The Dayton City Commission will now come to order.

Would you all please rise for the invitation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, which will be given by Commissioner Fairchild?

Thank you, Mayor.

This evening I'm going to share a poem or a prayer from Howard Thurman in honor of Black History Month.

Howard Thurman was a pastor, theologian, civil rights leader, founder and co-pastor of one of the first major interracial churches in the United States, the church for all people.

And this is his prayer.

Will you pray with me?

Open unto me light for my darkness.

Open unto me courage for my fear.

Open unto me hope for my despair.

Open unto me peace for my turmoil.

Open unto me joy for my sorrow.

Open unto me strength for my weakness.

Open unto me wisdom for my confusion.

Open unto me forgiveness for my sins.

Open unto me tenderness for my toughness.

Open unto me love for my hates.

Open unto me thyself for myself.

Lord Lord, open unto me.

Amen.

Amen.

One nation.

Miss Blackshare, may we please have a roll call?

Mayor Turner Sloss.

Aye.

Commissioner Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Beckham.

Aye.

May I have a motion to approve the minutes for January the 28th, 2026 meeting?

So moved on.

Second the motion, you're all right.

It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes for January the 28th, 2026.

All in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, say no.

Miss Blackshare, are there any communications or petitions?

There are none.

None, Your Honor.

Thank you.

We have a proclamation this evening.

I'll like to call to the podium, Miss Emily Maddenhall.

Thank you, Miss Blackshare.

Please proceed.

From the Commission office of the City of Dayton, Ohio.

Whereas we acknowledge the exemplar exemplary contributions of Miss Emily Mindenhall to the Dayton community, including her business leadership, community service, and the creation of a restaurant restaurant known for its excellent food and welcoming atmosphere.

And whereas Ms.

Minden Hall has been a pillar of the Oregon District and downtown business community, including serving as vice president of the Oregon District Business Association, a board member of the downtown Dayton Partnership, and managing and contributing to many events that keep our city vibrant and active.

And whereas Ms.

Minden Hall opened and sustained Lily's Restaurant as a thriving business for 13 years, weathering pandemics, protests, mass shootings, and economic downturns, creating a welcoming enjoyous space where people gather to break bed bread, hold weddings, fundraising fundraisers, bar mispas, and more, and where her staff, customers, and vendors are all treated with dignity and care.

And whereas the city of Dayton and its residents express profound appreciation to Miss Minden Hall for her open heart, her organizing and community building skills, her excellent taste, and her hard work on behalf of the city.

Now, therefore, we the Commission of the City of Dayton do hereby proclaim February 4th, 2026 as Emily Minden Hall Day in the City of Dayton.

So so quick.

It has also been my absolute pleasure to get to know so many of you all in your political careers and as friends and as supporters of our vibrant small business community.

We couldn't do it without the city of Dayton's support.

So it goes both ways.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you.

This means a tremendous amount to me.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Before you leave, uh, sorry, excuse me, thank you.

Uh I'm gonna turn it over to my colleagues if they want to give some remarks and congratulate you as well.

Thank you, Commissioners.

Um Thank you, Your Honor.

Uh, I just want to say congratulations.

Uh appreciate you being here and uh congratulations on not just uh this honor, but on a excellent business and the legacy that you've built.

So I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Commissioner Finchau.

Yeah.

Um, I just think about um the stewardship you have with the restaurant, but more importantly, for that community in the Oregon district and being a leader in that community and then the broader community and being a safe space for all members of our of our city to come.

So I just want to thank you for um your leadership being a role model and for the fine food and that you guys serve up every time I'm there.

So thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Likewise, I want to thank you also.

I know how difficult it is to own and operate a business.

Uh really.

But uh what I really appreciate is your investment in this community and your advocacy for the other businesses in the Oregon, Oregon district, and other other places.

So thank you.

Um really appreciate your your work and your your yes, your your legacy.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Commissioners.

Thank you, Ms.

Mindenhall, for your commitment, your leadership.

We really do appreciate you.

Um are your parents here by chance?

But I know you have a number of supporters here, so we want to acknowledge them and thank them as well.

So thank you and continue to be that staple in our community.

We appreciate you.

This is Matt.

Oh, I'm sorry, I skipped you.

I apologize.

Okay, I've known Matt the longest.

I I apologize.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Still being a good question.

I think your nephew used to come in to blame Bob's and he would say he wanted to go to Bob's and uh Russ thought they meant he meant Bob Evans, and then he he meant Blind Bobs.

And you know, he's worked with us as well.

Yeah, and you know he's uh he's a junior at this point, so time flies.

But uh actually I want to follow along with with Commissioner Schall's comments, and that is this is a team sport, right?

Supporting a city, supporting a neighborhood, supporting our residents is a team sport.

And it is a real pleasure when we find someone like you who cares as much as you do, who's willing to work with us, who who works in the community.

Uh so thank you.

Uh you are one of a kind, and uh, this is only a small part of the way toward that of the things we need to do to thank you, but I guess at least we're doing this.

So thank you very much.

Keep up the good work.

Thank you all so much.

I'll be right up the road in Ann Arbor.

Back to union organizing work.

So see you all later.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I apologize, Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you, Commissioner Shaw.

Uh Ms.

Blackshare, are there any additions, deletions, or comments to the calendar?

Your Honor, I would like to request the addition of legislation pertaining to the public hearing at the desire of the commission.

Ms.

Dixtein, are there any additions, deletions or comments to the calendar?

Uh, Your Honor, I have no additions or deletions to this evening's calendar.

I do have a number of things to highlight.

There's a lot of great um investment happening in some of our city facilities where um important uh staff are first responders are located as well as uh some of our community um uh assets.

So uh the first item, item number two is a service agreement with App Architecture Inc.

It's a contract modification for uh renovations to for the East District Patrol operations.

Uh this is uh contract modification because the construction administration fees were initially excluded in the um first uh bid and contract, and so now um we are bringing this back because we have secured funding to move forward.

This is the old um retail center on Helena for our East Pod.

There are about a hundred officers who work out of that facility, and I am sure they are going to be thrilled with the renovations uh moving forward for that facility.

Item number four is a service agreement with the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority.

This is our lease agreement for the temporary police substation that we are locating next to the transportation hub right on Main Street, right beside the in and out uh restaurant or facility.

Uh this will um be we will be locating the C pod that is currently on Salem into this location.

So the reason that we move forward with the temporary substation is because because of bonding capacity and projects in the queue, the permanent police headquarters for downtown the C podtown police station will not probably be online until about um first quarter 2029 because of bonding capacity, et cetera.

So but we wanted to make sure we addressed the concerns with regards to the business community, the concerns that were raised with uh Congressman Turner's downtown safety task force, and so this is a way for us to um increase presence uh and continue to work uh downtown safety issues.

Uh it is a 12,032 square foot space, comes out to about seven dollars and forty-five cents a square foot.

Pretty good deal, and we're excited that facility should be up in operational no later than March 1st uh of this year.

Item B five is an award of contract with Becker construction.

This is for fire station 15 renovations.

This is for 1.6 million dollars.

This is the uh fire station that is located at 2801 Wayne Avenue.

It is uh expected to be completed by October of this year, and the living spaces such as the bunk rooms, bathrooms, and kitchen are going to be addressed and renovated.

We got five bids for this project, and um Becker construction came out on top.

Item number six is an award of contract uh with JL Cook General Contractors.

This is for the Belmont Pool renovations.

This is a project that's anticipated to be completed by September of 2026.

This is third times a charm, third bid, because they we kept coming over estimate.

We had to go back and um winnow the scope of services a little bit, take out the um locker room facility uh improvements that we were planning for.

This is being funded through CDBG.

It's 1.7 million dollars, and we're excited to get this underway so that we can get this pool um improved and um for the long term.

Uh item number seven is an award of contract with LJs.

This is our Philadelphia Drive traffic calling that um is going to occur between West Riverview and Salem Avenue.

Um it's uh projected to be complete by 731 26.

So getting it done in the middle of the summer so that uh hopefully that traffic calming will uh be safer for all the pedestrian activity that happens alongside Philadelphia.

There are bike lanes, curb extensions.

Um there were five bidders for this project as well, and the lowest and best was LJ DeWis company.

And last but not least, um emergency resolution number 6916-26 is a first and second reading this evening.

This is the extension of the temporary moratorium for group homes.

This will extend the moratorium for another six months uh to August 3rd.

This will enable the staff to finish their work addressing some of the um questions and concerns that commission raised with regards to you know a citywide cap, um trying to level set with regards to the rest of the state, and um so they've got some more work to do, and but we will be back before August 3rd with that zoning uh recommendation, but it has to go, you know, that has work has to go back to plan board and back through processes.

So we needed another six months to get that work done.

And that is all I have this evening.

Thank you, Ms.

Dixtein.

Ms.

Blackshear, are there any citizens registered to speak this evening on calendar items?

None on calendar items, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Blackshear.

Commissioners, are there any comments on the city manager's recommendations?

Commissioner Beckham.

Um very brief.

Uh, thank you, Your Honor.

I'm just glad to see progress, obviously, on the substation downtown.

Very encouraging to see that we uh will, you know, increase our presence downtown.

Um also just thank you for the number of exciting projects in tonight's calendar.

So that's all for me.

Thank you.

Commissioner Fairchild.

I'm good.

Thank you.

I'm good also.

Thank you, Commissioner Johnson.

Two brief things.

First, I want to thank police for going with the hybrid uh with the new interceptors.

Uh the 2026 Ford Utility by I appreciate that.

Every every move forward is is good.

So thank you to police and thank you to everybody.

Uh second is I never will like to miss a chance to talk about our Royal Field Protection Program and uh thank our partners at Harrison Township for the continued participation, protecting that really valuable resource.

That's it.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Thank you, Commissioner.

And just very briefly, just have a couple of uh comments in regards to the calendar items.

Um thank you, Ms.

Dixtein, for giving us a little bit more context as it relates to the substation, um, the purpose for that.

Could you uh talk a little bit about the unhoused and mental health resources that are noted in the city manager report?

It was a section in the city managers report.

And just if you wouldn't mind, just speak to that a little bit in terms of how the substation will offer some of that component or some of the work that is already being done.

In the in the downtown police substation, yes, ma'am.

For homeless?

Yes, it was noted in the city manager report that there is unhoused and mental health resources that will be provided.

I I believe it's a service that is provided by PD and it's just an opportunity to do that.

Oh, right.

We have we have we have an outreach officer.

Oh, yes, I guess.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm like, uh oh.

I didn't know I was sure that no.

This is our uh outreach work that we do.

We have a dedicated officer.

We actually have a team of individuals.

We have one officer, we have fire um helps with this, and we also have outreach workers with uh Miami Valley Housing Opportunities.

And so those individuals work collaboratively when they come across complaints around our unhoused um individuals to they they basically make connection, try to connect them to services, um, making sure they're aware of all the opportunities for shelter, um, for um those wraparound services that are so important and that they are connected or in the queue to receive those services.

So they do that.

Um if somebody is having a really difficult time, obviously they can take them to any of the area hospitals to try and get the direct services or immediate services.

Um but yes, they are they are um they will be housed in that facility, and they have been uh they have been stood up for quite some time now as far as our our crisis mobile outreach.

Okay, thank you.

Um I would like to get a little bit more information about that um offline if that's fair.

Okay, thank you.

The other question that I wanted to pose is in regards to the the Belmont pools.

So understanding that I know very little about pools, but nonetheless, I know that that is in fact a specialized service.

Um the general contractor will act as such, and then those specialized service for the pool itself will be contracted out.

Is there any means in terms of meeting the requirement with that being said?

Are they looking at those additional contracted services for the pool renovated some of the pool work that is being done?

Yeah, that was all part of the bid requirements.

Okay.

We worked very closely with facilities and recreation to make sure that anybody who bid that was part of the qualifying conditions that they had to have the certifications and expertise to work on our pools.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um the Philadelphia Drive traffic calming.

I very well noted.

I appreciate the the details in regards to a number of the um community engagement sessions that took place and meetings.

Um and I know that there were concerns.

There were some folks that wanted bike lanes, there were others that did not want bike lanes.

I do believe that there was a happy medium, and from my understanding, there are some uh residents and who, in fact, there is a segment I should say, a part of Philadelphia in uh in Oxford to Riverview that will be in fact available for on street parking.

Is that correct?

I just want to make sure that that is noted because it was that all of the off-street parking will be removed, but there is in fact a a section that will um provide on street parking for those who don't have any other parking options.

Yeah, the staff worked very closely with the community to try and create the win-win.

It's not uncommon to have pushback on some from some on bike lanes.

And um, so I think they did a great job coming together with that win-win to try and accommodate all of the interest or needs in the plan.

Okay.

Is do we have any plans for any PSO PSAs or any other announcements that we will be able to to push out to the community?

Oh, sure.

Yes.

Sure.

And we do that, we we are trying to do those on a continual basis so that when the project, you know, is awarded, when the project goes live, periodic updates, you know, to try and make sure that people keep it in front of their they get the information they need as far as how because everyone forgets when will this project be done and how yeah, so we try to do those periodic updates uh routinely with our public affairs staff.

I appreciate that.

The reason why I mentioned that, just to avoid any concerns and lessons learned right from Main Street, even though we know that a number of um community members, residents, that is something that they opted for, but um some folks didn't necessarily uh get wind of what those changes may look like.

So I just want to make sure that we try to find some way and means to to prevent that from occurring the second time around with uh Philadelphia and some of the changes that will take place.

So I appreciate that.

Last question is in regards to the um uh emergency resolution, the extending the temporary moratorium.

So in the language it talks to foster care facility.

So my question is just in regards to um would it be helpful to really spell out that all of the aspects of what the foster care facility, what that entails for consistency and of the language to remove any ambiguity that it may cause, understanding that the foster care facility, it entails a number of services, but just so that it is clear in the language itself.

I I believe I can follow up with this, but I believe that one, it's consistent with the moratorium that was passed beforehand.

Okay.

Foster care language is what we have to use because that what that's what directs or identifies the youth group homes.

Because this does not impact adult group homes like re-entry and things like that, right?

So it does not?

It does not, and I don't believe it.

Am I correct, Tony, in remembering that?

I thought it was all encompassing.

No, I it is not all encompassing because some of that is protected classes, you know, like the housing, you know, there's if they're a protected clash, we can't put a moratorium in place, but go ahead, Tony.

Okay.

Um the the moratorium as it stands right now, and that which will be extended impacts all group homes.

The specific direction, I think that we're operating under is a citywide cap that can only be done for foster care facilities.

Although other group homes, such as sober living, will still be subject to all the other elements of the ordinance, including thousand-foot separation.

Can put one when there's a boarded house, has to be inspected by zoning administration.

So it impacts all group homes, but the specific direction that I think we're operating under is a citywide cap that can only be applied to foster care for uh facilities.

Facilities.

Okay.

All right, thanks.

All right.

Uh thank you.

Um just one other question.

Um, and I'll be happy to take this offline too if you if you don't have legal here this evening.

But one of the questions raised is in fact um related to the group homes.

If there is four unrelated people in the facility itself, is it considered a group home under the definition of the Ohio recovery housing?

And then will it still be honored for in review for the um the annual fire inspections with this cap that is currently in place.

Well, we'll have we'll follow up on that law.

All right.

Very well.

Thank you.

And I think that's all the questions that I have.

And may I have a motion to approve the city manager's recommendations?

So your Honor, I move to approve the city manager's recommendations.

Second.

It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the city manager's recommendations.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Ms.

Black Shear legislation, please.

First reading, emergency resolution number 6916-26.

Extending a temporary moratorium for an additional 180 days from the date of adoption of this resolution on the acceptance and processing of applications for zoning, occupancy, conditional use, and or building permit approvals for residential facilities, also known as group homes within the city of Dayton, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.

Your Honor, being declared an emergency, I move to the immediate passage of resolution number 6916-26.

Second the motion, Your Honor.

It has been properly moved and seconded to declare emergency resolution 6916-26 as an emergency.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Second reading, emergency resolution number 6916-26.

Extending a temporary moratorium for an additional 180 days from the date of adoption of this resolution on the acceptance and processing of applications for zoning, occupancy, conditional use, and or building permit approvals for residential facilities, also known as group homes within the city of Dayton, Ohio.

Mayor Turner Sloss.

Aye.

Commissioner Joseph.

Shaw.

Aye.

Beckham.

Aye.

That concludes legislation, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Black Share.

I will now open the public hearing.

Ms.

Dixie, please.

Your Honor, I'd like to call for Jeff Green from our planning uh division to walk us through the public hearing.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Happy New Year, all.

This is the first time I'm seeing you all in at least in this capacity.

I have uh a public hearing for you all.

This is both a rezoning, so a map zoning map amendment and a plan development.

It's a request to establish a new plan development on uh 1.48 acres to expand the existing place of worship.

This is the Osmangazi Mosque at 1508 uh Valley Street.

And in addition, 1.036 acres uh of this should be or is requested to be rezoned from I-1 Light Industrial to ER4 collected uh single family.

Uh the applicant is architects associated.

Uh the applicant is here with us.

I will call them up after this, should should this uh commission have any questions.

Again, the current zoning is uh I 1 with with some of it uh ER4 already.

The proposed zoning is fully ER4.

A planning district is old North Dayton and uh the land use area is northeast.

So the maroon area in particular, that is the industrial.

That's the I-1.

That is the portion of land that is going to be uh rezoned.

As well, of course, we're talking about the uh white outline piece of property again, uh just under 1.5 acres in size.

Um to the vicinity map here, uh you'll you'll note the context of this area, especially if you get past Rutledge, which is the uh maybe easier to see right here.

That's Rutledge.

Um, everything to the west of that is far more residential in context.

You got the the old church across the street, um, you got the Os Benghazi Mosque, of course, and then you got the single family surrounding it.

So you have a more of a residential context, and you go east further on Rutledge.

That is truck terminals, uh tire shops, you know, a far more commercial or industrial nature.

So looking at that rezoning, that that strip of land that we're talking about, uh it definitely, in staff's opinion, seems to make sense to keep it uh uh lower intensity with in line with the rest of the neighborhood in that context.

This is just a zoomed-in uh view of the property.

Uh you'll you'll see here in a second where the building is going to be located, but it's it's where the uh eastern edge of the property is uh around where the trees are.

So this is an expansion of uh the prayer hall uh essentially.

It's gonna be a new standalone building to really expand the Osmangazi Mosque as its uh continued growth and its its uh uh congregants.

So, and talking about the PD, here's the site plan.

Um you got the building that's pushed further or closer to Rutledge, which in general is generally speaking is a good thing here because it opens up a lot of the site to more of this park-like campus like feel.

And that's that again, that's a good thing.

Um we're taking some land, we're developing it, but we're also getting 74 up to 74 new trees along the periphery, new fencing, um uh just the general park like setting in in the middle of the area.

Uh this would, PD essentially would allow for the expansion of the Osmangazi Mosque.

It would allow the primary entrance of the building to to face kind of that uh the interior of the site code would typically require it to face the street.

You got the main Osmanghazi mosque building that's already in existence, already facing the street, but uh this new building would require that.

Uh a little bit of reduction of the side setback, and that is particularly to the east of the property line, right along Rutledge Avenue and uh Rutledge, and that is uh in staff's opinion, okay, as just to the other side of Rutledge, you got that truck terminal.

So it's really not going to impact any residents.

And that's where you know why this building was pushed a certain way.

Um it would require all landscaping and fencing as you currently see.

Um one of the bigger things here that really required this plan development was the reduction in parking to seven on-site spaces.

So I'm there's a slide coming up here next, it will kind of explains this parking thing because you know when we're talking about the a facility or a place of worship that typically gathers a fair amount of people, you want to make sure you're not causing you know a bunch of vehicles to come in, park on the streets and cause issues with the neighborhood.

But this plan development would require a parking agreement with the owner of the truck terminal directly budding this property uh and providing a fair amount of those needed parking spaces, and this plan development would uh again require it for it to be in operation in any capacity.

Um I do want to note aside from the campus, you know, generally campus feel, and this is a pretty well developed plan.

The orientation of the building is partly due to uh the the way in which uh the the Islamic faithful have to pray that certain direction.

So that's that's another contention.

Um this was seen and heard by the neighborhood before it even got to plan board.

Uh and and that was one of the things the neighbors really recommend is hey, you know, the Islamic faithful need to pray a certain way.

We we don't mind this.

Would you want to orient this building a certain way?

And then that's exactly what we want is the applicant in the neighborhood to speak early and often.

Speaking about that parking agreement, here is the general parking plan, which is something a little extra we required.

Typically, the zoning code would require uh a site to have all needed parking spaces uh for the site to be operational.

Uh this instance you got 30 spaces, uh, seven of which are on site.

The mosque controls the old church across the street.

That's an additional 24 spaces, but the bulk of the parking space is going to come from parking areas C and D, as you can see, which is that truck terminal.

Again, we have that agreement signed by the owner of the truck terminal.

It is an elder with the mosque.

So you got that uh you got that agreement, especially when we're talking about those holy days when we have quite a few people coming in to to uh to park and and not bother the neighborhood.

Um thing I'd be remiss to say is the Osman Ghazi Mosque is already here.

So this is just an expansion.

Those holy days, there's a good amount of people that come in, and they utilize and talk to uh the surrounding property, and it's like the Polish Club and whatnot.

And there's already essentially a uh a shared parking agreement, just not in words.

So the neighborhood is definitely willing and accepting of this uh of this uh use, and this just formalizes it more and provides more of a burden on the uh commercial properties that have more than adequate space here.

Here are the renderings of the building, uh primarily brick and nature, uh plenty of uh natural light coming in.

Um this would essentially match the character of what we're seeing across the street with other institutional uses such as the uh charts.

You want those brick facilities.

It looks nice, and it's complementary to the surrounding area.

Uh staff analysis, I went through a lot of this, pitting off again the rezoning.

Um three six acres of the site is zoned I1.

This area is more in line with the residential piece, the the neighborhood than the commercial and industrial side.

So having these high-intensity uses, take a back seat to a place of worship or or these things or these uh residential uses is definitely definitely a plus here.

Uh the proposed building location, the the added landscaping, you know, this is all what we want to see as part of the zoning code.

Um the parking plan, I went through that.

There is a parking agreement, we have it signed, it's part of this plan development.

Um generally overall, this is a fairly good plan.

Uh again, I I can't say this enough that we always like our applicants to go to the neighborhood and talk about something, especially if you know when we're talking about something that uh a community partner.

Public process.

So uh again, applicant met with the neighborhood, um, spoke a little bit about that uh in winter of 2025 and spring of 2025.

So about 10 months ago.

Um, this was, of course, this case when it was brought to the plan board and the land use board was properly noticed sent to everyone within 250 feet plus of this uh subject property.

No comments have been received for or against this proposal.

Uh Northeast Land Use Board met on December 2nd uh and unanimously recommended approval.

Um that uh recommendation came with the land use board saying, hey, why don't you push the building a little closer to the street?

So the current plan that we're dealing with reflects that.

So instead of having a what was going to be a roughly a 20-foot setback from the closest house is now 30 feet, and that is meeting code.

Uh City Plan Board on December 9th, uh unanimously recommended this application be approved with the updated plans.

And uh, of course, staff believes that this uh application uh and plan is appropriate in meeting with our standards and uh our various plans and policies.

So, with that said, uh this commission can choose to approve, remand it back to plan board or deny.

I again would like to uh uh say that David Helmers, the the applicant here is uh here, and I would go ahead and invite him up here.

And other than that, I am here to answer any questions you all may have.

Thank you, Mr.

Green.

Are there any questions, Commissioners?

I'm good.

All right, I just have one question.

Uh I know that you said that there is uh a formalized uh agreement.

Uh just out of curiosity, the term of that agreement for the parking terminal, the truck terminal.

The the I'm sorry, what was that?

Sure.

The agreement, the terms of the agreement with the trucking terminal, what are the terms of that agreement?

Is it just trying to get an understanding of the length of that agreement?

Is it the length is to the sale of the property?

But if the sale of the property occurs, then the mosque or whoever's operating the authority at the time would have to come back and say, Here's how we're gonna have handle property.

Okay.

It's a essentially a built-in safety for the neighborhood.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

They they are working on that too for the long term.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Um have any other questions.

No one has any questions.

Thank you.

Um, Miss Black Shear, are there any citizens registered to speak on the public hearing?

None on the public hearing, Your Honor.

Thank you, Miss Blackshire.

Thank you, Mr.

Green.

Um, Commissioners, do you have and oh we already went through that?

All right.

So now we will close the public hearing.

So what is the pleasure of the commission?

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

All right, Miss Black Share, legislation, please.

The legislation implementing zoning case number PLN 2025-00371 will be ordinance number 32176-26.

The ordinance will receive a first reading only.

First reading, ordinance number 32176-26, amending the official zoning map to establish Plan Development 194, and change the underlying zoning from light industrial I1 to eclectic single family ER4 for 1.48 acres at 1508 Valley Street.

And that concludes the legislation, Your Honor.

Thank you, Miss Black Share.

Are there any citizens who are registered to speak this evening?

Your Honor, there are three citizens who have registered.

When the green light comes on, you will have three minutes to speak.

After you have spoken two and a half minutes, a yellow light will come on.

You will have 30 seconds remaining to speak.

When the red light comes on, you'll be asked to cease your comments and to take your seat.

To the audience in attendance, please be mindful.

This is a business meeting.

And we kindly request that during this portion of the meeting, you refrain from any hand clapping, finger snapping, and conversations that will prevent the city commission from hearing the speaker's comments.

Hello everybody.

Oh, sorry.

How y'all doing today?

Your name is Anthony Lamont.

Address for the record.

Uh the property number called on about is 811 Dunbar Street.

Okay.

I'm not sure if everybody's familiar with St.

Agnes.

I currently happen to be the owner of that property.

I happen to take over that property a little bit too late in the foreclosure process from somebody else.

But I have a vision.

I came from Columbus, Ohio, and I'm at the level of my life here in Dayton, so now I'm a future resident of resident here at Dayton.

So I took on Paul Lawrence Dunbars, currently have like 550,000 in back taxes.

I seen a vision in Paul Lawrence Dunbar, and I want to revive it and I want to be the face of Paul Lawrence Dunbar.

Now, what I tried to do is I decided to put up my property that I have in Columbus.

I have about 300,000 worth in real estate that's currently on the market right now that's going to be for sale, and I want to use that to turn around and invest in that in that area in that area.

Now on that Paul Lawrence Dunbar parcel area, it contains four buildings, the school, it contains a 12-bedroom, six-bathroom house, a six-unit apartment building, and then also uh um a church on it.

My plan is for the 12-bedroom apartment building, which I do have an architect that is currently working with me on it.

I want to use that that house to uh house skilled, skilled uh offenders so that way I can use them.

They immediately come in with jobs and they can help me repair the uh the church, repair the school, and repair the uh repair the office building, stuff like that to help do it.

My vision is for the Dunbar area because it's a dark, it's a dark area.

No one wants to invest in the area, nobody wants to fix in that area.

Okay.

I want to see no matter what, if it's a broke, if it's a if it's a broken window, whether it's a present or a vacant uh homeowner, I want to see the windows fixed.

If it's a roof that's leaking, whether it's the homeowner is present or not, I want to fix it.

So what I'm requesting is I'm asking for time, okay.

Um when it comes with the city, they request 20% down.

That's $113,000, and then they want 11,000 a month.

That's not very doable.

That's a lot.

But what I am saying is I'm willing to put my own money up, which I am in the process, which I have done that, put my own property up and I want to use it and I want to invest in it.

All I'm just asking for, if anybody can help me who can just sit there and make a phone call and sit there and say, give him more time, give him more time.

I need it's set to go to share cell.

I didn't know he had a share sell December 6th, and tomorrow it's the next share sale.

They tell me that I forfeit that property after that, then it goes to somebody else.

They'll wipe the taxes clean, and then if it doesn't, they don't do anything, it goes to the state.

All I need is some backing.

I need some people who's willing to get behind me and let me work the Dunbar area.

I want to restore that area.

I do want to pass th that area because I do believe in that community because no one is stepping up in that area.

And I came from here from Columbus because I really truly believe in it.

So if, like I said, whatever proof, whatever vision that y'all want to see on paper, I have that, and I'm willing to do anything and everything I got to do to show you that I'm willing to restore that dunbar area.

They need a leader, and I want to be that leader.

I'm 36 years old, I ain't going nowhere.

I bought a I got a residence up here.

I have a I have a shop up here, I am generating income, but I just need some community, and I need some people who knows how to make a phone call that will stand right behind me, says I'm going to give him a chance.

I'm just praying that the local community, far as like pastors, especially like knowing that you're a pastor, I want to be a pastor.

I desire to pass to the people at some point.

But I just need help in this area.

I want to fix the Paul Lawrence Dunbar area.

Everybody's familiar with that area.

Yeah, Mr.

Thank you, Mr.

Lamont.

Appreciate y'all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We would encourage you to have a conversation with Montgomery County's treasurer's office.

They will be able to assist you with that process.

And then once you have that conversation, then if you wouldn't mind may having a conversation with our planning department and be able to work through those various different channels, but definitely have a conversation with Montgomery Chattanooga County Treasurer's Office in regards to the back taxes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All the best to you.

Ms.

Black Share, excuse me.

Willie Morris.

Name and notice for the record.

Willie Morris, 32 Park Drive.

You may begin.

Good evening, Mayor, City Manager, and Commissioners.

My name is William Morris.

I'm a husband, a father, and a resident of South Park neighborhood.

I turned to this podium tonight as the president of the Wayne Avenue Traffic Safety Coalition, a group of neighbors and business owners who have been waiting two and a half years to follow through on a promising safety study on Wayne Avenue.

As Laura will be stating soon, we have spent two years working in good faith with Cindy Engineers.

We are grateful that our 2023 advocacy led to an ODOT study safety study and a viable design to right size Wayne Avenue.

But as noted, we are now at a critical crossroads regarding the March funding deadline.

I want to talk about the human cost of the drawn-out process that has plagued this project so far.

Since our original plea in 2023, implementation has been stalled by administrative delays and a shrinking scope.

Now we are being told that the critical section north of Kiwi uh will be excluded to avoid conflicting uh with a revived 35 study, which we're very excited to see, but it could be a project that could take a decade to see reality.

Furthermore, the temporary proof of concept safety measures that we discussed in July, like the pedestrian crossing connecting, park drive and Pierce Street are now stalled indefinitely.

The reasoning we're given is school construction of the Liberty School.

But traffic violence is not paused for construction or planning grants.

In 2022, we mourned the death of our neighbor Jennifer Johnson.

Since then, the frequent collisions and near misses have been a constant reminder that we cannot afford to wait another five to ten years for a perfect solution.

We're asking this commission for three uh things tonight.

Number one, submit the full plan to direct full public works to include the entire Wayne Avenue safety design, including North of Kiwi in the March application.

Number two, to install temporary measures now, implement the park drive crossing and speed monitoring regardless of school construction.

And lastly, a public commitment.

Give us a clear public constru uh construction start date so no more footing cycles are missed.

We are going to work uh with you to make Wayne Avenue a safe thriving corridor for our local businesses and our neighbors.

We request a formal meeting with the commission to get this project back on track with the urgency it deserves.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you, Mr.

Morris.

Um, Ms.

Dixtein, if we could, can we have an update as to where we are in this process?

I was I was going to comment on the closing council.

All right, sounds good.

Thank you.

We're on the same page.

Laura Estonata.

Laura Estandia 228 Park Drive.

Good evening, uh, Mayor, Commissioner, City Manager, Clerk.

For the past two years, the Wayne Avenue Traffic Safety Coalition has been working with the city engineers and community engagement representatives to conduct a safety study on Wayne Avenue between Wyoming and US 35 to get the street eligible for safety funding through the Ohio Department of Transportation.

It has generally been a productive process, and the coalition has uh received extremely positive feedback from the community members on the proposed safety changes.

I have a copy of the study with me tonight.

The deadline to apply for safety funding to implement the recommendations is fast approaching in March.

I have been trying to confirm the final design that would be submitted to the safety program and was recently informed that most of the improvements have remained the same except for the work north of Kiwi Street.

We will not be including this work as part of the submission due to the revived 35 federal planning grant we should be starting this year.

We don't want to lock in in a design on this area constraining the possibilities of reimagining 35, end quote.

Right now, the city has a planning grant, a $2 million planning grant to reimagine 35 from the U.S.

Department of Transportation via their reconnecting communities pilot program.

Implementation funding for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program has not been authorized beyond fiscal year 26 at the federal level.

And we all know uh that the federal budget is for fiscal year 26 is still being authorized, even though we are five months into said fiscal year.

Who knows how long we'll be waiting for fiscal years 27 uh et cetera.

I'm here to implore the city not to wait, but to fund the full project in front of you for which time, talent, and treasure have already been invested.

It could be years before the recommendations out of the reimagined three 35 process are published, and when they are, funding for implementation is not guaranteed by law or merit.

If funded, it will be years before construction begins, and Wayne Avenue has waited long enough.

On behalf of the coalition and the community members who want to see the safety recommendations come to life, please include the lane reduction north of Kiwi Street in the final design.

Our coalition looks forward to reviewing the final design for the March application deadline.

Thank you for your time.

And since I have some time left, I watched last week's meeting on YouTube, and I just want to give a shout out to Mr.

Paul Carrigan.

I really hope he gets his speed bump.

Thank you, Ms.

Ann Estanda.

That concludes the speakers, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Blackshare.

Ms.

Dixtein, do you have any closing comments?

I do.

Um, Your Honor, I have a couple of closing comments.

First, I will um address uh or share the um we share the concern with regards to the Wayne Avenue um safety uh initiative.

Obviously, that we have been engaging for two years.

I did just receive uh Mr.

Morris's email and letter.

We are digging in with the hopes of making sure that we can get you a detailed briefing um as to you know the potential issues, how we uh the recommendation moving forward, et cetera.

I don't understand those enough myself yet, but we are going to dig in and make sure that you all have that um briefing paper and and make sure that there is follow-up with our neighborhood leaders.

Um the um last thing that I would like to do is I would like to um call forward um Abby Patel Jones.

You're by yourself now, right?

Okay, so um as as you know, we have you have heard me say before that um the City of Dayton is a uh data disciplined organization.

And I am not taking credit for that.

Because it was long established before I uh came around.

Um, but um I am very excited because we um started an initiative with Bloomberg Philanthropies.

And the city received a silver certification.

And for those of you who don't know Bloomberg Philanthropies, What Works City Certification is the international standard of excellence and well-managed data-driven local government.

Um it recognizes cities for their exceptional use of data to inform policy decisions, allocate funding, improve services, evaluate program effectiveness, and engage residents.

In the letter that they sent us when after their visit, and after they had we had submitted all of our information.

They said the city of Dayton has achieved silver, what works cities certification for 2025.

The City of Dayton has achieved this distinction through a culmination of strong leadership, a devoted team using data to inform decisions and drive outcomes, as well as hard work to put in place the people, practices, and policies that make your city one of the top well-managed data-driven local governments across the Americas.

This award puts us in the company with cities like Austin, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Detroit, Michigan, Kansas City, Missouri, Miami, Florida, Knoxville, Tennessee.

We are always punching out of our weight class, right?

And so we're very proud of that.

And they went on to say the City of Dayton's commitment to these practices and policies was evident through our completion of the assessment, which measured Dayton's progress on 43 criteria outlined in the What Works City standard.

It was also evident in the time we spent together during our site visit, where we saw firsthand the many ways you and your staff utilize data and evidence to better understand your challenges, implement solutions, and deliver improved outcomes to your residents.

So I would like to thank Abby and her team for their great leadership.

They led a team of individuals who collaborated across the organization to essentially assure that we were meeting all 43 of those standards and demonstrating or doing the work to meet all those standards because there were some policies and processes that we had to put in place or enhance and et cetera.

So thank you, Abby, for your great leadership.

Because I thought it would be really important for our organization and to demonstrate how well we are using data to drive uh in the city of Dayton.

So thank you, City Manager.

Um good evening, Mayor, Commissioner, City Manager, and Clerk.

Um, as the city manager mentioned, um, we've been working on this certification since 2019.

Um we've been diligently submitting all of the required information um since 2019, and we've been slowly making progress.

Um to date, we have received silver certification as the city manager mentioned, which means we have achieved 22 of the 43 criterias which accounts to 51 percent achievement rate.

Um I do want to mention um the site visit um which took place on October 28th and 29th, where the What Works Cities team came on site um and visited in action how we're using data on a day-to-day basis in our city operations and across the board.

Um that site visit included a visit to um a real-time crime center with the police department.

It also included a visit to our planning neighborhoods and development department where um they saw firsthand the data collection that took place for the housing conditions survey as well as the data collection and the output from those data collection for the mediation response unit.

Um we also they also visited Public Works in CAP Navigation System, which you know is currently in the process.

Um we are collecting that data and we are going to utilize that data to better our processes in the future.

Um we also visited the fire department.

The fire department went through the rigorous process utilizing data and the and doing the data analysis to achieve their accreditation.

Um and so those are the four departments that we visited during their site visit.

Um after that site visit, um they we had to wait um for their evaluation.

They went back to their committee that oversees the certification process and we received the news in mid-January that we have achieved the silver certification.

And we're using data in a meaningful way, so that we are being efficient, efficacious, and effective across the organization.

That banner shows the certification, and we also have the plaque that is sitting here, which we are planning to display in our lobby.

Without that, we would not have been able to achieve the certification.

And lastly, I want to um uh mention uh when they came to do the site visit, uh, one of the site visitor, um his name is Nana from What Work Cities.

Um, as we were walking them out, he said the people of the city organization are truly driven.

Um they felt the heart.

He said we felt the heart they bring to their daily work, um, which was a big testament to the work that the organization does.

Um, it is the culmination of all of the work that occurs throughout the organization.

Without that, we would not be here today.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Patel Jones.

I'll turn it over to my colleagues.

Commissioner Beckham, do you have any remarks?

Thank you, Your Honor.

Umgratulations uh to the organization.

Um, having been through uh some Bloomberg municipal trainings myself, I certainly recognize that they really uh are not just rigorous but kind of in a way represent the gold standard in terms of um both training and assessing um you know efficient and advanced city government and uh I think this recognition really demonstrates uh that we're in that ranking.

So I I appreciate this and um congratulations again.

Thank you for your hard work, thank you, City Manager.

Uh, and congratulations on the uh the hard work that went into receiving this uh very I think well-deserved recognition.

So congrats.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Yeah, uh kudos.

Want to echo uh Commissioner Beckham's words, city manager, um Jones Patel and your whole team.

I was curious, it we had a group that went to Bloomberg.

Is this an extension of that group or is this a separate work?

It came out of many our our relationship with Bloomberg, right?

And so we've had a uh relationship with Bloomberg since about 2019.

Well, for this initiative, but prior to that, since about 2014, um we have had we have built a relationship with Bloomberg.

We've taken um opportunities over a number of things, right?

You know, the work that Leela Klein and her team is doing with sustainability is a Bloomberg effort, right?

And so whenever there's opportunities that come forward and we have capacity and aligns with something of that that adds value for us, then we look at those very seriously to be able to take advantage of them.

Great.

You know, I think someone should hold that um because I I get a little glimpse of that uh we would like to take a picture um if you don't mind at the end, so we can uh you you all can hold the plaque and we can take a picture.

Luke, is that something that do you do you feel comfortable holding up to share with the the members today?

Do you mind?

You'll be on VANA today.

Don't turn it.

Don't drop it, right?

Commissioner.

Well, just one last comment.

Excuse me.

Um is there a next step?

Yeah, so this uh um certification you we have to recertify annually um and the certification takes place uh twice um every year, once in December and once in July.

Um and so we have to resubmit the information for us to at least retain the silver certification or move up to the gold, and then there is platinum.

Right.

Well, let us know how we can be helpful.

Yes.

Yeah, I I um too just want to thank you for for this uh this honor and the cer certification.

I too went through the Bloomberg uh leadership uh training with Commissioner Beckham and uh rigorous is kind of like an understatement as it relates to Bloomberg.

Uh even their facilities are just everything is is about data and uh to receive this award.

Uh you'll have must have really uh signed.

So thank you for that.

Um and and keep up the great work.

This is uh it's awesome and to be thank you.

Commissioner Justin.

Thank you, Mary.

Yep, congratulations.

This is great stuff, and it's the second time I've used this word today, but I want to thank you for your discipline because to it's one thing to collect the data, it's another thing to be disciplined enough to use it and use in the right way.

And you all are obviously doing that, and I'm very proud.

So thank you, congratulations.

Just would like to echo my my colleagues' uh comments.

Great job.

Please extend our appreciation um to the entire team, and thank you for your leadership as well as to the entire uh front office leadership, the city manager, Miss Lofton, Mr.

Pollett, and Miss Dixton Dixteen, excuse me.

Um, thank you for your leadership and in in providing that direction that was needed to uh and stay on top of being a data-driven organization.

So uh I believe at this time Miss Blackshare has some comments as well.

Well, I have a proclamation.

Proclamation very well.

I'm going to sit down.

No, you have to do that.

You don't want to you have to stay at the podium.

Oh, okay.

From the office of the city from the commission office of the city of Dayton.

Whereas a growing movement of cities and city leaders are using data data and evidence to equitably equably deliver services, invest public dollars in effective programs, increase transparency, and improve residents' quality of life.

And whereas Bloomberg Philip Philamprees, What Works City Certification, is an international initiative launched in 2020 and led by Results for America to help cities strengthen data practices, build staff capacity, and establish critical data infrastructure.

And whereas in 2025, the City of Dayton's Department of Management and Budget completed the What Works City Certification Assessment to benchmark its data practices and develop a roadmap for strengthening data-driven infrastructure skills and culture, and whereas through through completion of the assessment, Dayton joined an international communities of cities advancing innovative data-driven approaches to government operations and community challenges, and whereas over the past six years, Dayton has implemented data-driven strategies to address key priorities, including achieving CFAI fire accreditation, implementing the Dayton Recovery Plan, establishing a real-time crime center, and launching digital mapping for waste collection operations.

And whereas what's what works city certification recogn recognizes cities that use data to inform policy decision, allocate resources, improve services, evaluate program effectiveness, and engage residents with a focus on improving quality of life.

Now, therefore, we the commission of the city of Dayton do hereby proclaim February 4th, 2026 as what works cities rec certification recognition day in the city of Dayton, Ohio.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Miss Black Share.

Do you have any other uh closing comments?

Sit there and hold it up, you'll zoom in on it.

Commissioners, do you have any closing comments?

Uh yes, Your Honor, thank you.

Um I want to congrat congratulate the organization again.

Um Dayton Development Coalition's annual meeting, uh, which I attended earlier today, but more specifically uh lift up the brand new partnership uh between my alma mater, the University of Dayton, and IBM.

Um it's a really cool um I think opportunity for both Dayton as well as UD students to uh participate in a new lab that will be on the University of Dayton's campus to do chip research, which we know is in uh so much of the technology today.

So very excited for that incredible partnership.

I think it'll be uh extremely impactful uh on the workforce in our region.

So uh looking forward to that.

I also just want to uh lift up February, given that it is Black History Month.

Uh there's a number of uh events this weekend.

Uh specifically, Sinclair is gonna be hosting a Black Unity conference.

Uh it starts Friday, um which is February 6th.

Uh at 6 p.m.

There will be a screening of 688, uh, which we know has some Dayton connections.

Um also Saturday, February 7th.

Uh there'll be a program honoring the legacy of African Americans in Dayton.

Um it's called uh The History of Hope in the Making, a story of courage and progress.

Uh doors open at 10 a.m.

and the program will begin at 11.

So I hope you'll find uh at least some events to help celebrate Black History Month uh during February and uh uh happy Black History Month.

Those are all my comments.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner.

Yeah, a couple of thank yous.

Um a lot of thank yous, quite frankly.

Um thank you to Congressman Mike Turner who hosted elected officials uh to meet the new Maestro and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Maestro uh Guitaro Hirata, and so it was a great opportunity to meet him and uh to encourage him to um he he conducts four symphonies around the world, and so it's very exciting to have his talent and his artistry in our community and um I appreciate the congressman and giving us the opportunity to build a relationship and make him feel welcome here in Dayton and uh and he really put the uh the orchestra through its faces with an incredible performance on uh Friday night.

So uh thank you to him, but also to uh the maestro and to the orchestra and to this community for this community to um to sustain uh the ballet, the orchestra, the opera is an amazing uh a little bit about punching above our class in many ways, because these are really world-class uh into in DC DC.

So incredible arts um community.

Um thank you for the leadership over at the arcade and for our investment in the arcade.

They had the arcade commons on Saturday and some of the small businesses that are gonna be filling up those um first level um storefronts were there and give us a glimpse of what that can be.

And 688 was uh serving food and it was delicious, and so it was very exciting to see that that next uh iteration of the arcades of evolvement and encourage people when those next uh arcade commons comes along to calm down and to be a part.

It was a little rough getting out there and do all that snow, but people were doing it and it was great.

Um Leigh Miz is down at the Schuster, so the art art community continues to uh pulse on, and on Friday night, people have the opportunity to go to Front Street's Art Hop um at Friday from uh 5 to 9 and Saturday from 11 to 4.

And there's art, there's uh food, music, um art demonstrations and opportunity to find unique vintage finds.

Um encourage people.

My father died of a heart attack when I was 16 years old.

Um Friday is um the day dedicated for raising awareness about heart disease and by wearing red.

So if you wear red, um you can help people be mindful of heart disease.

Uh and then I want to say thank you to all of the generous people who have um helped their neighbor during this cold time through the snow, but also as we think of our neighbors up in Springfield and the many people who have come out to demonstrate compassion and uh commitment and dedication and commitment to community and protecting um one another, particularly those who are most vulnerable in our community.

It's like a thousand sparks of light across the community, and uh it makes a bright light, creates warmth, and draws us closer.

So, for all of those who have been um being those sparks uh for others, thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Um my comments are very brief tonight.

Uh downtown Dayton is hosting February February's first Friday event from five to ten uh this week and with the Valentine's Day theme.

So red.

Red.

Uh come downtown and enjoy special Valentine's uh themed events and menu items while supporting your local businesses.

For for more information, uh more information can be found at uh downtown Dayton.org or at the downtown Dayton Partnership's social media uh site.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just one today.

Uh City of Dayton Planning Division is leading Adapt Dayton, a community-driven initiative to modernize zoning and land use regulations across the city.

Residents are encouraged to share their input by completing the Adapt Dayton community survey on our website, which is uh HTTPS, colon forward slash forward slash WW dot DaytonOhio.gov forward slash adapt dayton.

So I hope that uh folks will take this opportunity to give some input.

Our zoning code is always changing.

Uh we uh we go through periodically larger reviews.

Uh I think this is a a way that folks can uh get their input in because we're looking forward.

We want to find out what people think about land use and about zoning around where they live, where they work.

Uh and we look forward to hearing from them.

So thank you and thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Uh very briefly would just like to uh again congratulate the staff and thank you, Miss Patel Jones, for your leadership, and please again extend our congratulations and appreciation to the entire team for the Bloomberg Philanthropy's What Works Cities and being uh noted as a silver awardee and we're going for the platinum.

So thank you for your leadership on that.

And then also last week I didn't have an opportunity to thank our our public works and the the entire city staff for um all of their leadership and and dedication.

I know they worked around the clock with the the snow removal um and I appreciate too the um the our constituents, the residents and their patients, um especially with the the residential roles in the streets.

I know they can be uh a little cumbersome.

Some of our roads are are very narrow.

There is a lot of on-street parking, um, but yet and still we persevered.

So again, I just want to to thank the entire staff.

Thank you, Ms.

Lofton, for your leadership, um, and again, kudos to the leadership and all of the the many um men and women that worked out there in the frigid temperatures, the 44 trucks that went out and and plow plowed many roads and and residential streets.

Um and then Miss Dixteen, if I can have the opportunity to personally thank them.

If you and I can work offline, I would like that opportunity.

Um, I know Miss Jackson and Ms.

Lofton may have uh shared that with you.

So if we can make that arrangement um again, because their their service does not go on unnoted, and we definitely want to uplift that and um and I know my colleagues feel the same way and those sentiments are are the same across the board.

Um also would like to congratulate um Miss Sharon Howard White in being awarded the Maureen Patterson Regional Award.

Um again that was noted at the DDC, the Dayton Development Coalition luncheon today.

So again, congratulations, Ms.

Sharon Howard White.

Also would like to uh congratulate and thank Ms.

Helen Jones Kelly um on her retirement.

Today was her retirement program.

Um a number of folks showed out and um and we had the opportunity to s send our well wish wishes as well.

So thank you, Ms.

Jackson, for for leading that charge for us.

We really appreciate that.

And um Mr.

Anderson and Ms.

Reed, I know that you all had a hand in that as well, so thank you.

Um would also like to echo my colleagues their comments um to thank the congressman and and the staff um this weekend was was uh a joy.

It was an opportunity to see um the fineness of of our arts and uplifting the the um the wonderful culture of arts um and talent that we have in the Dayton area.

So again, we extend our appreciation to the congressman and the staff and allowing us the providing us the opportunity rather and meeting the the new maestro um as well as the the delegate that um from Japan, right?

Yeah, it was awesome.

He from my understanding he represents the um the Ohio area as well as Michigan.

And he noted that Dayton is his favorite place, so we are very much so excited and appreciative of that.

And then last but not least, Ms.

Reed, thank you for the comments.

Swim lessons will begin the first week of February.

Classes are offered at Northwest Recreation Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Low Rye Recreation Center on Fridays and Saturdays.

The cost is $25 per month per monthly session with options for parent and child uh through adult levels.

More details are available on the youth and recreation services, the recreation department, excuse me, Facebook page, as well as the website, and then youth mental health week is running from February the 9th through February the 14th at all recreation centers from 3 30 to 5 30 p.m.

This is great information.

I hope that we have a partnership with DPS or some of the other um district um charter schools as well.

This um and this uh this event or this health week rather excuse me, um, runs from the 9th of February through the 14th, all recreation centers 330 to 530.

The activities include puppy therapy with four paws, lessons on healthy spending habits, during stress, nail painting, kids' yoga and interactive programs focused on building healthy coping skills.

Again, this is just um an example of the great work that the organization is doing um in specific to uh recreation and youth services.

There are a number of various different programs and activities that are offered, so I encourage our community to definitely peruse the City of Dayton's website, the recreation youth services, or the recreation department Facebook in the website.

And so, with no further business, this meeting is adjourned.

Thank you.