Dayton City Commission Meeting Summary – August 13, 2025

The Dayton City Commission met on the morning of August 13, 2025, at 1:57 PM UTC (9:57 AM EDT). The meeting included approval of routine items, discussion of homelessness prevention grants, public comments from three citizens, and passage of several legislative items. Commissioner Shaw was excused from the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the August 6, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.
• City Manager's Recommendations: Items 3, 4, and 5 were approved unanimously. These are service agreements totaling $652,000 from federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding for homelessness prevention programs:
  • Item 3: Grant agreement with Homefull for school-based prevention and eviction prevention, including legal assistance for high-risk households in subsidized public housing. This program has served 40 households per year over the past decade.
  • Item 4: Grant agreement with Homefull for the Rapid Rehousing Program to serve those experiencing homelessness or at risk. This program served 100 households last year.
  • Item 5: Grant agreement with Homefull for maintenance and operation expenses at the Gateway Men’s Shelter, which serves 200–300 men per night.
• Legislation – Second Readings:
  • Emergency Resolution No. 6878-25: Authorizing continued participation in the multi-jurisdictional hazard management plan with Montgomery County. Passed unanimously.
  • Ordinance No. 32155-25: Amending the official zoning map to change zoning of 0.21 acres at 742 and 746 Belmont Park North from MR-5 to Campus Institutional (CI). Passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

Three citizens addressed the Commission:

• Kimaru Watenza (1200 West Grand Avenue) raised concerns about blighted houses on Ferguson Avenue that should have been demolished. He noted that a property bought by an out-of-state entity was rented to families, then condemned by the city due to code violations. He questioned why the demolition contractor, Blade Cutters, has not hired Black workers from Dayton in skilled positions, describing the crew as "lily white."
• David Woods (3230 Lake View Avenue) spoke about alleged misconduct by police and hospital staff regarding his father's care. He claimed that lies from police led to him being trespassed from seeing his father before his father died, causing emotional distress. He urged the public to contact the Kettering Chief of Police, Kettering Hospital, and the Civil Rights Commission to investigate.
• Darrell Lee (1903 East Third Street) spoke about father's rights, his own experience being shot 12 times, and his belief that the perpetrator should face a longer sentence. He also criticized the justice system for failing to protect him and his children, and raised concerns about homelessness and the lack of support for fathers in case plans.

Discussion Items

• Homelessness Prevention Grants: Commissioner Turner Slaughter thanked staff for the grants and asked about the effectiveness of the Rapid Rehousing Program, noting that some participants become unhoused again after the 12–18 month rental assistance ends. She requested a follow-up memo on how the system prevents recidivism. The City Manager (Ms. Dixteen) responded that an evaluation by Montgomery County is underway to identify gaps and improve permanent supportive housing. Commissioner Turner Slaughter also asked about prior ARPA funding used for the Gateway Men’s Shelter, to which the City Manager said a detailed memo would be provided. Commissioner Fairchild praised the coordinated homelessness system, noting it has been under development since 2006 and will help the city weather federal funding threats.
• Demolition and Participation Goals: In response to Mr. Watenza's comments, Commissioner Turner Slaughter noted that the Human Relations Council (HRC) sets participation goals for demolition projects, and encouraged follow-up with HRC. Commissioner Fairchild suggested reviewing whether Blade Cutters met their participation goals and noted that the city broke demolition contracts into smaller pieces to encourage new contractors. She also offered to check if the Ferguson Avenue houses are on the list of 1,100 homes to be demolished with ARPA funds.
• Legislation – First Readings: Two resolutions were introduced and read for the first time:
  • Resolution No. 6879-25: Declaring intention to appropriate real property interests in parcels 98T and 117T for the Salem Avenue Reconstruction Phase 4 project.
  • Resolution No. 6880-25: Declaring intention to appropriate real property interests in parcels 13SH and 25T for the Finley Street Reconstruction Project.

Key Outcomes

• Approved Unanimously: Minutes from August 6, 2025; city manager’s recommendations (items 3, 4, and 5); Emergency Resolution No. 6878-25; Ordinance No. 32155-25.
• Introduced: First readings of two appropriation resolutions (Nos. 6879-25 and 6880-25) were placed on the floor for future consideration.
• Upcoming Session: A development update work session was announced to be held immediately after the meeting in the PRC.
• General Announcements: Commissioners noted upcoming community events, including the Dayton African American Cultural Festival (August 16–17), Porch Fest (August 16), Mojo Flo live entertainment at the Levitt Pavilion (August 14), and the start of Dayton Public Schools.