on the advisory board for the legacy building project and it is certainly an important initiative. uh the uh task force and the organization and many

volunteers uh have put in an enormous amount of work uh and I just want to again voice my support not only for them and their work but how important this is to our community when urban renewal had a

devastating impact on those neighborhoods. So again, thank you to them. And then lastly, I just want to say uh a congratulations to Akran Early College. Last week uh we were able to celebrate them

being ranked the number one high school in the state of Ohio and that's the third time in a row that they've done that. So congratulations to all of those students, their parents, the teachers and

staff at Akran Early College. Thank you so much, Council Member, [applause] Council Person Wilson. >> Thank you, Madame President. Um, I just wanted to briefly state uh thank you to Chair McKitrich

and the public safety committee and President Somerville for uh making space for a flock conversation today. Um, anybody can watch it on YouTube. Um, I I think it was pretty helpful and insightful. Um

hopefully my colleagues feel the same. I also just wanted to share I sent a a memo and a letter to uh colleagues uh to council today. Um there was a letter that community members sent the

administration um last week um regarding Flock um asking for a pause amid auditing and this was signed by the in uh International Institute of Akran Akran NAACP uh Islamic Society of Akran and Kent

and several other community organizations um that have been a part of this conversation. I also personally want to share I spent the greater half of last week um during free time going through the 13

million rows of network logs on flock that um we were able to get through public records and I also went through our audit logs um from 2023 and 2026. Um the I I will you know share some more

information. And I shared that with my council colleagues what I found which was um that local entities in Ohio whether or not they had you know direct cooperation agreements with ICE and immigration

enforcement have and are conducting um searches on our network. Um and so it's something that continues regardless of our restrictions for out of state sharing. Um, I also found and submitted a police

complaint regarding um, several dozen or more um, searches for key terms around protesters and protesting on Copley Road by three separate APD staffers in 2023. Um, and I hope to get some uh, feedback

and um, you know, an audit about what what happened there. Um I you know I personally we put forward the the resolution to ask for a pause for the administration. Um and I I hope that my colleagues

really take that seriously and I understand that there are real weights uh to this conversation but um really sit down with what is happening with this data. Please rewatch um the conversation from

today if you have a moment. And then raw data and all public records, agreements, financials, receipts, all public records regarding Akran flock are on my council website and you can peruse it as you

like. Akranward1.com flock. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. And just want to say thank you to uh Council Person Wilson for your leadership of setting up our conversation for Flock this

afternoon, which was very informative. Councilman Garrett. >> Uh thank you, Madame President. Uh I too thank uh Council Person Wilson for uh putting that uh presentation together today. Uh one of the

things that we witnessed during this presentation is that there is still 145 flight cameras disproportionately put in the black poor black, white, and brown community. That's a fact. No one's

addressed why they're in those communities heavily. We have a ward uh ward 8 two and and one with very little coverage. So the concerns goes out why why are this particular area being overheavily

surveiled you know and that that's a question that no one's been able to ask. We have a fact sheet that was put out um in in reference to the facts and myths about Flock cameras. But with Flock being

a privately held company, they're um not subject to any foyer requests. They're not they don't have to divulge any information. And so what happens a lot of times, Madame President, is that this

information is moving so fast. And when you have colleagues that are not up to speed, they're not up to speed in terms of researching, getting the desk necessary information and the data to really

answer their questions because they decide to get their answers from the FOP who is doing every single thing they can to block any type of real meaningful reform. Case in point, you would take a look

at my colleague in war 2 who had a long presentation about why he didn't think flock camera should be paused. Not from any of his residents that are heavily immigrants. Not from any of them, but from

a gentleman who doesn't even live in the city, sends them talking points that he then regurgitates to the community as if it's fact and law. He held up his cell phone to suggest that so many of us are

being heavily surveiled or followed by our cell phones. And that's a great question about the cell phones because I have yet to get a response from Mr. Craig Morgan as to how Devon Fields accessed

access those flock cameras when he was on paid leave. Did he use the city's computer? Did he use did he go into the office or did he actually access it from his cell phone? See, these are the

questions that they're they're not answering. And so to for us to continue to go down this path to allow this not not even to pause, not even to have a conversation. This is the frustrating part. And

this is the mayor who we thought, Madame President, was going to bring about real meaningful police reform, real changes. But instead, what do we have? We have an organization, Legacy Project, coming

down here begging, begging this administration just to make it right. $50,000 is minor. We shouldn't even be having this same conversation. But this is what happens when you allow a Harvard a Harvard

lawyer to come in and make all these promises and then hold people up. We're not even going to get anything on the flot cameras. Legacy is going to continue to try to figure it out. They even have

matching funds from the state, but this mayor is holding it all up. Were the people that really who are really concerned about what really took place down there. He could do this in a snap of a

finger. This is the same mayor, Madam President. And this is the extremely frustrating that was against issues 11, 12, and 13 and then turned around and said how he thought maybe it's a good idea. At

some point in time, we as a community have to wake up. We're not getting what we want. We keep asking and asking and continue to be ignored on every single front. Um it it's sad to just really watch

with Flock Cameron. Madam President, I it's it's sad that individuals aren't really doing their homework. They're not listening to their constituents. Overwhelmingly about 70 70 70 to 75% of folks are

saying get rid of flot cameras. We can't even have a real intelligent conversation because the person over the public safety is not willing to do that. The person who who's supposed to be the the

umpire between a community and the police department is not doing what we need him to do. And so it's extremely frustrating, Madam President, that we're in this space. When we talked about the $4.75

million that we had to give away to pay for a person who was shot in the back, these are funds that could be used in a better way for our community. But once again, Madame President, this is what we

unfortunately have to deal with. Um I I feel sorry for the Legacy Project. You shouldn't have to come down here and beg. They should He should want to do that. Um so, Madame President, I thank you for

your time. I'm just extremely disappointed as so many constituents are with what's happening right now with this current administration. Thank you for your time, Madam President. [clears throat and

cough] I'm >> just going to ask you that you refrain from clapping. Thank you so much, Councilman Garrett. Thank you so much for your comments. Councilwomanian, >> thank you, Madam President. I would

just like to make my colleagues aware of the address where the legacy project is located so you have an opportunity to see the progress they have made thus far. It is located at Mount Olive Baptist

Church at 1180 Slawson Street. That's Akran 44320. And Madame President, if you will allow Dr. Abar to indicate the times that the facility is available or open. That would be extremely helpful so

that people would know when they could go there to visit. Additionally, while he's going to the mic, I know that Mr. Morgan indicated that he was not part of the staff that decided on how the cameras

were distributed, and I think that's part of the audit. So, I think at some point we're going to look at where they are to see where they probably need to be so that there's equity amongst our city.

Thank you very much. >> Thank you. And just push that button. There you go. >> Okay. Uh thank you very much, Councilwoman Amobian. Uh so the Akran uh rights to passage or uh legacy center uh is open

Friday and Saturday uh from 11 to 7:00. We offer free tours um from uh 3 to 6 every Friday. So, we would love to have you come down uh to take a tour and then also host um your next community meeting

there as well. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Uh Dr. Akbar, again, thank you for all the work that you guys are doing. I do encourage all of council to go and take a look um at the facility. They

are providing some great support and services right now. very needed support services for our neighborhood and our community. So, we appreciate that um and continue to look forward to working on

building um the legacy project. So, thank you, Council Person Wilson. >> I'll keep this very quick. I just forgot one point and that the contract for Flock has a conveniency clause that says $500 per

camera. So, that's $75,000 cost to remove them. And then if we cancel by the end of the year, we get $800,000 back if you do the math. So, just wanted to flag that for anybody who are interested in

the cost um around taking them down or removing them. Um Cleveland, like we mentioned earlier today, uh is dropping flock actually and going with another vendor. Something to consider. Thank >> Thank

you so much. Anything else coming before this body at this time? Is there a motion for adjournment? Motion to >> If there are no objections, meeting adjourned. >> This concludes the live broadcast of

Akran City Council. Marggo Somerville, president of council presiding.