Dayton City Commission Meeting - September 18, 2025

The Dayton City Commission met on September 18, 2025, to approve routine items, discuss the second revised appropriation, hold a public hearing on a rezoning for a senior living facility, and hear extensive public testimony. Commissioners voted on several agenda items and received updates on city initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the absence of Commissioner Joseph and Commissioner Shaw.
• Approved the minutes from the September 10, 2025, meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ann O'Brien (during public hearing on rezoning): Opposed the proposed assisted senior living facility at 200 South Wright Avenue, citing safety concerns due to homeless activity, fires, wildlife displacement, and potential security risks.
• Saber Cross: Expressed support for passing a Safe Haven resolution declaring Dayton a safe and welcoming city for LGBTQ+ individuals, describing personal experiences as a queer man.
• Charlene Bayliss: Spoke in favor of Issue 9 (public hospital ballot measure), advocating for a public hospital to serve all Dayton residents.
• Rick Flynn (Executive Director, Greater Dayton LGBT Center): Urged passage of the Safe Haven resolution to protect transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive residents from state laws, and to direct city resources away from enforcing HB 68, SB 104, and HB 8.
• Dominic Stratton: Called on the city to pass a resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages, and humanitarian aid, citing personal connections to families trapped there and the legacy of the Dayton Peace Accords.
• B. Williams: Supported the Safe Haven resolution, citing data from the Trevor Project that 52% of LGBTQ+ Ohioans wish to leave the state due to hostile political climate, and noting 50 reported anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in the past year.
• Sophia Folkert (Party for Socialism and Liberation): Urged passage of the Safe Haven resolution, expressing fear as a trans woman and noting that other Ohio cities have already passed similar measures.
• Alec Johnson (Party for Socialism and Liberation): Supported the Safe Haven resolution, drawing parallels to historical persecution and urging the commission to choose a side in protecting marginalized communities.
• Ebony Hastings: Criticized the city manager and administration for disinvestment in West Dayton, citing a 40% poverty rate vs. 20% in East Dayton, and demanded the city manager's retirement, increased funding for West Dayton, and better pay for frontline workers.
• Liz Hudson (Attorney, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, representing Dayton Q+ Collective): Asked for quick adoption of the Safe Haven resolution, noting that the city has not yet acted since the August 20 meeting, and provided examples of other Ohio cities that have passed similar measures.
• Sophie Three (trans woman, Dayton resident): Supported the Safe Haven resolution, arguing that current anti-discrimination ordinances are insufficient and that the city needs to take proactive action.
• Moss Dickey: Expressed frustration with the delay in passing the Safe Haven resolution, stating that verbal support is not enough and that the commission must act now.
• Brenda Alexander (Park Lane Apartments resident): Described unsafe conditions at the property under Peak Ten Properties, including lack of ADA compliance, mold, flooding, and delayed maintenance requests, and asked the commission to investigate.
• Larry Hayden: Urged the commission to fund the Housing Trust Fund, stating it currently exists only on paper and could support urgent repairs, tenant relocation, and legal aid.
• Alexander Stone: Criticized the delay in passing the Safe Haven resolution, questioning the commission's commitment to real protections beyond words.
• Destiny Brown (Dayton Tenant Union organizer): Supported the Housing Trust Fund and access to counsel for tenants, while criticizing the mayor and administration for prioritizing downtown development over community needs, citing increased policing costs and lack of results.
• Carson Brubaker (realtor and resident): Requested installation of speed tables on East Fairview Avenue, East View Avenue, Theodore Street, and Newport Avenue to improve traffic safety, citing city data on severe crashes and studies showing speed table effectiveness.
• Kimaru Watenza: Called on the city to divest financially from Israel due to the genocide in Gaza, stating that U.S. tax dollars fund military aid and that the city should take a stand.

Discussion Items

• City Manager Comments on Calendar Item C3: City Manager Parlett highlighted an exciting opportunity with the land bank using $650,000 in welcome home funds (from a 76% voter-approved income tax renewal) to create 10 new affordable homes and 24 structural rehabilitations. Commissioner Fairchild echoed support.
• Second Revised Appropriation: Finance Director Patel Jones presented a $166.4 million adjustment (16.4% increase from first revised). Key changes: $1.4 million for emergency building repairs at 34 N. Main, $15,000 for police drones (from donation), $450,000 for violence disruption program, $625,100 for preschool promise (from 2024 encumbrance liquidation), $10.9 million for capital projects (Helena Street renovation, on Main improvement, catering fields), and $150 million for pre-construction of PFAS treatment (supported by Ohio EPA loan). Commissioner Turner Sloss noted that the $1.4 million needed a separate vote (only first reading that night). The commission voted to adopt the city manager's recommendations.
• Public Hearing – Rezoning at 200 South Wright Avenue: Planner Cameron Goshinski presented a proposal to rezone 8.79 acres from ER4 (single-family) and OS (park/open space) to EMF (eclectic multifamily) with a plan development overlay for a 118-unit affordable senior assisted living facility. The site was formerly Orville Wright Elementary (demolished 2010). The applicant, Marion Development Group (represented by Mike Huber and Jared Burgess), stated the facility would be privately owned but affordable, using tax credits and Medicaid waivers, targeting local seniors. The plan preserves 77% open space. Planning staff and the City Plan Board recommended approval. One citizen (Ann O'Brien) spoke in opposition. The commission closed the public hearing and voted to move forward.
• Legislation:
  • First reading: Ordinance 32159-25 (amending 2025 appropriations).
  • Second readings: Ordinance 32157-25 (appropriating property for Finley Street Reconstruction), Ordinance 32158-25 (amending zoning code sections), and Resolution 6887-25 (authorizing tax levies and advance payment from Montgomery County).
  • First reading: Ordinance 32160-25 (amending official zoning map for Plan Development 193 at 200 South Wright Avenue).

Key Outcomes

• Approved the city manager's recommendations for the second revised appropriation (voice vote).
• Approved moving forward with the rezoning and plan development for 200 South Wright Avenue; first reading of the implementing ordinance was introduced.
• No vote was taken on a Safe Haven resolution. Commissioners Turner Sloss and Fairchild acknowledged public testimony, directed city staff to communicate with attorney Liz Hudson to facilitate progress, and affirmed their commitment to reviewing the resolution and anti-discrimination ordinances.
• Commissioner Fairchild directed that the law department speak directly with Ms. Hudson to advance the ordinance.
• Commissioner Turner Sloss directed follow-up on Park Lane Apartments concerns (with City Manager Parlett) and traffic safety requests (speed tables on specific streets).
• Commissioner Turner Sloss announced upcoming community events: Riverwalk community input meeting (September 25), African American Wellness Walk, and the Amos Project forum.
• Mayor Mims announced additional events: Expressions of Peace conference (September 20), Welcome Week events (through September 21), Fair Housing sessions (October 11 and October 27), and encouraged attendance.