Note to readers

The following item is a written record of the Akron City Council Ward 4 meeting from Feb. 25, 2026, compiled by Akron Documenter Rebecca Ritterspach. It is not a reported story.

Documenters are residents who are trained to observe and document local government meetings. Their notes are edited before publication for clarity and accuracy — unless quotation marks are used, all text is paraphrased.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalakron.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.

Summary

  • Ward 4 Council Member Jan Davis discussed the ongoing focus in 2026 of business development and beautification on Copley Road in West Akron. She is looking into federal funding and has plans to plant flowers, among other things, to help boost morale in the community and possibly attract new businesses. 
  • West Akron resident Jane Greenland advocated for renaming Schneider Park to Schneider Memorial Park. According to this article, the West Akron located on Mull Avenue served as a burial ground for “the Summit County Infirmary between 1875 and 1919.”
  • City Council to vote on a long gun policy for Akron Police officers. Currently, officers are allowed to bring their own weapons (within certain parameters). The new policy, if approved, would provide department-issued rifles.  

Documenter follow-up questions

  • There was general support among meeting attendees for the city to provide APD-issued rifles for officers. Has that been the general feedback seen by APD Community Engagement team members at ward meetings in other areas of the city?
  • What inspired Carolyn Behrman and Timothy Matney to write their recently released book about the history of Schneider Park? Are there any other topics relevant to Akron history that they plan to pursue?

Ward 4 meeting notes 

  • Location: St. Sebastian Church – Zwisler Hall, 476 Mull Ave.
  • Meeting start time – 6:03 p.m.
  • Meeting end time – 7:28 p.m.
  • Attendees: 15, plus 3 Akron Police community ambassadors

Copley Road development, beautification efforts

  • Davis is exploring potential federal funding for redevelopment.
  • She told attendees: “Everybody screams that Copley Road is this, Copley Road is that. Okay, but what do we do about? I’ve been working along with the mayor, and I’ll be meeting with the mayor I think next week, about possibly some funding from the federal government.”
  • She talked about several business that were either staying or expanding, including Akron Mulch, 1735 Copley Road, that just received council approval to expand. Davis also mentioned two other businesses that decided to stay on Copley Road.
  • “These are businesses that can bring 10 to 12 jobs each one into the neighborhood, paying $25 to $30 an hour, and if you’re hiring somebody within the neighborhood, it’s a walkable job,” she said.
  • Another example of growth in the area, Davis said, included an expansion to an adult day care center at 1264 Copley Road that is working its way through council.
  • Davis also said that the owner of a Copley Road liquor store is planning to buy the closed CVS at the corner of Copley Road and South Hawkins Avenue. If it all works out, he would move his store to this location.
  • “I don’t have a problem with it. Okay, if people drink, they are going to drink, whether they have to drive 10 miles to get their liquor or they have to drive up the street,” Davis said. She added that the owner has been good to the community over the years.
  • Spring-summer focus: Beautification efforts, including planting flowers.
  • Goal: Improve neighborhood aesthetics to enhance community morale and attract new businesses. 

🗓️ New events calendar! From block parties to concerts and kids’ activities, find fun around Akron and Summit County all year long. Dive into the calendar and start planning.

Schneider Park renaming

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Akron Police Department updates

Presenter: Officer Aaron Brown, Community Engagement Team

  • Digital APD newsletter
  • APD is hiring
    • 31 recruits are currently in the academy.
    • A second academy class starts in August. APD is recruiting now.
    • Maximum starting age for new recruits is 45 years old.
  • CodeRED notification system
    • Mass text alerts for road closures, water main breaks, building closures, city events
  • Homicide update – Feb. 6 at Noah Avenue and Bye Street
    • Incident occurred around 2 a.m.
    • Victim as a 36-year-old male, who was found with gunshot wounds.
    • Officers administered emergency aid; the victim died at the hospital.
    • APD is seeking additional information.
    • Area residents are encouraged to check Ring doorbell footage.

APD long gun policy discussion

  • Upcoming City Council vote: police long gun policy
  • Current policy is that officers may carry personally owned rifles.

Requirements:

  • Must be approved by APD.
  • Officer must qualify with the weapon.
  • Modifications require department approval.
  • Rifles are secured in patrol vehicles.
  • There has been a rise in offenders carrying rifles since the early 2000s around the time of the end of the federal assault rifle ban.
  • There has also been an increase in modified weapons, including 3D‑printed devices that convert pistols into automatic firearms.
  • “If we respond with only pistols, we are at a disadvantage,” Brown said. 
  • Legislation under review
    • Proposal would allow for city‑issued, standardized rifles.
    • Not intended to remove rifles from officers.
    • Some council members oppose rifle use entirely.
  • Community feedback
    • Meeting attendees generally support the city funding rifles rather than officers paying out of pocket. 
    • Attendees voiced some concerns regarding safety, training and the necessity of the use of rifles.

Akron Documenters trains and pays residents to document local government meetings with notes and live-tweet threads. We then make those meeting summaries available as a new public record.