MAYOR DONALD L. PLUSQUELLIC

Now in the fourth year of his fourth term, Mayor Don Plusquellic was first sworn in as Akron's 59th mayor in 1987. Prior to that, he served with distinction on Akron City Council for 13 years, including three years as its president from 1984-1987. Citizens of Ward 9 first elected Don Plusquellic as their council representative in 1973 when he was 24 years old.

Don Plusquellic has devoted 29 years to public service in a career highlighted by numerous and great leadership successes locally and nationwide. A long-standing member of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), Mayor Plusquellic is now chairman of the USCM Advisory Board and will become the organization's president in 2004.

Citing Mayor Plusquellic's leadership in his nearly decade-long work creating and developing Joint Economic Development Districts (JEDDs), the USCM has presented him with the prestigious City Livability Award for outstanding leadership. The Wall Street Journal recognized the Mayor in a front-page article (5/16/00) concerning the importance of local leadership in America.

The Mayor is a dedicated a partner with the Akron Public Schools to providing continuous leadership and to assuring community-wide support for the challenges our school system will face in the coming years. Under the Mayor's leadership, the City of Akron has made a financial investment and has formed a partnership with the schools to establish new Community Learning Centers for students and adults.

Mayor Don Plusquellic's leadership has brought about much needed change throughout the city from his days on Akron City Council, through his current tenure as mayor. Most visibly, he has helped transform downtown. And his direction of investments in Akron neighborhoods has spurred new housing and further stabilized our housing stock. A recent finance department study indicated a significant increase in revenue generated from downtown businesses. That increase has helped the city of Akron to continue making the kinds of investments in our neighborhoods that will make them even stronger.

Mayor Plusquellic's vision for the future of Akron includes stronger schools, an even more vibrant downtown, new housing, safe neighborhoods, sound infrastructure and a strong economic base from which to operate.

A graduate of Akron's Kenmore High School, Donald Plusquellic attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Engineering and graduated from Bowling Green State University School of Business. He earned his JD from the University of Akron School of Law.

The Mayor and Mary Plusquellic have two grown children, Dave and Michelle. Michelle and her husband Michael are proud parents of Abigail and Ally.

I am proud of the work we have done as a community and feel privileged to have served the people of Akron for 29 years in public office. We have made tremendous strides and have a brighter future before us because of the hard work and dedication of a good many people. -Donald L. Plusquellic, Mayor

NEIGHBORHOODS

• Served nearly 1,000 in after school programs in partnership with Desiree Bolden and Olympian Butch Reynolds and Akron Public Schools. Programs include mandatory homework club, computer lab, nature club, theater, music, science, Red Cross training and other enrichment activities. At Barrett, Rankin, Margaret Park and Harris elementary schools
• Second place award for the first national America in Bloom competition
• Created the beautiful new Alexander Park and Liberty Garden in tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001, on West Market Street
• Mobilized 1,800 volunteers from 91 groups to clean up 95 public sites of litter and illegal dumping, removing nine tons of trash from public property
• Opened new Northwest Family Recreation Center and new Ayers Public Library branch in West Akron
• Completed Mud Run Golf Course using recycled materials and donations from suppliers
• Installed new power-saving lenses in 3,500 traffic signaled to reduce electric costs by $50,000 annually
• Striped 310 miles of city streets and 27.7 miles of highway
• Hosted 50,000 visitors to first air show in 14 years at Fulton Airport
• Bestowed HUD Award of Excellence for high quality neighborhood development
• Opened 29th neighborhood development project. This is in the Seiberling School area. Through neighborhood development projects, city has improved 17,500 homes
• Designed and built 20 new homes in the city with help of Home Builders Association
• Sold 19 new homes through the Urban Neighborhood Development Corporation. Eight more homes under construction
• Awarded $550,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for local agencies to provide social services
• Awarded 46 grants to neighborhood based organizations for youth programs, landscaping, crime prevention and more
• Secured $500,000 dollars from Clean Ohio Fund for construction of the Towpath Trail
• Provided $300,000 in aid to the homeless
• Secured $2.8 million in grants for housing for the homeless
• Worked with Akron Public Schools and Ohio Schools Facilities Commission to evaluate constructing new or rebuilding all Akron Public Schools
• Sold 52 lots to private developers and non profit organizations for new housing
• Provided funding for rehabilitation of 75 houses
• Demolished 327 dilapidated residential and commercial structures
• Assisted 111 low-income elderly and disabled persons with emergency repairs to their homes
• Assisted 22 low-income elderly and disabled persons by painting their homes.
• Planted 6,375 shrubs and 490 trees along Akron expressway system as part of long-range beautification program
• Replaced 120 deteriorated light poles
• Installed 186 new light poles in improvement projects
• Replaced 100 streetlights per property owner requests
• Reached agreement with State of Ohio on solution of Combined Sewer Overflow problem and became first city in Ohio to craft such an agreement
• Re-sited waste transfer station that had been on Fountain Street to area adjacent to the expressway where residents are buffered from the operation

The tremendous difference in the quality of life in Akron is thanks to the high level of involvement in neighborhood projects on the part of our residents. As your city government, we will continue our strong emphasis on new housing and on timely public improvements. I know our citizens want what I want---for our neighborhoods to be safe, vital and attractive and the best they can be. -Mayor Don Plusquellic

PUBLIC SAFETY

• AFD and APD continued anti-terrorist training and received new equipment for handling a possible weapons of mass destruction event
• Upgraded security at city communications dispatch center and began development of a 911 education program for children
• Installed video surveillance downtown to provide greater security for visitors
• Continued work to bring a new communications system on line in 2003 to make for more timely and coordinated response among city and county safety agencies
• Joined with county to develop county-wide radio system to serve all jurisdictions in Summit County
• Conducted a chemical weapons full-scale exercise involving more agencies (police, health, hospitals, fire and EMS) than any previous exercise in Akron or Summit County
• Formed a city/county Domestic Preparedness Task Force to develop and coordinate planning, training and purchase of safety equipment and pharmaceuticals in preparation of a terrorist incident
• Identified by the Sate of Ohio to develop and coordinate a Regional Medical Response Plan involving 12 surrounding counties in the event of a terrorist act
• Received $585,000 FEMA grant to purchase all new self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighters' protection
• Installed Mobile Data Computers in all EMS vehicles to aid emergency response effectiveness
• Trained 427 personnel for use of new citywide-distributed Automated External Defibrillators
• Worked with Mayor's Administration on new plan that will defer cost of EMS program by billing third party insurers with no charge to citizens
• Worked with Mayor's Administration on scholarship program with administration to encourage Akron Public School students in a career with AFD
• APD completed nearly two-year burglary investigation involving more than 100 crimes at Akron businesses
• Cops in Shops program continued to reduce sale of alcohol and tobacco by businesses to young people
• Kept annual spring celebration in neighborhoods around University of Akron relatively peaceful with collaborative effort of APD, University Police, Ohio Department of Public Safety
• Honored dozens more Akron young people for showing good character as part of the Do the Right Thing Program
• Continued third grade safety belt education program reaching 1,843 youngsters
• Towed 750 junk vehicles from neighborhoods
• Sponsored 30 at risk children in 2002 Soap Box Derby
• Graduated 44 recruits into full service patrol duty

We are extremely proud of our police officers and firefighters for the commitment they have made to protect and serve the people of our community. Citizens all across our country have a great appreciation now for the difficult and dangerous jobs the men and women of our safety forces face every day. -Mayor Don Plusquellic

ECONOMIC VITALITY

• Attracted Coltene/Whaledent, worldwide dental products manufacturer, from New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to Ascot Industrial Park bringing a projected 300 jobs in 175,000 sq. foot, $8 million corporate office and production center
• Saw completion of 56,000 sq. foot facility at Massillon Road Industrial Park by AESCO Electronics. The company plans to move 90 employees in and make a $2.5 million investment
• Reached agreement with Quality Mold to expand by 8.43 acres at Massillon Road Industrial Park
• Announced Market-Forge Urban Renewal area with purchase of residential properties to support expansion of auto dealership and new commercial development
• Executed contract with H&H Machine for 46,800 sq. foot manufacturing center in a $1.5 million private investment
• Reached agreement to bring a much-needed grocery store to near east side of Akron
• Continued work on plans for Highland Square Business redevelopment
• Partnered with University of Akron in an alliance to redevelop the commercial and residential district adjacent to the campus
• Achieved nearly 70% occupancy in Industrial Incubator with 118 persons employed by 22 companies. Three companies graduated from the incubator in 2002
• Received $3 million grant from Ohio Department of Development for cleanup and demolition of Beech Street Power Plant and a $2.8 million grant for environmental remediation to East Akron grocery store site
• Continued water and sanitary sewer projects in JEDD communities of Copley, Bath, Coventry and Springfield townships

We are quite proud of our economic development efforts. They continue to bring jobs and investment to our city and to our citizens. We will keep strong our commitment to making this a city of opportunity for business education and for all citizens. -Mayor Don Plusquellic

DOWNTOWN

• Announced $35-40 million Lock III development to bring retail, office and residential space to the area between Bowery, Main and State streets
• Opened newly-renovated Civic Theatre
• Began construction and renovation for new 260,000 sq. foot downtown Main Library
• Started construction of new 625 space parking deck to serve the new library and surrounding area
• Worked with National Park Service and METRO to bring a train station to Ridge Street off of North Howard Street
• Began construction of 425 car surface parking lot and pedestrian bridge across the canal to the AES headquarters
• Acquired the Hamlin Building on W. Exchange Street as future location of Ohio & Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor visitors' center
• Opened new restaurant and night club in 10,000 sq. foot first floor of Roetzel & Andress Building (formerly O'Neil's)
• Published the first city magazine, Akron City
• Announced world-class marathon, the Road Runner Akron Marathon for October of 2003