2026-10-21 - City Commission

00:03[music]

00:05>> The Dayton City Commission meeting will

00:07now come to order. Would you all please

00:08rise for the invocation and remain

00:10standing the Pledge of Allegiance. For

00:12the Pledge of Allegiance,

00:14uh this evening's invocation will be

00:15given by Commissioner Fairchild.

00:18>> Let us pray.

00:19Oh gracious one,

00:21as the cool crisp morning air

00:24brings us to awakeness, may your spirit

00:27breathe through us and open up our

00:30senses so that we may see things in a

00:31new way

00:33and uh

00:34be able to see your will clearly

00:36and take actions and make decisions that

00:39will move this city forward into

00:41becoming the community that you desire.

00:44Amen.

00:45>> Amen.

00:47>> I pledge allegiance to the flag

00:50of the United States of America and to

00:52the republic for which it stands, one

00:55nation under God, indivisible, with

00:58liberty and justice for all.

01:04>> Great.

01:05Miss McClendon, may we please have a

01:07roll call?

01:08>> Mayor Turner soft.

01:09>> I.

01:10>> Commissioners Joseph.

01:11>> I.

01:11>> Shaw.

01:12>> I.

01:12>> Fairchild.

01:13>> I.

01:14>> Beckham.

01:14>> I.

01:16>> May I have a motion to approve the

01:17minutes

01:19of the October 14th, 2026 meeting?

01:21>> So moved, Your Honor.

01:22>> Second the motion, Your Honor.

01:23>> It has been properly moved and seconded

01:25to approve the minutes of the October

01:2814th, 2026 meeting. All in favor say I.

01:31>> I.

01:31>> All opposed say no. Any abstentions?

01:34Miss McClendon, are there any

01:35communications or petitions this

01:37evening?

01:38>> There are none, Your Honor.

01:39>> All right, this evening we have a

01:41proclamation for the Lights On

01:43Afterschool

01:44uh with Learn to Earn Dayton. I would

01:46like to call Mr. Wesley Bios to the

01:49podium.

01:50Miss McClendon.

02:00You can proceed whenever you're ready,

02:01Ms. McLendon.

02:02>> Okay.

02:03From the Commission office of the city

02:05of Dayton, Ohio, whereas the city of

02:07Dayton recognizes the importance of

02:10quality afterschool and out-of-school

02:12programs in supporting the education,

02:15development, and well-being of children

02:17and youth. And whereas these programs

02:19provide opportunities for young people

02:22to build leadership, academic, social,

02:25and workforce skills while supporting

02:26families and strengthening

02:28neighborhoods. And whereas the city of

02:30Dayton is committed to expanding

02:32opportunities for youth through

02:34recreation, afterschool and summer

02:36programs, the Student Vision Master

02:38Plan, and the Mayor's Children's

02:40Cabinet.

02:42And whereas the city recognizes Learn to

02:44Earn Dayton's Summer and Afterschool

02:46Collaborative and local out-of-school

02:48time providers for their contributions

02:50to Dayton's youth. And whereas Lights On

02:53Afterschool, celebrated nationwide on

02:56October 22nd, 2026, highlights the value

02:59of afterschool programs and the

03:01importance of continued community

03:04support. And whereas today we encourage

03:07continued collaboration among Dayton

03:10families, educators, businesses,

03:13mentors, and community organizations to

03:16ensure Dayton's youth have opportunities

03:18to discover their interests, build

03:20skills, and prepare for their futures.

03:23Now, therefore, we the Commission of the

03:25city of Dayton do hereby proclaim

03:27October 22nd, 2026 as Lights On

03:31Afterschool Day. Congratulations.

03:34>> [applause]

03:39[applause]

03:42>> Mr. Bowles, do you want to invite all of

03:44the your rest of your colleagues to join

03:46you or to stand and be recognized during

03:48this time while you give your comments?

03:49>> Absolutely. So, first of all, all of

03:51those that are here for Lights On

03:53Afterschool, please stand up.

04:01>> [applause]

04:07>> And at this time [clears throat] while I

04:07make my comments, I'd like two of my

04:09associates for after school to come up,

04:11please.

04:13Come on, Michael.

04:15Yes, ma'am, and Mr.

04:24>> [clears throat]

04:26>> Mayor, commissioners, and members of the

04:29Dayton community,

04:30a very great evening to you.

04:33My name is Wesley O'Bryant II, manager

04:36at Learn to Earn Dayton, and I have the

04:38distinct pleasure

04:40of coordinating our summer and

04:42afterschool collaborative.

04:45Learn to Earn Dayton is driven by a

04:47commitment to advance economic mobility

04:51for students and families across our

04:53entire region.

04:55The summer and afterschool collaborative

04:57creates a unified space

05:00where organizations can receive

05:01professional development, tackle shared

05:04industry challenges,

05:05network, and stay informed on policy

05:09by supporting active advocacy within the

05:13out-of-school time space.

05:16On behalf of our network,

05:18we thank you for issuing this

05:19proclamation for Lights On Afterschool.

05:22Quality out-of-school time programs do

05:25far more than just keep students safe.

05:27They strengthen academic engagement,

05:31build resilience, and lay the foundation

05:34for a long-term success.

05:37We hope for increased investments across

05:39all levels of government and

05:41philanthropy will continue to support

05:43these sites and help expand them across

05:46the entire city,

05:48ensuring that more students have access

05:50to safe, nurturing spaces to spend where

05:54they spend time the second half of their

05:56day.

05:57So, thank you again to the city of

05:59Dayton for agreeing to light up the city

06:02blue

06:03>> All right.

06:04>> in celebration of Lights On.

06:07So, when you drive around the city

06:08tomorrow,

06:09think about all the great work that many

06:12of the people and students in this room

06:15are doing to make sure that unsupervised

06:18hours turn into positive opportunities

06:21for our youth to grow.

06:27>> [applause]

06:30>> Thank you, and I just want to express

06:32how important Lights On Afterschool is.

06:35It allows

06:36my granddaughter to have a place to go

06:38that's safe and nurturing after school

06:40until I get off of work. They provide

06:43support, help her with her homework, and

06:45help her build her social skills. So,

06:46thank you very much.

06:47>> Thank you.

06:50>> [applause]

06:52>> I'm grateful. My name's Malcolm Keith.

06:54I'm the director of Dayton Urban Young

06:56Life. I'm grateful to partner with Mr.

06:58Byles and the program. And we took this

07:02a little bit further.

07:04We had a survey taken from the high

07:07school students. We are in four high

07:08schools part-time every day. We go in at

07:12lunchtime, and we sit with the kids and

07:14just listen and talk to them and

07:16whatnot. So, we took a survey on all the

07:19positive activities that's taken place,

07:21and the the students left the entire

07:24commission and the city manager with

07:27some ideas. So, when I leave or we have

07:31a

07:32a stack of cards

07:34with information on it about activities

07:36and things to do. We took We have over

07:39450 surveys. You guys don't have them

07:42all, but we took two different surveys

07:45to talk about some things to do after

07:47school as far as positive activities and

07:50some ideas from the teens. So, when you

07:53get a chance, and if you love football,

07:55you can take this home and sit it by the

07:57table and during commercials, if you can

07:59open this packet up and go through it.

08:01We would love you

08:03to do that. And I want to give a

08:05shout-out to Mr. Shaw. He was one of our

08:08first committee members when they never

08:10young life first started. So, thank you.

08:12>> Thank you.

08:15>> [applause]

08:19>> So, again, thank you for your time. As

08:21you can see, the children are here.

08:22>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

08:27>> [applause]

08:29>> Ms. Jackson, um can we get a quick

08:31photo, but first I apologize. I don't

08:33want to step on anyone. I'm going to

08:34turn it over to my colleagues for any

08:36questions or comments. Commissioner

08:37Beckham.

08:38>> Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Bowles, thank you

08:40for being here. To the young people that

08:42are here, thank you for

08:44being a part of the program, but also

08:47for joining us this evening. It is

08:49always a joy to see young people in this

08:51chambers.

08:52And in terms of after school,

08:55we know this is just a vital space for

08:57the well-being of our city.

08:59Just to make sure the young people have

09:00quality options during those after

09:03schools during those after school hours.

09:05So, just want to thank the

09:06collaborative, thank Learn to Earn, and

09:07look forward to supporting this into the

09:09future.

09:10>> Thank you. Commissioner Faichney.

09:11>> Yeah. Thank you, and I really appreciate

09:14the smile on your face and the smile on

09:16the young people's faces and the energy

09:18you bring and the joy that you build

09:21this room with. So, thank you very much.

09:23And

09:24may your joy be infectious for others,

09:27and I think that's just right in the

09:28spirit of the Lights On program. So,

09:32thank you.

09:33>> Thank you. Commissioner Shaw.

09:34>> That's right. I I can't say it any

09:36better than my colleagues have said it,

09:37but thank you all for being here and and

09:39you really bring a good energy here

09:40today. And I just want to thank you for

09:43that. And and enjoy this great

09:45opportunity. Thanks.

09:46>> Commissioner Joseph.

09:49>> So, thank you all for you who organize

09:51this program and fund the program and

09:52work the program and you all who

09:54participate in it. It's great to have

09:55you all here. You young people, I'm glad

09:57you're here because you probably are

09:59going to be sitting in these seats

10:00someday. So, as you're planning your

10:01future, it's plan mayor or commissioner

10:03as a possibility. We'd love to have you

10:04up here. Somebody's got to take over for

10:06us. And I You real reason that

10:09commissioner over here is glad to have

10:10young people here is he's tired of

10:11getting picked on as the youngest person

10:12up here. He just wants even younger

10:14people here.

10:16Thank you all for being here.

10:17>> [laughter]

10:19>> I want to echo my colleagues comments.

10:22This is I am overjoyed right now to see

10:24that this program is up and running. I'm

10:27just really speaks to the volume and the

10:28commitment that learn to earn and many

10:31of our partners the city of days and

10:32overall young life ministries all of the

10:35various different partners in the

10:36collaboration and what we've been able

10:38to do thus far and so the best is yet to

10:41come. I know there is more work that

10:42needs to be done, but we have really

10:45been having some spirited conversations

10:46about how do we really provide

10:49programming and services to our youth

10:52and so this is just one

10:54example of how we're able to do that

10:56work as we really look at addressing the

10:59violence in our community. So I'm happy

11:01that you all are here. I'm happy that

11:03you all are part of this program and so

11:05I do have a shameless ask

11:07and how do we make that connection with

11:10HRC and know your rights? Like how do we

11:12make sure that we can provide that level

11:15of partnership? Perhaps it is an

11:17opportunity for you know HRC to to link

11:20up and to partner with young life

11:22ministries. If they're going into the

11:23four or five schools during lunch hour,

11:26then let's make that connection and

11:27let's expand it on as well as some

11:30various different in programming that

11:32our recre- recreation centers are

11:34holding. We have the teen center at the

11:36Northwest recreation center. We have a

11:38number of programming at Low Rai

11:40as well as GDRC. So making that

11:42connection. Thank you for providing that

11:44information Mr. Malcolm.

11:46We also created a a list and a we

11:49compiled rather a list of all the

11:51various different organizations and

11:53programming that we have that is readily

11:56available for our youth. So we'll be

11:57happy to share that information with you

12:00provide that over to us. And so I will

12:03ask Ms. Jackson if we could do a quick

12:04photo if you all wouldn't mind joining

12:06us so we can get a quick photo if that's

12:08fair. Yes. So if you all

12:26>> Thank you.

12:30>> That explains why there were so many

12:31people down there.

12:38>> Yes, keep it out.

12:45>> I'm not so tall standing.

12:47>> I know.

12:48>> Look like grandpa.

12:56>> [snorts]

12:59>> I know it's like the little the little

13:03>> [laughter]

13:11>> Oh.

13:13>> Who there?

13:14>> All right, let's say lights on.

13:15Everybody say lights on.

13:17>> Lights on.

13:19>> Lights on.

13:20>> All right.

13:21>> [applause]

13:27>> Here.

13:27>> Thank you.

13:28>> No.

13:30>> You're welcome.

13:32>> [laughter]

13:34>> All that is hilarious.

13:36>> [laughter]

13:38>> I just want to also acknowledge the

13:40leadership of learn to earn. So, would

13:42you all please stand the leadership of

13:43learn to earn? Thank you for being a

13:44great partners.

13:47Ms. Daniels.

13:49Thank you. Mr. Garrett.

13:51Thank you all.

13:53Thank you all very much for your

13:54leadership

13:56and partnership. Uh Ms. McClendon, are

13:58there any additions, deletions, or

14:00comments to the calendar?

14:01>> I have none, Your Honor.

14:02>> Thank you. Ms. Dixteen, are there any

14:04additions, deletions, or comments to the

14:06calendar this evening?

14:07>> Uh given the brief calendar that we

14:09have, Your Honor, I have no additions,

14:11deletions, or comments to the calendar.

14:14>> All right, thank you, Ms. Dixteen. Ms.

14:16McClendon, are there any citizens that

14:18are registered to speak on calendar item

14:20this evening?

14:21>> Yes, Your Honor. There are three

14:22citizens registered to speak on calendar

14:24items. I would like to state that there

14:26is a 3-minute time limit. As you address

14:28the commission, we ask that you state

14:30your name and address for the record. At

14:32that time, I will turn on the green

14:33light. When the green light comes on,

14:35you will have 3 minutes to speak. After

14:37you have spoken 2 and 1/2 minutes, a

14:39yellow light will come on and you will

14:40have 30 seconds remaining to speak.

14:43When the red light comes on, you will be

14:44asked to cease your comments and to take

14:46[clears throat] your seat.

14:47To the audience in attendance, please be

14:49mindful this is a business meeting and

14:51we kindly request that during this

14:52portion of the meeting, you refrain from

14:54any hand clapping, finger snapping, and

14:57conversation that will prevent the City

14:59Commission from hearing the speaker's

15:00comments. I call to the podium Alec

15:03Johnson.

15:12>> I'm Alec Johnson. By the way,

15:14you guys were in a meeting all day

15:16today. My hat's off to you. I mean so.

15:18>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

15:19>> I'm Alec Johnson. I live at 3206 Linden

15:22Avenue in the Hearthstone neighborhood

15:23of Dayton. Greetings, Mayor,

15:25Commissioner, city staff, and the

15:26greater Dayton community. In a moment,

15:28I'll be talking about the three

15:30Silverado pickup trucks on order. While

15:32my remarks might seem unrelated, please

15:34bear with me and you'll soon discover my

15:36focus is laser-like and relevant.

15:38I'd like to invite you all and everyone

15:39hearing my voice to a celebration and

15:41get-together this Friday, October 23rd

15:43at 6:00 p.m. at the Fifth Street

15:44Brewpub. DSA comrades will be joining me

15:47there to celebrate the 12th anniversary

15:48of my trial for temporarily halting the

15:51Keystone XL pipeline.

15:53Labor historian Jeremy Brecher wrote

15:55about my case in his book Climate

15:56Insurgency, A Strategy for Survival.

15:59Quote, "In October 2014, Alec Johnson,

16:01aka Climate Hawk,

16:04was tried for locking himself to an

16:05excavator on a Keystone XL pipeline

16:07route in Atoka, Oklahoma. If convicted,

16:10he would have faced up to 2 years in the

16:12Atoka County jail. He may be the first

16:14climate protester to use the public

16:16trust doctrine as the basis for

16:17necessity defense.

16:19Brecker then recounts my speech on the

16:21day of the 2014 People's Climate March,

16:23and now I get to quote myself.

16:25When it comes to our commons, to our

16:27public property, we the people have

16:28rights in a public trust. Public trust

16:31doctrine assures us that we have rights

16:33when it comes to how our public commons

16:35are administered by the trustees placed

16:37in charge of them.

16:38We the people are armed by such legal

16:40doctrine. We now demand our

16:42environmental institutions and agencies

16:44recognize their responsibilities as

16:46trustees and exercise their fiduciary

16:49responsibility to act with the highest

16:51duty of care to ensure the sustained

16:53resource abundance necessary for

16:55society's endurance. I repeat, to act

16:57with the highest duty of care to ensure

16:59the sustained resource abundance

17:01necessary for society's endurance.

17:04Gerald Torres is a professor of

17:05environmental justice at the Yale School

17:07of the Environment and Yale Law School.

17:09He describes the public trust as the

17:11slate upon which all constitutions and

17:13laws are written. The slate upon which

17:15all constitutions and laws are written.

17:17That fiduciary duty, the highest duty of

17:19care, is the standard I'm asking this

17:21commission to apply to climate

17:22stewardship. Dayton's own mission

17:24statement begins as stewards of the

17:26public trust.

17:27Tonight's recommendations include the

17:29purchase of three Silverado pickups

17:31totaling $175,544.

17:35Please publish the operational needs,

17:37cleaner alternatives considered,

17:38lifetime cost, and expected emissions.

17:41Show us how these purchases fit Dayton's

17:43climate commitments. Our children can't

17:45vote on these vehicle purchases. Future

17:47generations can't stand at this

17:48microphone. Their interests still

17:50deserve your highest duty of care. This

17:52commission's observance of and respect

17:54for public trust doctrine is essential

17:56to ensure that public policy and public

17:58power creates public wealth and to

17:59ensure the sustained resource abundance

18:02necessary for society's endurance. Thank

18:04you.

18:05>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

18:06>> [clears throat]

18:08>> I call to the podium Sharon Screech.

18:23>> Hello.

18:24>> Hello, my name is Sharon Screech and I

18:26live at 5:15 West Brandt.

18:30Um

18:31the

18:32um

18:34part of the uh agenda that I want to

18:35speak on is

18:37um the moral obligation claim

18:40for Peter Garrage and Heidi Law versus

18:43and this is legal settlement for

18:44$12,500.

18:46What I have an issue with is whenever we

18:48have one of these in the agenda, it

18:51never tells us why we're giving these

18:53people this money. If the city has done

18:55something wrong to someone, we need to

18:57know cuz that is public those are public

18:59dollars that's being paid out to pay

19:02somebody.

19:03So, we would like to know what that is

19:05for.

19:06And it just so happened that the only

19:08part of the agenda that you could barely

19:11read was about this settlement.

19:13I couldn't read anything about it. I

19:15would like to know what it's for. It's

19:17you can't look it up on the court um

19:19thing cuz it's not a court, it's a

19:20settlement. So, it doesn't show up on

19:23that web. So, I would like to know why

19:25our city dollars are being paid to

19:28someone and if the city done something

19:30wrong, we would like to know what that

19:31was. Thank you.

19:33>> Thank you, Ms. Screech.

19:36>> [clears throat]

19:37>> I call to the podium Ebony Hastings.

19:55>> Good afternoon. Ebony Hastings, 1238

19:57Wabash Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45405.

20:01>> [snorts]

20:02>> Um A2

20:05and so on about the McCloskey purchases.

20:07As I review the agenda, I see several

20:09purchases for new city vehicles. I have

20:12questioned about the accountability,

20:14maintenance, and how these vehicles are

20:15being operated by city employees.

20:18When taxpayers purchase vehicles, we

20:19have the a responsibility to make those

20:21make sure those vehicles are properly

20:23maintained, used for the intended

20:25purpose, and operated safely.

20:28Buying a vehicle is only the beginning

20:31of an of the expense. Fuel, repairs,

20:33insurance, replacement costs, and all it

20:36all affects the budget.

20:38What policies does the city have in

20:39place to ensure employees properly

20:41maintain city vehicles and report damage

20:44or mechanical problems? Are regular

20:45inspections required and how does the

20:47city track maintenance, mileage, and

20:49repair costs? Who is responsible for

20:51making sure these vehicles remain safe

20:53and road roadworthy? I also want to

20:55address the driving behavior.

20:58I have stopped city employees and asked

21:01them to not speed.

21:03I have witnessed city employees running

21:05red lights.

21:06We have live Facebook lives with the

21:09city employees parked in different

21:11places. We don't know if they're on

21:12lunch, to be fair, but you know, take

21:16your lunches in appropriate places so

21:17that it does not look like an abuse

21:20of um

21:21government property.

21:22Um

21:23>> [sighs]

21:25>> because city employees should be

21:27expected to follow the same traffic laws

21:29as everyone else. That includes stopping

21:31at red lights, obeying speed limits, and

21:33operating vehicles with care. What

21:35safeguards are in place to prevent

21:37speeding and running red lights? Are

21:39city vehicles equipped with GPS

21:40tracking, telematics, or other systems

21:43that allow the city to monitor vehicle

21:44use and identify unsafe driving

21:46patterns? When a complaint is made about

21:48a city employee driving reckless, is it

21:50investigated, documented, or addressed?

21:53What consequences apply when an employee

21:55violates traffic laws while operating a

21:57city vehicle? I understand these may be

21:59legitimate purchases.

22:02I understand that they are performing

22:04and routing out to emergencies.

22:08But, it's government property.

22:12So, I'm asking the commission to explain

22:14how the city monitors vehicle

22:15maintenance, driver behavior, and

22:16compliance with this vehicle use policy.

22:19I would also like to know whether the

22:20city tracks preventable accidents,

22:22traffic citations, damages, and the cost

22:25of repairs caused by misuse. Taxpayers

22:27should not have to purchase city

22:29vehicles and then absorb unnecessary

22:30costs because of poor maintenance or

22:32irresponsible driving. This is about

22:34protecting public resources, keeping our

22:36employees and residents safe, and

22:38ensuring accountability ensuring

22:40accountability. We should have clear

22:41policies, consistent enforcement, and

22:43transparent reporting so residents can

22:45see that the vehicles they pay for are

22:47are properly are being properly cared

22:49for and responsibly operated. Thank you.

22:52>> Thank you, Ms. Hastings.

22:54>> That concludes speakers on calendar

22:55items, Your Honor.

22:57>> Thank you, Ms. McClendon. Commissioners,

22:58are there any comments to the city

23:00managers recommendations this evening?

23:02Commissioner Beckham? Commissioner

23:04Fairchild? Commissioner Shaw?

23:06Commissioner Joseph?

23:08All right.

23:10Um Ms.

23:11First, let me just state Mr. Johnson,

23:13thank you for your comments. Uh Ms.

23:15Creach, um to answer your question in

23:18regards to the calendar item that's

23:20noted in E noted as E other, there is um

23:25some incidents or some situations that

23:27remain uh confidential as well as

23:29attorney-client privilege. So, hence the

23:32reason why detail information is not

23:34disclosed because of client

23:37attorney-client privilege and

23:38confidentiality.

23:40Um and then in terms of uh Ms.

23:42Hastings, your question, there is a

23:44policy that is in fact in force.

23:47Um and so I don't want to overstep my

23:49boundaries. That's more on the

23:50administration side. However, there is a

23:52policy that is in place, so I can't

23:54quote the policy when I say that. Um but

23:57there is uh the department or the

23:59division, if you will, of fleet

24:00management. I believe I have that

24:02correct. That

24:03Thank you.

24:04>> That manage that manages and monitors

24:07the tracking and the use of the vehicles

24:08and make sure that those safety

24:10precautions are in fact uh in place and

24:12that they're executed. And if I'm not

24:15mistaken, these particular vehicles are

24:18more so to

24:20um move us forward to uh EV? Do I have

24:24that right? Is it more in the

24:25sustainability? These are not

24:27sustainability EV items. Okay. But these

24:29are items that are in fact our vehicles

24:32that will allow

24:34um many of the the work to be done

24:37within the various different

24:38departments.

24:39In particular,

24:41uh aviation as well as in our water

24:43department. Um but there is a policy

24:45that is in place and that it is a being

24:48enforced.

24:50I'll be happy to answer any other

24:51questions or direct you to

24:53um the city manager's office if you have

24:55any additional questions in regards to

24:58the maintenance of the city vehicles.

25:01May I have a motion to approve the city

25:02manager's recommendations?

25:05>> So moved, your honor. Second motion,

25:06your honor.

25:06>> It has been properly moved and seconded

25:08to approve the city manager's

25:09recommendations. All in favor, say aye.

25:11All opposed, say no. Any abstentions?

25:15Ms. McClendon, legislation, please.

25:18>> First reading, emergency ordinance

25:20number 32220-26,

25:24amending section 51.13

25:27and repealing section 51.14 of the

25:30revised code of general ordinances to

25:32establish a single waste collection and

25:34disposal fee and declaring an emergency.

25:38>> Mayor, I move that we declare

25:41ordinance number 32220-26 an

25:45emergency.

25:46>> Second, your honor.

25:48>> It has been properly moved and seconded

25:50to declare emergency ordinance number

25:5232220-26

25:56as an emergency. All in favor, say aye.

25:58>> Aye.

25:59>> All opposed, say no. Any abstentions?

26:03>> First reading, resolution number

26:046964-26,

26:07declaring the intention to appropriate

26:09real property interests in parcels 5T,

26:126T, 8T, 10 SH and T, 11T, 14 SH and T,

26:1815 SH and T, 21 SH and T,

26:2222 SH, 23 SH, 24 SH, 25T, 30 SH and T,

26:3031T, 32 SH and T, 34 T, 35 T, 36 T, 37

26:38T, 46 SHNT, 48 T, 50 T, 51 SH, 53 T, 54

26:47T, 59 SH, 60 SH, 61 T, 62 T, 64 SH, 65

26:56SH,

26:5767 T, 68 T, and 69 SH in connection with

27:03the West 3rd Street Safety Improvement

27:06Project.

27:08Second reading ordinance number 32219-26

27:12appropriating property designated as

27:15parcel 58 SH in connection with the

27:18Smithville Road reconstruction project.

27:20Mayor Turner Sloss.

27:22>> Aye.

27:22>> Commissioners Joseph.

27:24>> Aye.

27:24>> Shaw.

27:25>> Aye.

27:25>> Fairchild.

27:26>> Aye.

27:27>> Beckham.

27:27>> Aye.

27:28>> Ordinance number 32219-26

27:32has passed with five votes in favor and

27:33that concludes legislation, Your Honor.

27:36>> Thank you. And this evening we have

27:38board appointments for Welcome Dayton

27:40Committee.

27:41>> Thank you, Your Honor. I move to appoint

27:43Alyssa Jacobs to the Welcome Dayton

27:44Committee for a term ending December

27:4631st, 2029.

27:47>> I second the motion.

27:49>> It has been properly moved and seconded

27:50to appoint Alyssa Jacobs to the Welcome

27:53Dayton Committee for a term ending

27:55December 31, 2029. All in favor say aye.

27:59>> Aye.

28:00>> All opposed say no. Ms. McClendon, are

28:02there any citizens that are registered

28:04to speak this evening?

28:05>> Yes, Your Honor. There are 17 18

28:07citizens registered to speak. I would

28:10like to remind everyone of the

28:11three-minute time limit. As you address

28:13the commission, we ask that you state

28:15your name and address for the record. At

28:17that time, I will turn on the green

28:18light. When the green light comes on,

28:20you will have three minutes to speak.

28:22After you have spoken two and a half

28:23minutes, a yellow light will come on.

28:24You will have 30 seconds remaining to

28:26speak. When the red light comes on, you

28:28will be asked to cease your comments and

28:30to take your seat. To the audience in

28:32attendance, please be mindful this is a

28:34business meeting and we kindly request

28:36that during this portion of the meeting

28:37you refrain from any hand clapping,

28:39finger snapping, and conversation that

28:41would prevent the city commission from

28:43hearing the speaker's comments. I call

28:45to the podium Leslie Stewart.

28:57>> Good evening. My name is Leslie Stewart.

28:59I live at 428 Clover Street.

29:02I am here tonight like so many before me

29:05to talk about our city manager.

29:08When I first met Ms. Dixon, she was the

29:10assistant city manager and my first

29:13encounter with her was not pleasant.

29:15However, as an upcoming community

29:17leader, she taught me two things. Walk

29:20the walk and talk the talk and she also

29:23told me to own my own truth.

29:25With that being said, for the last

29:28several months I have listened to people

29:30as they have come before this commission

29:32calling for her to be fired while she

29:35has had to sit there with great resent

29:37listening to so many hurtful things

29:39being said about her.

29:41I need to put a challenge out to all

29:43those individuals. What have you done to

29:46make the city of Dayton better place to

29:48live? Might I ask, did you ever come to

29:51a city commission meeting with a

29:53solution to a problem or did you want to

29:55complain about the problems in your

29:57neighborhood? Not once in the 20 plus

30:00years that I have served as a community

30:02leader has Ms. Dixon flat out said no to

30:05something that we have asked her to do.

30:07Yes, many times our neighborhood didn't

30:10get everything we asked for.

30:12After all, it is human nature to think

30:15more about our own corner of the city

30:17than the city as a whole. People grow

30:19up.

30:21Take charge of your own neighborhoods

30:23and step up to the plate and be part of

30:26the change you continually whine about.

30:29In closing, on behalf of myself and the

30:32Twin Towers neighborhood, thank you, Ms.

30:34Dixon, for all you have done to lead

30:36this city the best you could.

30:39A city and a community grows only if

30:42those claiming to be leaders truly lead

30:45and not whine every time something

30:47didn't go their way.

30:49I hope you have a great retirement.

30:51Still come and visit us and work with us

30:53in Twin Towers as we continue to make

30:56our neighborhood a better place to live.

30:58Thank you.

30:59>> Thank you Miss Sherwood.

31:01I call to the podium Jacob Kendrick.

31:15>> Hi.

31:16>> Good evening.

31:17>> I'm Jacob Kendrick. I

31:19I reside at 1830 uh Zimmerman Road.

31:23Um I'm here about and I hope I'm in the

31:26right place. I'm here about uh

31:29trying to get some help. Uh from

31:31somebody to help me to uh

31:35Uh I bought a house in the city and I

31:38got uh city required me to

31:42fix it up. I uh I got a permit to do the

31:45electric,

31:47uh plumbing,

31:49um

31:50part of for the fire extinguishers and

31:52all that. I got all of that done and the

31:55inspector came past and they

31:58inspected it, passed everything.

32:01After that I caught [clears throat]

32:02cancer and and got sick

32:05and uh couldn't go to work. It's been

32:07some years ago. That's been 2008.

32:10Um here recently I found out that they

32:12put a sticker on my door for a house a

32:15nuisance and uh probably got it on uh

32:19uh demolition list right now.

32:22Uh

32:23I trying to

32:25uh

32:26trying to save the house but it looks

32:28like I can't save the house.

32:30I so I want to I asked them can I tear

32:31the house down myself? They said yes.

32:34When I looked at when they told me they

32:36said you have uh you have a $1,800 bill,

32:40waste collection bill."

32:42And I told him I said I Nobody's never

32:45lived there. I don't have a bathroom in

32:46there. I don't have a kitchen and

32:48nothing. I said no one picked

32:51No one ever lived there. So, I don't

32:52have I shouldn't have to have a bill for

32:54$1,800.

32:56So, they I've been trying to get in

32:57touch with them ever since May. They uh

33:00and to tell them about it, they haven't

33:02gave me any reply back.

33:04And now it's almost time for demolition.

33:07They just tore down a house across the

33:08street from me and I think I'm real

33:11close to being on the list. I just want

33:13them to

33:14uh

33:16to review it,

33:17take that price off to where I can get a

33:20permit to tear my own house down. And I

33:24can't can't seem to get in touch with

33:26nobody.

33:27>> [snorts]

33:27>> So,

33:28I I I don't know whether I'm in the

33:30right place, but I'm bringing it to you

33:32to see if anybody can help me.

33:33>> You are, Mr. Kendrick. Thank you. If you

33:35wouldn't mind staying after the meeting

33:37and then we'll make sure that we

33:39um connect you to the right department.

33:42And Miss Dixteen, if we could if you

33:44could assist us with that to make sure

33:46that Mr. Kendrick has the support that

33:48he needs in terms of the um

33:50um housing division.

33:52>> Can Can Can you share with us the

33:54address of the house?

33:56>> 1217 Oakridge Drive.

33:59>> Okay. [clears throat]

34:00>> Dayton, Ohio.

34:03>> Thank you, Mr. Kendrick. Thank you, Miss

34:05Dixteen.

34:09>> [clears throat]

34:09>> I call to the podium Alec Johnson.

34:20>> Greetings. I'm Alec Johnson. I live at

34:223206 Linden Avenue in the Hearthstone

34:24neighborhood of Dayton. Greetings,

34:25Mayor, Commissioner, City staff, and the

34:27greater Dayton community. More than a

34:29century ago, Dayton made a bargain. We

34:32gained professional administration, but

34:33surrendered considerable democratic

34:35representation. Before 1913, Dayton

34:38elected council members from wards. That

34:41system had serious problems, but it gave

34:42working people and neighborhoods a route

34:44into City Hall.

34:45Dayton socialists used that opening

34:47remarkably well. At their peak, they had

34:49nearly 600 members. In 1911, they

34:52elected two council members and three

34:53assessors. Mayoral candidate Willard

34:56Barringer received 7,306 votes.

34:59The next year, more than 6,000 Dayton

35:01residents voted for Eugene Debs, the

35:03socialist, for president. Socialism was

35:05a serious political force here.

35:07Business leaders were already organizing

35:09to replace the old system when the great

35:11flood struck in 1913.

35:13NCR's relief work strengthened the

35:15argument that Dayton should be governed

35:16like a corporation, a small board

35:18setting policy and a professional

35:20manager running the enterprise.

35:22The resulting charter improved

35:23administration, but it also abolished

35:25wards, reduced elected government to the

35:27five citywide positions we have now,

35:29removed party labels, and gave executive

35:31administration to an appointed manager.

35:33In 1917, socialist candidates received

35:35roughly 43% of the vote and won no

35:37seats.

35:39There's an irony here. NCR, whose

35:41management model helped inspire this

35:43government, announced in 2009 that it

35:45was moving its world headquarters out of

35:46Dayton. NCR's headquarters left the

35:49democratic restrictions for mayor.

35:53Socialism, meanwhile, is regaining

35:54ground. Dayton Miami Valley DSA now has

35:57more than 300 members across our region.

35:59Residents are again organizing around

36:01working class power, neighborhood voice,

36:03and economic democracy. Our government

36:05should allow organized constituencies

36:07fair representation. That's the purpose

36:09behind Dayton Empower, neighborhood

36:11power through open government with

36:12equitable representation. The initial

36:15draft proposes preserving professional

36:16administration and civil service, while

36:18creating nine neighborhood districts,

36:20electing commissioners from those

36:21districts, and not citywide. There'd be

36:23an elected mayor separate from the

36:25commission with stronger powers than

36:26exist today. In addition, there'd be

36:29qualified chief administrative officer

36:30and meaningful public participation. The

36:33final version of Dayton Empower will

36:34emerge from what promises to be an

36:36exciting and inspiring collaboration

36:38with community stakeholders citywide.

36:41This commission can begin a public

36:42charter review and give Dayton voters a

36:44more democratic choice. Otherwise,

36:46residents can initiate an amendment

36:48petition. Last month in Blankenship

36:50versus Trent City Council, the Ohio

36:52Supreme Court confirmed that when

36:54residents submit a legally sufficient

36:55petition with required valid signatures,

36:58the council must submit the proposed

37:00amendment to the voters.

37:02The people of 1913 believe they could

37:03redesign their government for their

37:05times. Daytonians possess that same

37:07right today. Let's use it to ensure that

37:09public power and public policy produce

37:11public wealth and genuine democracy and

37:14genuine democracy. Thank you.

37:16>> Thank you, Mr. Johnson.

37:18I call to the podium Victoria McNeal.

37:30>> Good evening. My name's Victoria McNeal.

37:32>> Good evening.

37:32>> 107 Neal Avenue.

37:35Uh thank you for

37:36letting me speak this evening. I'm a

37:39little frustrated with a property on

37:41North Main Street. It's 865, 875 next

37:46door that Chef Anthony had purchased

37:48some time ago and it's not

37:52He's not done anything with it uh for

37:54the most part. I appreciate I was very

37:56excited about it um because he got some

37:59money cuz he was a

38:00businessman, uh African-American

38:03businessman.

38:04And so [clears throat]

38:05all that apparently is gone. We've

38:08cleaned up the prop the lot several

38:10times with Waste 3 Dayton. I actually

38:13cut back some overgrowth. It's very

38:15unsightly and needs some

38:18maintenance. There's trees growing and

38:19then sometimes people hide behind the

38:21trees. I've picked up trash there

38:23whatever and there's a bus stop right

38:25there that's overgrown from a planter.

38:28So I need some help that and then the

38:30property next door at 875, they're

38:32breaking windows out now and then around

38:34the back those trees of heaven, I call

38:36them trees of hell. They just it's up on

38:39the it's they're so high now they're in

38:41the steps. So it

38:43both properties need some It's been

38:45mowed but they just need some clean up

38:47work. I'm getting older now, so I can't

38:49do all that like I used to. I would

38:51gladly do it, um,

38:53but I just the bones don't want to work

38:55and the but like they used to. So, and I

38:58I appreciate you going to see Mondawmin

39:01in New York. I was like, "Yeah,

39:03man, let's go to New York. That's a good

39:05thing." So, I wanted to commend you for

39:07that.

39:07>> Thank you.

39:07>> And I like what Leslie said about Ms.

39:09Dixstein. She responded to

39:12uh, I report I

39:14Eastern Street from Dollar General down

39:17past Finley, the Rite Aid that's empty.

39:20They've just all the vacant property is

39:22just littered with graffiti. It takes

39:24too much time for me to do and it's been

39:26like that all summer. Nothing being

39:28remediated. It needs to be addressed

39:31because I mean the houses everything

39:33empty businesses like

39:35it's not a good trip coming down Eastern

39:37Street when you get down there, but you

39:39know, life is still goes on and there's

39:41still graffiti and so we hope that, you

39:44know, the graffiti delete will work. I

39:46go over and roll when I can. I go roll

39:48over graffiti when I can. So, I do my

39:50part. I just we need more help. So,

39:53thank you. Hopefully, we can get some

39:55momentum on that property on North Main

39:58Street. It's a corner property. So,

40:00appreciate you. Thank you.

40:01>> Thank you, Ms. McNeal.

40:03I call to the podium Paula Humphrey.

40:17>> Hello.

40:18>> Good evening.

40:19>> Paula Humphrey, 201 West Fairview

40:21Avenue. Good evening. Madam Mayor, Madam

40:25City Manager, and Commissioners.

40:30I'm a member of the Hillview

40:31Neighborhood Association and we've been

40:33in existence for 30 years. I'm here

40:36today to represent all my neighbors and

40:39community members in that association

40:42and request

40:44that you that we be approved

40:47as an urban preservation district

40:51and be zoned accordingly.

40:54Our neighborhood has worked tirelessly

40:57for decades to stabilize and maintain

41:00standards in our neighborhood

41:03to no avail

41:05because year by year things get worse

41:08and worse, unfortunately.

41:10For this reason, we, those of us who

41:13have been long-time members of the

41:15association and are growing

41:18uh

41:19growing old, quite frankly, getting

41:21years have years and experience behind

41:23us. We're committed

41:26to halting and curbing and stopping this

41:28deterioration.

41:31We so much want to stabilize the

41:33community and put an end to the

41:36the decline.

41:38Um

41:39there are many forces against us and uh

41:43I could just read volumes and give

41:46rationale about why I'm appealing and

41:49asking for this zoning district. Uh I

41:53will be coming back to give more

41:56information about that and more leverage

41:59to it. Um

42:01the forces against us

42:03today that I want to talk about are the

42:06uh wealthy property investment companies

42:08that could care less about Dayton, don't

42:11have any historical

42:13roots here, don't have a stake in our

42:15community. And they purchase

42:16single-family homes that were beautiful

42:19homes and uh meant for raising a family

42:23and

42:24uh enjoying life.

42:26They purchase these homes and then they

42:28become um they rent them out and they

42:31become multi-family

42:34homes and um then they might they don't

42:38keep up with the maintenance. Uh the

42:40companies do not register on the city

42:42register

42:44list. I can't find out who they are.

42:47Um

42:48they're absentee, they don't care. Uh

42:50just as long as the money keeps coming

42:52in and people

42:55continue to pay or they

42:58may end up being evicted. That happens

43:01quite frequently, too, that people will

43:03come for 6 months and and leave. Um

43:07when this happens, the conditions get

43:09bad and then the neighbors suffer.

43:12Uh we've tried the tools the city has

43:14given us. We've We've made a concerted

43:18effort and we

43:20we care about, you know, our community

43:22and you've given us Dayton Delivers and

43:24we appreciate all that you do. Am I

43:26done?

43:27>> Yes, ma'am.

43:28>> Oh my gosh.

43:30I'm done? Okay. Thank you so much. Thank

43:33you, Ms. Humphrey.

43:35>> I call to the podium Yousef El Zayn.

43:50>> Hey, good evening. Yousef El Zayn, 4906

43:53Amberwood Drive, Dayton, Ohio.

43:56Um I'm starting standing before you

43:58today to commend you for the majority

44:02vote last week to start collecting the

44:06taxes for the hospital in in West

44:09Dayton.

44:11As we watch in heartbreak as healthcare

44:14institutions are intentionally destroyed

44:17in places like Gaza, where 19 hospitals

44:20have been completely turned into rubble,

44:24and South Lebanon, where 17 hospitals

44:26have been damaged or destroyed,

44:29we we are reminded of how vital these

44:32sanctuaries

44:33um of healings are.

44:36Let us take a different path here in

44:38Dayton.

44:40Let us build our public institution as a

44:42powerful counter example, a proof that

44:46when citizens work together,

44:48no one will be left

44:50out.

44:52The true heartbeat of this project would

44:55rely on who trust to guide it.

44:59I urge this commission and Mayor Turner

45:01Slaught to move swiftly

45:04and diligently

45:07in appointing a governing board.

45:09We need individuals who are not just

45:11placeholders.

45:13We need individuals who are not

45:15uh placeholders, but champions.

45:18We need a board deeply committed to

45:20working honestly and tirelessly to

45:24lever- leverage this levy and raise the

45:26additional capital required to fully

45:29build a state-of-the-art facilities.

45:33If you look around Dayton, all our

45:35hospitals have a magic name on top of

45:38them. That's because they're being

45:40funded by fund- by fundraising and

45:43giving the hospital the name of the

45:46uh funder.

45:47This public hospital can do the same.

45:50Finally, I want to clarify a vital

45:52truth. Many of you in the past said that

45:55this public hospital is only proposed

45:57for West Dayton.

45:59That is not true.

46:01It is being built in West Dayton to

46:04directly eliminate the severe health

46:06care desert that played that

46:09neighborhood for far too long.

46:12But make no mistake, this is not just a

46:15West Dayton hospital.

46:17This is a Daytonian hospital. We are

46:19privileged to have institutions that are

46:22taking care of our medical bills, but

46:24many others are not.

46:26I might be using it in the future. You

46:28might be using it in the future.

46:31This institution will will serve every

46:34single mother, every working father, and

46:36every individual across our entire city

46:39who currently faces the crushing burden

46:42of unaffordable medical expenses. Let us

46:45finish what voters started.

46:48Let us seat this board, secure the

46:50funds, and build a healthier, more

46:53accountable

46:54in Dayton. Thank you.

46:56>> Thank you, Ms. Albritton.

46:58I call to the podium Kevin Keller.

47:07>> Kevin J. Keller, 3922 East Third Street,

47:09Dayton, Ohio 45403. Good evening,

47:11commissioners.

47:13>> Mayor, sorry, I did it out of order.

47:16City manager and our lovely

47:18audience behind us.

47:21I would like to start by saying uh

47:24I don't understand what these pop-up

47:26curbs are along East Third Street as an

47:28example, and I think a few up on Main

47:30Street. Those are going to get somebody

47:32hurt because they have no reflection. I

47:34said this the last time I spoke. I

47:36haven't seen having anything done yet.

47:37Maybe it's been in the planning stages.

47:39Maybe it's in the installations uh

47:40stages.

47:42But, however, in the meantime, I think

47:44there's going to be uh some accidents

47:45happening cuz you can't see them at

47:46dusk. You can't see them at at at night.

47:48Nor can you see them at dawn.

47:50Or during fog. It's very hard to see.

47:54Now, also explanation on uh especially

47:58Main Street, how do you do that

47:59on-street parking where they just have

48:01the parking space in a in in the road?

48:05That is very confusing. I mean, you got

48:06to walk through traffic in order to

48:08park. And then they got the bike lane.

48:11Um we need some education on that.

48:13Also, I'd like to thank the crews who

48:15have been paving our streets. They've

48:17done a wonderful job.

48:20Especially uh on East Third Street up

48:21the hill.

48:23Um some of the alleys.

48:24I really appreciate that. Thank you for

48:26miss to Mr. Parker who is the uh waste

48:29collection. He takes care of waste

48:30collection and

48:31he he took care of a concern we had on

48:33on the corner.

48:35And I thank him for that. I'd also like

48:37to um

48:38highlight trash along uh our byways and

48:42highways, entrances and and exits on the

48:45freeways and through thoroughfares.

48:47It's a mess. A lot of these uh my

48:50[clears throat] opinion hence comes from

48:52the fact that I travel a lot. I've been

48:54to 14 nine states.

48:57Oregon is next.

48:59>> All right.

48:59>> And I will tell you a lot of those

49:01states um they're pretty clean, but I'm

49:03a little appalled to see the exit ramps,

49:06entrance ramps, thoroughfares littered

49:08with trash, furniture. People are

49:10dropping furniture off their vehicles,

49:12all kinds of stuff. We've got to do a

49:14better job at at uh because some of

49:16these people are coming out of town and

49:17that's one of their first impressions is

49:19what our streets look like.

49:21We've got to do something about that.

49:23Lastly, I'd like to well, almost lastly,

49:26I would like to uh let Miss Dickstein

49:28know that she's a hero.

49:30Stands in the face of all her criticism

49:33and stands up to

49:34let her true

49:36uh talent show through all that

49:38negativity that she gets virtually every

49:40single time somebody mentions her name.

49:43She's doing good stuff. And lastly, I

49:45would like to say that I have nothing

49:46else to say.

49:49>> Thank you, Mr. Keller.

49:51I call to the podium New Win.

50:09>> Hello.

50:11Hi, my name is New Win.

50:14I live at 600 Casler Drive, Dayton, Ohio

50:1845403.

50:20I come here today um

50:22I just really kind of really frustrated.

50:25This is my

50:27speak ticket the four the fourth the

50:30fourth time. I couldn't understand.

50:32Unfortunately, I work at ESS. I'm a I'm

50:35a substitute teacher.

50:38And every time I thought the light is

50:39off from school

50:41and I drive

50:43as slow as I could and then all of

50:46sudden I get a ticket.

50:48So, it three time

50:50only just three time just around that

50:52school area. Even no light after 9:00,

50:56no light in the school around area. I

50:58get a ticket. I don't understand why.

51:02And then or either

51:04one of the elementary school in Louise

51:07Choice, I go to

51:10Dunbar and I don't see any any lights a

51:13school district 20 mile or whatever. And

51:18all of a sudden I get a ticket and every

51:21ticket I have I have is less than 8 or

51:2510 mile because I thought it's already

51:28over.

51:29And I I come out of school late. I let

51:32the other student leave bus. I come out

51:34late and I receive a ticket. They did

51:36the last ticket you see. They can see my

51:40my license very slow and then

51:44expand it.

51:46I'm kind of really

51:48I want to know

51:50is that when they say 20 mile an hour do

51:53I have to have light or no light? I

51:56continue go for 20 mile.

52:00Or what should I do?

52:01Sometimes they say

52:04the light the light on you have to slow

52:07down but

52:08I slow down

52:10when the light on I do slow down. I I

52:14make it make sure it's 20 mile an hour,

52:17you know.

52:18I work at ESS unfortunately every day I

52:20had to go through the school and if I

52:23don't the problem not solved. Let's say

52:26this the fourth ticket I have.

52:28I don't know how to deal with that. I

52:30need somebody you know tell me how I

52:33drive through this area without ticket.

52:36This the fourth fourth ticket I get.

52:38Okay? I appreciate it. Thank you very

52:41much.

52:42>> Thank you Mr.

52:43>> Commissioner, thank you. Thank you.

52:44Thank you. Thank you.

52:46>> I call

52:48I

52:49I excuse me sir. You have to register to

52:51speak. Unfortunately you cannot speak at

52:53this time. Thank you. But if you

52:55wouldn't mind staying after the meeting

52:57I'll come down and we'll have a

52:58conversation. You can share whatever you

53:00like to share.

53:03Thank you.

53:04I call to the podium Sharon Screech.

53:24>> My name is Sharon Screech. I live at

53:265:15 West Grand.

53:29Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners.

53:31I'm here today to address something that

53:33should concern every taxpayer in this

53:34city. Transparency in how the city of

53:36Dayton spends our money and

53:38accountability for the decisions made

53:40with it. Residents shouldn't have to dig

53:43through meeting minutes, financial

53:44reports, or legal terminology just to

53:47understand where their tax dollars are

53:49going. Transparency is not simply

53:51announcing that money will be spent. It

53:53is explaining why it is being spent, who

53:55authorized it, and what justification

53:57supports that decision. Let's talk about

54:00moral obligation claims. When the city

54:02tells residents it's paying a settlement

54:04based on a moral obligation claim, that

54:06explanation is not enough. A moral

54:08obligation claim generally refers to a

54:10request for payment that the city

54:11determines it has a moral or equitable

54:14reason to honor, even when the payment

54:16is not necessarily based on an

54:17established legal liability. It is

54:20important to understand that this does

54:21not automatically mean the city has

54:23admitted wrongdoing, nor does it mean

54:25every claim is legally required to be

54:27paid. So, my question is this. If the

54:29city is using taxpayer money to resolve

54:31these claims, why aren't residents given

54:33a clear, understandable explanation of

54:35the circumstances behind each payment?

54:37What happened? Why did the city decide

54:39to pay? How was the amount determined?

54:42Was there a potential legal exposure, a

54:44risk of litigation, or another reason

54:46for the decision? And what steps are

54:48being taken to prevent similar

54:49situations from happening again?

54:51Protecting confidential information

54:53where legally necessary is one thing.

54:55Leaving taxpayers without a meaningful

54:57explanation is another.

54:58Now, let's address Now, let's address

55:00the $80,000 contract approved for an

55:02outside firm to assist in finding our

55:04next city manager. Dayton already has a

55:07human resources department, so I want to

55:09know what exactly are we paying this

55:11outside entity $8,000 $80,000 to do that

55:14our existing staff cannot do? What

55:17alternatives were considered? Was an

55:19internal cost comparison conducted and

55:21where is the public documentation

55:23showing why outsourcing this work is the

55:25best use of our money?

55:26If the city believes this firm offers

55:28specialized expertise, then explain that

55:31to the taxpayers. Show us the

55:32justifications, the scope of work, the

55:34expected benefits, and why the cost is

55:36justified. Do not expect residents to

55:38simply accept a price tag without asking

55:41questions. This is not about opposing

55:43every settlement or every outside

55:44contract. It's about demanding a

55:46consistent standard of accountability

55:48for every public dollar spent. Our

55:50neighborhoods need investment. Residents

55:52have concerns about basic services,

55:54blighted properties, and neighborhood

55:55improvements. Every dollar spent without

55:57a clear public explanation is another

55:59reason for residents to question whether

56:01their priorities are being considered.

56:02Mayor and Commissioners, public trust is

56:04not built by asking residents to trust

56:06the process. It is built by opening that

56:08process to public scrutiny. I'm asking

56:11this commission to establish a clear

56:12public reporting practice for more

56:14obligation claims and legal settlements,

56:16including the reason for payment, the

56:18amount, the approval process, and any

56:20corrective actions that can be disclosed

56:22legally. I'm I'm also asking for a

56:24transparent justification of the $80,000

56:26city manager recruitment contract,

56:28including the services being purchased.

56:31Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Greach.

56:34I call to the podium Talis Gage.

56:55>> Talis Gage, 1921

56:57South Gettysburg Day in Ohio.

57:01So, I just want to talk about what just

57:02happened to me the other day, real

57:04quick.

57:06Um

57:08I was riding my bike on this

57:10uh

57:11on the sidewalk and I got a ticket.

57:14It's against the law to ride your bike

57:15on the sidewalk.

57:18So, I was riding on the I was riding in

57:20the street cuz it wasn't no bike lane.

57:22I'm supposed to be treated as a vehicle.

57:25And the lady clipped me.

57:29And she left.

57:31She left.

57:32But, I got her plate and they found her.

57:35Everything's I mean, everything's going

57:37forward now. But, I bring that up not

57:41for me, but just I mean, see that's why

57:43we need to be proactive. If I If we had

57:45these bike lanes

57:47like if if they want to enforce this

57:49law,

57:50then we should have that bike lane.

57:53You know, or I mean, if if we going to

57:56enforce this law, we should I mean, that

57:57should be an immediate thing. I mean,

57:59health,

58:00safety, right?

58:02So,

58:04I don't even got to I ain't going to say

58:05much more. That's all.

58:08>> Thank you, Mr. Gage. I'm glad that

58:10you're in recovery.

58:13I call to the podium Ebony Hastings.

58:34>> I was going to talk about the youth,

58:36but I'm going to respond to my neighbor

58:39about Shelley.

58:43When a resident from Twin Towers Ebony

58:45Hastings, 1238 Wabash Avenue. I

58:47completely lost sight. I apologize.

58:49Uh when a resident from Twin Towers

58:52asked what we have done, whether we have

58:53offered solutions, and how we are

58:55contributing to those solutions, I

58:57believe those are fair questions

58:59for all of us. Residents should be

59:01willing to bring forward ideas,

59:02participate in the process, and help

59:04identify a path forward. But,

59:06accountability cannot stop with

59:08residents. It must also apply to the

59:10people entrusted with leading the city.

59:13I have brought concerns forward. I have

59:15asked questions. I have sought answers,

59:18and I have advocated for solutions. Too

59:21often I have felt that those concerns

59:22were disregarded or left unanswered by

59:24Mrs. Dixstein.

59:26Listening to residents is not optional.

59:28It is a part of public service. I have

59:31an upcoming meeting with Shelley, and I

59:33genuinely hope to receive honest, direct

59:36feedback

59:37and meaningful answers

59:39to the concerns I have raised. I expect

59:42a conversation

59:43that addresses the substance of the

59:45questions rather than circumvent them or

59:48provide carefully worded responses that

59:49avoid transparency. Residents deserve

59:52straightforward answers even when the

59:54questions are uncomfortable. This is not

59:56about whether I like or dislike Shelley.

1:00:00I've stood here and complimented her

1:00:01many times because she is in fact

1:00:03brilliant.

1:00:06But don't play in my face.

1:00:08Don't organize in attempt to

1:00:12split the divide

1:00:14or have us

1:00:16not stand in agreement in regards to

1:00:17what our concerns are because East

1:00:20Dayton, they get they have services. Be

1:00:23clear. They have mental health services.

1:00:27We don't. Y'all tore it down, and we

1:00:29even fought for it to be a historical

1:00:31site, and y'all still tore down.

1:00:38When we discuss removing the city

1:00:40manager, we should not make that

1:00:41decision based on personalities,

1:00:43political alliances, or who has access

1:00:45to those in power. We should examine the

1:00:47record, the management of our city, the

1:00:49treatment of residents and elected

1:00:50officials, and whether the leadership

1:00:52structure is delivering the results

1:00:55our community deserves. We must also be

1:00:57honest about how people can become

1:00:59comfortable defending the systems that

1:01:00do not serve everyone equally. Sometimes

1:01:03having a little access or receiving a

1:01:05small benefit can make people reluctant

1:01:07to question the larger system, but

1:01:09access is not the same as

1:01:11accountability, and having mean, at the

1:01:13table does not mean your voice is being

1:01:16heard.

1:01:17The question is not simply what

1:01:18residents have done to solve problems.

1:01:20We must also ask whether city leadership

1:01:22has listened, responded, and worked with

1:01:24residents to find solutions. We hold We

1:01:27can hold residents accountable for

1:01:28participating while also holding the

1:01:30leadership accountable accountable for

1:01:32leading. This is not about what is right

1:01:35for This is about what is right for all

1:01:37people in Dayton, not protecting

1:01:39positions, relationships, or

1:01:40individuals. Our city deserves

1:01:41leadership that treats public concerns

1:01:44as opportunities to improve, not an

1:01:46inconvenience to ignore.

1:01:49>> Thank you, Ms. Hastings.

1:01:51I call to the podium Jerry Bowling.

1:02:03>> Good evening. Jerry Bowling the III, 522

1:02:05Herbert.

1:02:07Um

1:02:08I'm president of the McCookville

1:02:09Neighborhood Association, and this month

1:02:11is our 30th anniversary, so um

1:02:14that's quite an accomplishment. I'm also

1:02:16a president of the Bear Valley Crest and

1:02:18Valley Pike Community Advisory Group,

1:02:20which is an advocate group for three

1:02:22Superfund sites in Northeast Dayton and

1:02:25Riverside. And the Superfund process is

1:02:29long.

1:02:30Um I often tell people

1:02:32um

1:02:33that some have a Superfund site in the

1:02:35area, but my neighborhood is a Superfund

1:02:37site.

1:02:38Our Our first public meeting was on

1:02:40February 1st of 2007.

1:02:43Um that's when it started really

1:02:45becoming an issue.

1:02:47Um in September uh actually in the

1:02:49summer of 2007, McGuffey School was

1:02:52closed. And at that time, uh the

1:02:54emergency action manager for the USEPA

1:02:57said vapor mitigation systems, like a

1:02:59radon system, was a band-aid for the

1:03:02problem. Um in September, we had um

1:03:05significant meeting, and Commissioner

1:03:07Joseph attended that meeting, got a

1:03:09taste of what it was, uh and we really

1:03:12started getting busy at that point in

1:03:14time. Um in 2009,

1:03:18uh the site became, uh, a Superfund

1:03:21site. Was put on the national priority

1:03:23list. And at the time I came before this

1:03:25body and asked for your help with that.

1:03:28Uh, it wasn't until 2019

1:03:31that there was a record of decision.

1:03:32That's one of the steps during the

1:03:34Superfund process. Um, so long time

1:03:38there just to get to that point. And the

1:03:40next milestone is what's called the 30%

1:03:43remedial design. Well, that is like

1:03:46about 900 days late almost. And I

1:03:49provided with you a letter from, uh,

1:03:52Eric Harden, the remediation manager for

1:03:55the USEPA. That was sent to Molly

1:03:58and also to Vestas. Molly was formerly

1:04:01Bear and it was formerly Chrysler.

1:04:03Vestas was formerly Airmark. So, those

1:04:06are two of the potential responsible

1:04:07parties.

1:04:09Uh, the keyword there is responsible.

1:04:11Um, they've done a good job helping with

1:04:14vapor mitigation systems, which is like

1:04:16a radon system. We have 250 of those in

1:04:20homes in our neighborhood or small

1:04:22businesses. Uh, so they've done a good

1:04:24job with that. But they've been dragging

1:04:26their feet on the cleanup portion

1:04:29portion of this. Uh, remember I

1:04:31mentioned a band-aid uh, being the vapor

1:04:33mitigation system. Um,

1:04:36that letter pretty much, uh, holds them

1:04:39accountable and is, uh, pretty much

1:04:41stern legal letter because there are

1:04:44legal orders. Um, there was a a mention

1:04:48there about, um, being concerned about

1:04:51the contamination moving.

1:04:54Um, and they they actually even he

1:04:56actually even mentioned downtown and

1:04:57that was was a little bit surprised.

1:04:59But, uh, it's time for us to get

1:05:02cleanup. And at some point we'll be

1:05:03asking the city to step up again to help

1:05:07us.

1:05:07Um,

1:05:08>> [music]

1:05:08>> so thank you.

1:05:10>> Thank you, Mr. Bowling.

1:05:11I call to the podium Margaret Merl.

1:05:32>> Good evening.

1:05:32>> Good evening.

1:05:36>> Before I start, I would like to ask I'm

1:05:38sorry, Margaret Merrill, 26 Mercer

1:05:40Avenue.

1:05:45Could any of you answer the question

1:05:48there is a construction site over at

1:05:51North Broadway across the street from

1:05:53the school, Edison School.

1:05:56Um I don't see any activity in probably

1:05:586 months. The

1:06:01mountain of dirt is sky-high, and why is

1:06:05that? Is there a problem with the

1:06:07contractor financially, or is there a

1:06:11compliance issue?

1:06:13I am here for my own

1:06:16compliance issue.

1:06:18>> [clears throat]

1:06:19>> The single-family structure located at

1:06:2118 Mercer Avenue is not in compliance

1:06:26with the City of Dayton zoning codes.

1:06:29Your code

1:06:31150.100.4

1:06:33says that no structure shall

1:06:37be constructed or designed to be used

1:06:40except in full compliance with the

1:06:43provisions of the zoning code. And when

1:06:46required after a lawful issue of a

1:06:50permit

1:06:52the structure at 18 Mercer Avenue failed

1:06:55to meet the required front and rear

1:06:58setback regulations and guidelines.

1:07:03And a request in writing for a variance

1:07:06to proceed outside these guidelines

1:07:09before construction was not was not

1:07:11asked asked for.

1:07:13The contractor seeking change must

1:07:16identify each requested modification and

1:07:20explain the reason for it in a variance

1:07:22application.

1:07:24He must submit that to the zoning board.

1:07:27A setback is the required distance

1:07:30a building or structure is set from the

1:07:32property line.

1:07:34My efforts to obtain a copy of the

1:07:37written variance

1:07:39has been frustrating.

1:07:42The staff at the Second Street Zoning

1:07:46repeatedly delayed, redirected, or

1:07:49misdirected my request for answers.

1:07:53An inspector who identified himself only

1:07:56as Larry

1:07:57stated that the property owner would not

1:08:00want the public would not want the

1:08:02records made public. I reminded him that

1:08:05the records are public.

1:08:08After 40 minutes, he returned and placed

1:08:11aerial photographs on the counter.

1:08:14Although I specifically requested a copy

1:08:17of the variance, I spent over 3 hours at

1:08:20the Third Street and Second Street

1:08:22locations and left without receiving the

1:08:25requested information.

1:08:28In my online request for records, Mr.

1:08:31Tony Kroger responded. He said that no

1:08:35variance request

1:08:36record could be found. His exact quote

1:08:38states,

1:08:40"The Planning Division does not have a

1:08:43record of a case in this address going

1:08:46to our Board of Zoning.

1:08:48Therefore, no variance record

1:08:52Therefore,

1:08:53>> Sorry.

1:08:54>> Therefore, no variance

1:08:56request on this

1:08:57>> Thank you for your comments. [music]

1:08:59Thank you, Ms. Merrell.

1:09:05I call to the podium Stephen Ware.

1:09:18>> Stephen Ware, 3033 Beaver Avenue.

1:09:22A couple weeks ago I gave a speech

1:09:24during week without driving about the

1:09:26importance of uh maintaining our bike

1:09:27lanes.

1:09:29Um and I was demonstrating at the

1:09:31intersection of uh Second and Main

1:09:32Street with some signs that were trying

1:09:34to raise awareness about the uh problem

1:09:36of car dependency. Um

1:09:38slogan like uh build cities for people,

1:09:40not for cars. Um

1:09:42Anyway, week without driving is an

1:09:44initiative put on by the uh Non-Drivers

1:09:46Alliance. Um

1:09:47It challenges drivers to not drive for a

1:09:50week or at least to consider what they

1:09:52would have to do if driving wasn't an

1:09:54option for a week.

1:09:56Um approximately 1/3 of US adults don't

1:09:59drive, according to their statistics.

1:10:00And um

1:10:03For uh drivers, uh their daily transit

1:10:05is pretty easy, but um for non-drivers,

1:10:08uh it's really harsh trying to get it

1:10:10from place to place. And

1:10:12non-drivers includes us cyclists.

1:10:15Um

1:10:15>> [clears throat]

1:10:17>> So, uh the speech I gave a couple weeks

1:10:19ago um was mainly about uh the

1:10:21importance of maintaining our bike

1:10:22lanes, but I also made a point about um

1:10:25the importance of connecting the bike

1:10:26lanes. Um

1:10:28And honestly, that might be a bigger

1:10:29driver for why nobody uses the bike

1:10:30lanes is they're disconnected from one

1:10:33another, you know.

1:10:34Um

1:10:35As uh Talus Gage mentioned, uh he was uh

1:10:38previously ticketed for riding on the

1:10:39sidewalk, so he was uh at one point

1:10:42riding on a road that didn't have a bike

1:10:44lane and ended up getting hit in a

1:10:46hit-and-run.

1:10:47So, uh

1:10:49that that just makes me think myself, uh

1:10:51I ride along um the stretch from uh

1:10:54Jefferson up to Salem along Second

1:10:56Street um pretty frequently, and there's

1:10:58no bike lane along that stretch. There's

1:11:01bike lane for a little bit on Salem,

1:11:02it's great, it's protected, but uh

1:11:05for that stretch where I have to go

1:11:06between Jefferson and Salem, um

1:11:09there's no bike lane at all and goes

1:11:11under the you know, I-75, that's a

1:11:14high-traffic area, not exactly

1:11:16comfortable to ride on a bike.

1:11:18Um

1:11:20And I I thought uh you know, if

1:11:24if if roads didn't connect to one

1:11:25another, uh cars probably wouldn't be

1:11:27really popular. We wouldn't have people

1:11:29driving everywhere if uh for say

1:11:31there were dirt roads along that stretch

1:11:33instead of

1:11:34actual paved road for them to use and

1:11:37best analogy I can think of to

1:11:40tell drivers what it feels like to be a

1:11:41cyclist on road without a bike lane. Um

1:11:44Imagine if all of our roads had those

1:11:46pop-up bollards and maybe once a week

1:11:50some unfortunate driver would have one

1:11:52of those pop-up bollards pop up right in

1:11:54front of their car.

1:11:55Just

1:11:56you know, that's that's how it feels to

1:11:58be a cyclist. Always wondering, am I

1:11:59going to be the next to get hit?

1:12:02Anyways, our

1:12:04current federal administration has made

1:12:06it pretty clear they're against anything

1:12:07that might be deemed hostile to cars and

1:12:10that includes bike lanes, pedestrian

1:12:12first infrastructure and pretty much

1:12:14anything related to micro-mobility.

1:12:17Um they've canceled by narrow grants for

1:12:20bike lanes and redirected the funds to

1:12:21car infrastructure. Um

1:12:24Thanks.

1:12:25>> Thank [clears throat] you, Mr. Ware.

1:12:26After the meeting, Mr. Dixon, if you

1:12:29wouldn't be if you wouldn't mind

1:12:30providing us a an update. I know that we

1:12:33to currently have a plan for expanding

1:12:36our bike lanes if I have that correct.

1:12:38But again, if you could speak to that

1:12:41after the remainder of the speakers

1:12:43speak this evening. And then Ms. Meijer,

1:12:46Ms.

1:12:47Margaret Meijer, I believe I have your

1:12:49last name correct. I'll speak with you

1:12:51after the meeting just so I can get more

1:12:52context in regards to 18 Mercer Avenue.

1:12:56Excuse me, Ms. McLendon.

1:12:58>> I call to the podium Jerry Birnbaum.

1:13:12>> My name is Jerry Birnbaum and I live at

1:13:143334 Forrerrant Avenue, Dayton, Ohio

1:13:1845417

1:13:1917.

1:13:21And I just like to say hello to the the

1:13:24commissioners, to our mayor,

1:13:26uh Turner Slaws, to our city manager.

1:13:29God bless you.

1:13:30Uh to all the commissioners, Fairchild

1:13:33and Shaw, Joseph and Beckham.

1:13:36Uh,

1:13:37I know some of you know me and I just

1:13:39want to say hello.

1:13:41Uh, and to our

1:13:43uh, the chief of staff,

1:13:45um,

1:13:46hello.

1:13:48I am the, um,

1:13:50nomination author

1:13:52to put Pine View in the, um,

1:13:56National Register of Historic Places.

1:13:59And I'm sure some of you have gotten a

1:14:00note on that.

1:14:02And there will be a

1:14:04webinar on the 2nd of November

1:14:07sponsored by

1:14:10Heritage Ohio.

1:14:12And I just have a little formal

1:14:15reading that, uh,

1:14:18my son uh, so diligently wrote out for

1:14:21me.

1:14:21>> [laughter]

1:14:21>> He's been such a great help help and his

1:14:23name is Arietta from Marion.

1:14:25Uh, and I'm going to read this to you.

1:14:27We are pleased to share that Heritage

1:14:29Ohio is moving forward with scheduling

1:14:32the Pine View Historic District for

1:14:35review by the Ohio Historic Site

1:14:38Preservation Advisory Board at their

1:14:40upcoming meeting in December 2026. Ahead

1:14:44of this formal review, state guidelines

1:14:47for historic districts with more than 50

1:14:50property owners require a public

1:14:52information session to be scheduled by

1:14:55November the 4th to ensure property

1:14:58owners and interested community members

1:15:00are fully informed about the National

1:15:02Register of Historic Places.

1:15:05Heritage Ohio will host a virtual public

1:15:07meeting on November 2nd, 2026.

1:15:12This nomination represents a crucial

1:15:15milestone in recognizing and saf- and

1:15:18safeguarding a pivotal chapter of our

1:15:21state's legacy.

1:15:23Heritage Ohio is deeply committed to

1:15:26this effort to preserve Pine View's

1:15:28place in national and cultural history

1:15:31as the first planned suburb for African

1:15:34Americans, ensuring its enduring

1:15:37historic history historic contributions

1:15:40are officially honored and protected for

1:15:43generations to come.

1:15:46And so we're very excited about that.

1:15:48It's an honor for Dayton. It's a an

1:15:50honor for our state.

1:15:52And

1:15:54it also ensures the legacy of the people

1:15:57that lived there, the first homeowners.

1:16:00We had many um

1:16:02people that are were very important in

1:16:04our in our government and in our city.

1:16:07You had the Lloyds. You had

1:16:10Lloyd Lewis, Edith Lewis. Um they lived

1:16:13in Oakleaf and they never left the

1:16:15neighborhood even when they became very

1:16:16very successful. In fact, the whole

1:16:18family was successful even before that.

1:16:21Uh you had uh Don Crawford who was a

1:16:24first black city commissioner on Oregon.

1:16:27I'm through.

1:16:27>> Yes, ma'am.

1:16:29>> God bless you.

1:16:29>> Thank you.

1:16:31All right.

1:16:32I call to the podium Rodney Stark.

1:16:49>> Rodney Stark, 4526 Alfred Drive, Dayton,

1:16:52Ohio, 45417.

1:16:56Good evening, Mayor. Good evening,

1:16:58Commissioners. Good evening, Madam

1:17:01um City Manager,

1:17:03Madam Clerk, and Ms. Jackson.

1:17:07I am here today

1:17:10kind of a little different today. I know

1:17:12it's been a long day for you, so I'm not

1:17:13going to hold you. Promise you that. But

1:17:16I want to talk about one of the

1:17:17Commissioners today.

1:17:20And that is Darrin Beckham.

1:17:22Mr. Beckham has put his money where his

1:17:25mouth is. He

1:17:27actually I saw a Facebook post on the

1:17:31use of force committee, so I want to

1:17:33thank you for that. I want to celebrate

1:17:36you on this day. I I call this Dario

1:17:39Darius Beckham Appreciation Day.

1:17:42>> [laughter]

1:17:43>> Today. And I was happy to see that, and

1:17:46I hope that that moves forward. And I'm

1:17:49I'm I'm going to leave that alone. I'm

1:17:51leave the Use of Force Committee. I'm

1:17:52going to let you do your job on that.

1:17:54So, I appreciate you on that. All right.

1:17:56So, thank you so much for that. I want

1:17:58to say that. And mayor, just continue to

1:18:00push um know your rights. I hear you

1:18:04selling that, and I know it's been a

1:18:05long day for everybody. I know this is

1:18:07different for me. So, I'm going to give

1:18:09you back your time and get you out of

1:18:11here. All right. Thank

1:18:12>> Thank you, Mr. Stark.

1:18:14I call to the podium Kia Hayes.

1:18:25>> Good evening, mayor, commissioners, city

1:18:28manager, chief of staff, and madam

1:18:31clerk. I am Kia Hayes. My address is 637

1:18:35North Upland Avenue,

1:18:3745417.

1:18:38I would like to announce to you all

1:18:41Hustle and Heart, a non-traditional

1:18:43career fair for youth ages 13 through

1:18:4718,

1:18:48taking place on Friday, November 6th

1:18:51at the Southeast branch of the Dayton

1:18:54Metro Library,

1:18:56which is located at 21 Watervliet

1:18:58Avenue,

1:19:0045420,

1:19:02from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.

1:19:05This career fair was birthed out of this

1:19:07year's Neighborhood Leadership

1:19:08Institute,

1:19:10and is in collaboration with the

1:19:11Southeast branch of the Dayton Metro

1:19:13Library.

1:19:15The career fair will provide our youth

1:19:16with the opportunity to meet successful

1:19:19entrepreneurs and professionals across a

1:19:21variety of in industries, including real

1:19:24estate, construction, beauty, as well as

1:19:27media.

1:19:29This career fair is an attempt to expose

1:19:31our youth to different career paths that

1:19:32they may not know exist or think is

1:19:34impossible. Thank you all for your time.

1:19:38>> Thank you, Ms. Hayes. I call to the

1:19:41podium Mark Donaldson.

1:19:50>> [clears throat]

1:19:54>> Mark Donaldson, 650 West Siebenthaler,

1:19:56Dayton, Ohio. You know, every time I

1:19:59come here, and I don't who's a mayor,

1:20:01who's a commissioner, it seems like

1:20:03we're regurgitating the same old thing.

1:20:06You guys don't want city government to

1:20:08be wards because then you would have to

1:20:09be responsible for what's going on in

1:20:12the city.

1:20:13So, when all of you are at large, and

1:20:15now you guys are campaign campaigning

1:20:17together and in threes and twos, you're

1:20:19not accountable to Twin Towers, Upper

1:20:23Dayton View, serious several

1:20:25neighborhoods. And a mayor that sat

1:20:27right there where you are, Ms. Turner,

1:20:29he abolished with our city manager

1:20:32before her, Ms. Lemming, the priority

1:20:33boards.

1:20:34Which was the citizens' only way really

1:20:37to get anything done in the city, and

1:20:38you've made no attempt to make it happen

1:20:41again because you don't want it.

1:20:44Go out and get 500 signatures and that

1:20:46are registered voters. That's the first

1:20:47thing. You don't have to have 500

1:20:49signatures in the county. You can change

1:20:51that. You guys can change it, but you

1:20:53don't want to do it because you like

1:20:55your job.

1:20:57Mr. Joseph, you've been here too long,

1:20:58man. You've been here too long as a

1:21:00commissioner.

1:21:01Not to say that you haven't done your

1:21:03job, but to say let somebody else come

1:21:05and do the job, a younger person.

1:21:08The third thing is the inspectional

1:21:11department in Dayton is lacking.

1:21:14You have to fight to get something done

1:21:18in this city.

1:21:19And you will not get anybody, you will

1:21:22get run around, run around, run around.

1:21:24Somebody's got to do something.

1:21:28I have a friend on North Main

1:21:31at 531.

1:21:32He has a $34,000

1:21:35fine because the city, the inspector

1:21:39has fined him a daily fee because

1:21:43his auto dealership that does over $3

1:21:46billion a year on Main Street that pays

1:21:48in this city, he can't get any help from

1:21:50anybody.

1:21:52He's hired a lawyer. The lawyer took his

1:21:54money, didn't do anything. He's got

1:21:56stacks of stuff. Who Who's in charge

1:21:59here?

1:22:00Ms. Dixon is not in charge. She is not

1:22:02an elected official. You are. You tell

1:22:05her what to do.

1:22:07And if a citizen can't come to you and

1:22:09tell you what's going on, how do you

1:22:11know what's going on? You guys don't

1:22:13ride all these streets here. You don't

1:22:15know what's going on.

1:22:17It's impossible. I own 85 properties in

1:22:20this city. Have another 57 under

1:22:22management. Ain't nobody ever came to me

1:22:25and said, "Hey, what what's good for

1:22:27this city that you see as a landlord?"

1:22:30Because let me tell you something, water

1:22:31is out of control here.

1:22:33Very much out of control what we pay and

1:22:35how it's done and assessed to your

1:22:37taxes. I'm going to come back for 6

1:22:38weeks and have something different to

1:22:39say about every department what they're

1:22:41not doing in the city.

1:22:42>> Thank you, Mr. Donaldson.

1:22:45That concludes speakers, Your Honor.

1:22:48>> Thank you, Ms. McLendon. Ms. Dixon, do

1:22:50you have any closing comments this

1:22:51evening?

1:22:53>> Um Your Honor, I'm going to try and

1:22:55capture the items that I'm going to

1:22:58bring follow-up to from the

1:23:00citizen comments. So,

1:23:02um

1:23:03we will look into the

1:23:05um new curbs without reflectors. You

1:23:08know, we've been working on making sure

1:23:10that that happens. So, I don't know what

1:23:12what

1:23:14what's going on there, but we'll check

1:23:15that out on East 3rd Street along

1:23:17[snorts] with the

1:23:19the bump-outs are are the parking

1:23:24the protected bike lanes that we're have

1:23:26and then the parking spaces. We've

1:23:27started the signage is going up helping

1:23:29to um

1:23:31essentially educate the community on

1:23:34where to park and where not to park

1:23:36because you're not to block the the bike

1:23:39lanes.

1:23:40Um

1:23:41the

1:23:43uh speeding ticket will follow up with

1:23:45Ms. Quinn with regards to

1:23:48and look into the speeding ticket in the

1:23:49school zone. That's the second

1:23:51>> Exactly. Yeah.

1:23:52>> complainant that's come forward around

1:23:55our school. So, we'll

1:23:56>> want to. I don't want to.

1:23:58>> [laughter]

1:23:58>> So, we will dig into into what is going

1:24:02on there so that we can

1:24:04make sure that we are

1:24:06addressing that accordingly.

1:24:08Um

1:24:10and I don't we can follow up with the

1:24:13cycling plan with regards to as we move

1:24:17forward. As you know, we incorporate

1:24:18those into our transportation projects

1:24:21and our transportation funding is

1:24:23received you know, 5 years out, right?

1:24:26So, we are already submitting for

1:24:292023

1:24:31and so there is um

1:24:34disjointedness because the funding, you

1:24:37know, comes you know, as as we have to

1:24:40compete for it and is

1:24:435 years out before we can implement. So,

1:24:46at any rate though, we will follow up so

1:24:48remind everyone about our cycling plan.

1:24:51And that is what I have noted.

1:24:55>> Thank you Ms.

1:24:55>> Oh, and we'll follow up with Mr.

1:24:57Donaldson with regards to getting more

1:24:59details around the inspection activity.

1:25:02>> Please, thank you cuz I've also

1:25:03submitted that a couple of times in

1:25:05terms of Express Motors

1:25:07a couple of complaints that have been

1:25:09received and I know that

1:25:11>> We and we've addressed those to my

1:25:13knowledge, but yes, we'll

1:25:14>> Yes, we need further review and follow

1:25:16up.

1:25:17Thank you, Ms. Dixstine. Ms. McLendon,

1:25:19do you have any closing comments?

1:25:21>> I have none, Your Honor.

1:25:23>> Commissioners, do you have any closing

1:25:24comments? Commissioner Beckham?

1:25:27>> Uh thank you, Your Honor. Just a few

1:25:30just of course want to thank all the

1:25:31citizens that came out and spoke this

1:25:33evening. Appreciate hearing your

1:25:34concerns and comments as usual.

1:25:37Uh to Mr. Kendrick, you are indeed in

1:25:39the right place. So, uh we'll certainly

1:25:43I'll try to follow up there as the mayor

1:25:44said. Um

1:25:46Ms. Ms. McNeil, thank you for being

1:25:48here. I did get your email along with my

1:25:50colleagues.

1:25:51Um I would appreciate Miss Miss Dixteen

1:25:54just an update on those properties along

1:25:56North Main Street. Um especially given

1:25:59that um of course there were plans that

1:26:03didn't happen and now we have to of

1:26:04course

1:26:05>> Right.

1:26:05>> figure out where to go from here.

1:26:07>> I have that marked for follow-up as

1:26:08well. I forgot to say that one out loud.

1:26:10>> Thank you. No worries. Um

1:26:12Miss Humphreys, thank you for being

1:26:13here. Uh certainly look forward to

1:26:17learning more about your efforts on the

1:26:19urban preservation district and uh

1:26:21however I may uh engage or learn more

1:26:23support that. Um certainly willing to

1:26:26uh Mr. Keller, you spoke about the on

1:26:29off-ramps and thoroughfares on our on

1:26:31our highways.

1:26:32Miss Dixteen, to my knowledge that is a

1:26:35ODOT function, Ohio Department of

1:26:37Transportation. Am I Am I correct just

1:26:39in terms of maintenance?

1:26:40>> the city does and there is a schedule

1:26:43that we go out uh that our crews go out

1:26:45and perform that service, but

1:26:48>> That is good to know. I appreciate that

1:26:50distinction. I I made an assumption that

1:26:52it was a Ohio Department of

1:26:53Transportation. So,

1:26:55um

1:26:56I I I I appreciate Mr. Keller's comments

1:26:58because I

1:26:59I do think given uh the turn of the

1:27:01season it's it's obvious that

1:27:04uh there there's some debris, right? Uh

1:27:07both along our highways and on and

1:27:09off-ramps. So, uh would would appreciate

1:27:12just getting a better sense of our

1:27:13schedule there.

1:27:15Uh

1:27:15Miss Broombaugh, thank you for being

1:27:17here. It's good to see you. Um

1:27:19certainly excited for Pine View as well.

1:27:21Congratulations. Uh if you could provide

1:27:24us more information on the meeting

1:27:25that's coming up, uh potentially we can

1:27:28get it on our calendars.

1:27:29Uh Mr. Stark, um

1:27:31thank you.

1:27:33I I appreciate that. Uh that was very

1:27:35kind of you. Um if you are interested uh

1:27:38to anyone uh who might be

1:27:41uh

1:27:42I'm just wondering um

1:27:44what the Use of Force Committee does.

1:27:45They of course uh

1:27:47review and analyze uh the annual use of

1:27:50force data and then produce a report.

1:27:52Um, right now the ordinance requires

1:27:54them to meet twice a year. So, we're

1:27:55reconvening that committee. It's five

1:27:57individuals, three of which require a

1:27:59particular expertise. So, um, all that

1:28:02information is linked on the website and

1:28:05on the post that my office made. So, if

1:28:08you're interested, we of course want to

1:28:09get that committee back moving. So,

1:28:11appreciate your comments, Mr. Stark. Um,

1:28:14Ms. Hayes, thank you for being here.

1:28:16Appreciate your advocacy and the program

1:28:18that you're organizing. Um, certainly I

1:28:21was at the NLI graduation in which you

1:28:23participated in. So, always good to see

1:28:26NLI graduates. Um,

1:28:28grow their capacity and actually give

1:28:30back to neighborhood. So, thank you.

1:28:32Lastly, I'll just speak to um,

1:28:34uh, there were questions and concerns

1:28:36around the city manager search. This is

1:28:38kind of a routine function that

1:28:42not just public organizations, but even

1:28:45private organizations do to uh, hire a

1:28:48CEO.

1:28:49Hiring a search firm allows us kind of

1:28:52an independent objective process that

1:28:54this commission can obviously

1:28:56manage as well as guide. So, we want it

1:29:00to be a a very kind of engaging process

1:29:02that residents can take part in at some

1:29:05uh, point and place in the process. So,

1:29:08um, that is the point

1:29:10in terms of doing that and going that

1:29:12route when Ms. Dickstein was hired.

1:29:15Um, I'm the city commission then took

1:29:16the same approach. So,

1:29:18uh, that is that is simply routine and

1:29:20um, of course costs, right?

1:29:22Um, it varies somewhere between I think

1:29:25what we landed at and roughly $100,000

1:29:27for that type of service. So,

1:29:30um, just wanted to provide some clarity

1:29:31here. Lastly,

1:29:33um, I just want to thank the staff. We

1:29:35indeed have been here all day long.

1:29:37Um,

1:29:39started at 9:00 this morning and

1:29:40finished at 5:40 on the dot because I

1:29:43was checking my phone. Um, but just want

1:29:46to say thank you to the staff and the

1:29:48organization

1:29:50and all the work that went into

1:29:52presenting the 2027

1:29:55budget recommendations.

1:29:57Of course, there'll be discussion

1:29:59amongst this commission, but 8 hours of

1:30:00budget discussions

1:30:02of course

1:30:03takes a lot of work. So, I just want to

1:30:06appreciate the organization for all of

1:30:09the effort that went into today and just

1:30:11look forward to

1:30:13obviously discussing with my colleagues.

1:30:14So, thank you. Those are my comments.

1:30:16>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

1:30:17Fasnacht.

1:30:18>> Yeah, thank you, Commissioner and add on

1:30:20to some of those. City Manager, I

1:30:22appreciate the list of items you're

1:30:24going to update. Could you add 18 Mercer

1:30:27Street to your list? That was Ms.

1:30:30Merrell's

1:30:31concerns around whether

1:30:34variances were requested for that

1:30:37property.

1:30:38Um

1:30:39and

1:30:40is there anything that the city needs to

1:30:42do in terms of

1:30:44Ms. Humphrey's work to get the

1:30:46designation of urban preservation and

1:30:50the Pine View request around historic

1:30:53designation. Um

1:30:55so, I I'm not sure I heard specific

1:30:57requests from the citizens, but if we

1:30:59could look into both those process or if

1:31:02you could update us on those processes,

1:31:04>> Sure, we can we can provide a memo. It's

1:31:06typically support

1:31:08documentation or support letters, but we

1:31:11can

1:31:12>> Um and if you could add the corner of

1:31:15Philadelphia and Salem around the bump

1:31:17outs.

1:31:19I drove Third Street after

1:31:22Mr. Keller's comments. You can see the

1:31:24tire marks on the bump outs.

1:31:27I left some tire marks on the bump out

1:31:29at Salem and Philadelphia.

1:31:32I mean,

1:31:33it was dark. It's new and

1:31:37I had an old habit of turning right

1:31:38there and I got in what I thought was

1:31:40the right turn lane and went over the

1:31:42bump out. So,

1:31:44um if we could

1:31:45just get an update on those reflections.

1:31:48Um

1:31:48to Ms. Creech, on October 7th, we passed

1:31:52the contract for with Raftelis, who's

1:31:56the firm who's going to be doing the

1:31:58search. Within that contract, it lays

1:32:01out

1:32:02I'm not sure if Miss Screech is still

1:32:04here.

1:32:05Um

1:32:06if people could pass on to her, it lays

1:32:08out all the scopes of services, uh

1:32:11an update for the community on

1:32:14on Friday. I'll have my first one-on-one

1:32:17with Raftelis. I know they have meetings

1:32:19scheduled with all of us as we take

1:32:22those scopes of services in the contract

1:32:24and put them into a concrete plan, which

1:32:27then we'll be communicating with you.

1:32:29And I agree with our commissioner

1:32:31colleague that this is

1:32:33um

1:32:35a routine practice, it's not a best

1:32:36practice in terms of hiring a CEO. And I

1:32:40think the commission recognizes that of

1:32:43all the responsibilities we have, um

1:32:46this is the most important one that we

1:32:49do as a commissioner mayor. And this

1:32:52commission is taking this work extremely

1:32:55serious. And uh

1:32:57we'll do a pro we'll work to get a

1:32:58process that

1:33:00um

1:33:01does justice both to the importance of

1:33:04the role that we're filling, the work

1:33:06that uh Miss Dickstein has done, so that

1:33:09it can be continued, and to address the

1:33:13great needs that we have in the city.

1:33:16Um couple of events coming up.

1:33:19Uh it's starting tomorrow night.

1:33:22The uh main library is hosting a

1:33:25four-week finances in focus series.

1:33:28Um

1:33:29it's every I assume it's every Thursday

1:33:30night from 6:00 to 7:30 at the main

1:33:33library center for community impact and

1:33:35innovation.

1:33:36Uh participants will learn spending

1:33:39habits, debt repayment strategies,

1:33:40create a sustainable monthly budget, and

1:33:43build credit confidence. And the

1:33:44attendees who complete all four sessions

1:33:47will be entered in to win a prize. And

1:33:50for more information, you can call

1:33:51937-463-2665.

1:33:56I think Commissioner Shaw has

1:33:57information about the fall harvest

1:33:59festival that's coming up. Um want to

1:34:02lift up Stoddard Hill Glow. If you've

1:34:04never gone and attended the

1:34:07the glow, the pumpkin glow on the hill,

1:34:09it'll be on Monday and Tuesday nights

1:34:12from 6:00 to 10:00. It's a

1:34:15great time to go out, meet neighbors,

1:34:16[clears throat]

1:34:17enjoy the beauty of the pumpkins. The

1:34:20weather looks I think it's supposed to

1:34:22be pretty fall and

1:34:24um there's There's often food trucks, so

1:34:26a great time to build community there in

1:34:29the Grafton Hill neighborhood.

1:34:31Um

1:34:32if

1:34:33you like theater,

1:34:35the

1:34:36the Stivers Theater Department will be

1:34:38performing Midsummer Night's Dream

1:34:40November 30th, 31st, and November 1st at

1:34:437:00 p.m. in the Stivers Theater.

1:34:46And then um Beggars' Night is Saturday,

1:34:49October 30th from 6:00 to 8:00. So, you

1:34:52might want to mark that on your

1:34:53calendars.

1:34:56>> Thank you, Commissioner Shaw.

1:34:58>> Yeah, thank you. And and yeah, I also

1:34:59want to thank the uh residents who have

1:35:02come down to um speak tonight. Uh it has

1:35:05been a long day, uh and I too want to

1:35:07thank the staff for all of the very hard

1:35:10work and preparation for this day.

1:35:12Um

1:35:13uh and for what we're going to do

1:35:15together in the future uh regarding our

1:35:17budget.

1:35:18Uh I'm going to keep it brief cuz we've

1:35:20had a long day, but I do have an

1:35:22announcement to make. Um celebrate the

1:35:24season at the annual fall harvest

1:35:26festival on Saturday, October 24th. This

1:35:29will take place at Kettering Field

1:35:31Sports Complex from 1:00 to 4:00.

1:35:33And for more information, you can call

1:35:35937-333-8400.

1:35:38And I I I think I will actually be able

1:35:40to make it to this one.

1:35:42We'll do that.

1:35:43>> It's a fun time.

1:35:44>> Yeah, I've heard. Yeah, great.

1:35:46>> Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner

1:35:47Joseph.

1:35:48>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh just one, uh you

1:35:50all know or you've read that uh we at

1:35:53the city

1:35:54are looking to find alternatives to to

1:35:57present course of Route 35, something to

1:36:00re-knit neighborhoods that have been

1:36:01torn up for too long for too many

1:36:03decades. Uh and we want to invite you

1:36:05residents to help us shape that future.

1:36:07So, there are three public workshops

1:36:09next week

1:36:11uh on October 27th, that's Tuesday at

1:36:134:00 p.m. at the West Branch Library on

1:36:16Abbey.

1:36:17Uh the same day, Tuesday, October 27th

1:36:20at 6:00 p.m. at East End Community

1:36:22Services on Xenia Avenue.

1:36:24And then the next day, Wednesday the

1:36:2628th, from 11:00 to 1:00 at the Downtown

1:36:29Library. That's Wednesday the 28th,

1:36:3111:00 to 1:00 at Downtown Library. Uh we

1:36:33want to hear your priorities, uh your

1:36:36ideas for improving safety,

1:36:38connectivity, and accessibility.

1:36:40And like I said, re-knitting those

1:36:42neighborhoods that have been torn apart

1:36:43for too long. So, love to see you out

1:36:44there. That's all, Mayor. Thank you.

1:36:46>> Thank you. Thank you to all of the

1:36:48staff. Thank you to the leadership, the

1:36:50city manager's office. Uh today's uh

1:36:53budget session in terms of the 2027

1:36:56budget. Um I know a lot of preparation

1:36:59was um

1:37:00was done over the last what, 6 to

1:37:038 months or whatever have you. Um so, I

1:37:05really want to uplift all the staff, the

1:37:08entire staff members um for their their

1:37:11leadership and their dedication. Uh

1:37:13thank you to Learn to Earn and their

1:37:15efforts and their support along with

1:37:18um

1:37:19Young Life Ministries and the Lights On

1:37:22Afterschool. I believe they're having a

1:37:24program that is scheduled for Friday, if

1:37:26I'm not mistaken, Friday afternoon. So,

1:37:29I look forward to supporting that

1:37:30programming that they will have in

1:37:32place. Um and then in addition to um all

1:37:36of the the residents that came out and

1:37:37spoke this evening. Thank you, Ms.

1:37:38Sherwood. Uh Mr. Kendrick, thank you for

1:37:40being here. As noted, uh Ms. Dixon, the

1:37:42city manager, has uh

1:37:45recorded that address and so we'll

1:37:47follow up to see where where we are in

1:37:49that process for 1217 Oakridge. Mr.

1:37:52Johnson, Ms. McNeal, thank you for

1:37:53raising those issues to our attention.

1:37:56You are correct that it is in fact an

1:37:57eyesore and there is a lot of uh

1:38:00um

1:38:01attention that is overdue for that

1:38:03particular sty as well as for the the

1:38:06entire thoroughfare for that matter. Um

1:38:09so there's more work that needs to be

1:38:10done. Thank you, Commissioner, for

1:38:11raising a point and as to what the

1:38:12process is for Ms. Humphrey's request.

1:38:15Ms. Al-Zain, thank you. Note that we're

1:38:17still in the process of identifying. We

1:38:20have one more

1:38:23position to or one more recommendation

1:38:26to make for the position that is

1:38:27required per the statute for the board.

1:38:29So we're actively doing that work. I'll

1:38:31be bringing that forward

1:38:33before the commission for their

1:38:35consideration and for their support on

1:38:36that in reference to the public hospital

1:38:39board. Mr. Keller, thank you for raising

1:38:40those concerns and bringing it to our

1:38:41attention.

1:38:43Commissioner Beckham, thank you as well.

1:38:45You're absolutely right. We were just

1:38:46having this conversation earlier about

1:38:48overgrown vegetation, the trees,

1:38:51as well as the trash and the litter, and

1:38:53so

1:38:54asking everyone to to do their part and

1:38:57to help us

1:38:59with

1:39:00cleaning up the city.

1:39:02Honestly, I can't even say maintain it.

1:39:04We got to clean up the city. There are

1:39:06There's trash, there is debris,

1:39:08overgrown vegetation, you name it.

1:39:11We have to do better

1:39:13on so many different fronts. There's a

1:39:15lot of attraction

1:39:17that is being brought to the city of

1:39:18Dayton from us holding various different

1:39:20conferences,

1:39:22from the expansion of the

1:39:25the

1:39:27NCAA. But not with all that being said,

1:39:30we need to clean it up for us. We live

1:39:31here. Um so I would just challenge and

1:39:34employ everyone to do their part and to

1:39:36make sure that in fact we're taking

1:39:38pride in our in our communities and our

1:39:39neighborhoods. Ms. Helm, thank you

1:39:42again, Ms. Dickstein, for noting that in

1:39:44terms of the the concerns around the the

1:39:47school zones and the traffic. Ms. Moore,

1:39:48she raised that issue last week. And I

1:39:51know that my colleagues and I, we've had

1:39:53some experiences along the way as well.

1:39:56Ms. Grech, thank you, Commissioner, for

1:39:58raising the points. And Ms. Grech, and

1:40:00just to pull on that, just to tap it, Uh

1:40:02that cost also in in includes a very

1:40:07deliberate effort to make sure that

1:40:09there's public engagement. Uh we wanted

1:40:11to make sure that there is a level of

1:40:14engagement across the entire city, but

1:40:17that also there is a means and ways for

1:40:19people to be able to participate who

1:40:22don't necessarily have the

1:40:23transportation or whose schedules would

1:40:25not necessarily permit them to be in

1:40:28physical attendance. So, there is from

1:40:30my understanding um there's a virtual

1:40:32option that is made available, but that

1:40:34information is in fact on the on the

1:40:36city's website on the calendar agenda

1:40:40and uh minutes on the city site and you

1:40:42can view all of the details as to what

1:40:45the scope of that agreement and all of

1:40:48the particulars of that agreement and to

1:40:50Commissioner's point, there's

1:40:51conversations that are being had amongst

1:40:54us individually and then in the future

1:40:56collectively.

1:40:57Um Mr. Gage, um glad that he's in

1:41:00recovery, glad that he's well. Thank

1:41:01you, Ms. Dixon, for following up on

1:41:03that. Ms. Hastings, thank you for your

1:41:04comments, for being here as well. Uh we

1:41:06want to hear everybody's voice um to

1:41:08your point. Um and and I'll also pull on

1:41:11this a little later, but

1:41:13um

1:41:15this road can be uh very daunting and

1:41:18hard at times, but that comes with the

1:41:20territory in being in a leadership role

1:41:22and making sure that we're working

1:41:24for uh for all of the constituents, for

1:41:28all of the residents, all 137,000,

1:41:31give or take 140,000 in the city of

1:41:33Dayton. Um and so, honestly, to be very

1:41:36fair, I I welcome the feedback. I

1:41:37welcome uh the criticism even though

1:41:40sometimes it's not kind, Mr. Donaldson,

1:41:42but we do appreciate you being here. Um

1:41:44and for that, I want to correct the

1:41:46narrative. Uh you noted that in 2015

1:41:50uh that uh some decisions were made

1:41:53about the priority boards. So, let me

1:41:54give you a little information. I'm a

1:41:56priority board baby, if you will.

1:41:58Uh I grew up in the priority boards. Um

1:42:01I'm sure. Uh and so, with that, I served

1:42:04as the community service advisor for a

1:42:06Northwest Priority Board.

1:42:08Was in fact my training grounds. I had

1:42:10an opportunity to work with the bus

1:42:11department. That's how I'm able to know

1:42:13many of that. That's how I know you,

1:42:14right? So work with many of those

1:42:16different community leaders,

1:42:19neighborhood presidents, the list goes

1:42:21on, as well as

1:42:23many of the staff members that are part

1:42:25that are still here that are part of the

1:42:27city organization itself. Many of them

1:42:29have retired. So with that 2015,

1:42:33Ms. Dickstein was not even the city

1:42:34manager at that time. And at the time

1:42:37that decision was made under Warren

1:42:40Price. He was the city manager, as well

1:42:42as the mayor was

1:42:46Nan Whaley. Nan Whaley was the mayor,

1:42:48Warren Price was the city manager.

1:42:50Dickstein did not become interim city

1:42:54manager until

1:42:56September, September and through

1:42:58December. And then I believe that the

1:42:59first city year she was named. At the

1:43:02time I was in transition, I wasn't even

1:43:03in a part of the city of Dayton. With

1:43:05all that being said,

1:43:07I am a proponent and a true advocate of

1:43:09the priority boards. So that narrative

1:43:12is incorrect in terms of the system and

1:43:14what we have in place has been existing.

1:43:16The city manager form of government has

1:43:17been in existence since 1913, since the

1:43:20the great flood, if you will. And it was

1:43:22an opportunity to make sure that there

1:43:24was in fact a balance of power. I'm

1:43:26preaching to the choir, I know you know

1:43:27all of this. So to suggest that we don't

1:43:30or I, per se, don't want to have a level

1:43:35of accountability or don't want

1:43:37districts aligned, that is incorrect.

1:43:40I want to make sure that all parts of

1:43:42the city of Dayton are represented in

1:43:44that I hold true to what in fact I was

1:43:46elected to do, and that is to serve all

1:43:48the constituents of the city of Dayton,

1:43:50as well as our business owners and

1:43:51community stakeholders. So I'm glad that

1:43:54you're here. I will look forward to

1:43:55having a further conversation with you.

1:43:57And as noted, the concerns that you

1:43:59raised, they have been brought to the

1:44:00attention to the administrator. And so

1:44:03we are waiting to receive some follow

1:44:06information to to sure that we can

1:44:08address the concerns that have been

1:44:09raised before us. So, I appreciate your

1:44:11comments and thank you for being here.

1:44:13Um and Matt, thank you for being here as

1:44:15well. Um and thank you for being uh a

1:44:17business owner in the city of Dayton. Um

1:44:20and so, I'm hoping that we can resolve

1:44:22that that your concerns very soon and

1:44:25quickly. Miss

1:44:27uh Boomba, I believe that is Boomba.

1:44:29Boomba, thank you. Excuse me. Uh

1:44:31congratulations. Look forward to working

1:44:32with you. And then, to Mr. Ware's point,

1:44:35you

1:44:36the federal cuts are definitely there.

1:44:38They are existing. And so,

1:44:41a lot of and I don't want to uh get

1:44:43outside of uh what I'm privy to, but a

1:44:47lot of the expansions for the bike lanes

1:44:49have been cut cut They have been cut or

1:44:53essentially at a pause because a lot of

1:44:56those various different funding streams

1:44:57and those efforts uh due to the current

1:44:59administration has um

1:45:02eliminated those opportunities, quite

1:45:04honestly. Even in terms of what we're

1:45:06looking at around public safety, uh gun

1:45:09prevention, a lot of the various

1:45:11different programming and and funding

1:45:13mechanisms have been under the current

1:45:15administration um have been to uh come

1:45:18to a close for um

1:45:20And so, Miss Hayes, thank you very much

1:45:21for your comments. Look forward to

1:45:23joining. Um so, if you could make sure

1:45:25that we have that information, then

1:45:26we'll be happy to support. Um again, I

1:45:29appreciate everyone for being here this

1:45:31evening. Thank you to my colleagues. Uh

1:45:33and again, I just want to uplift the

1:45:34staff for all of their hard work in the

1:45:36budget and the preparation for the 2027

1:45:39budget. With no further business to come

1:45:40before the commission, this meeting is

1:45:42now adjourned.