Dayton City Commission Meeting: MRU Evaluation, Development Incentives & Public Comment – Feb 11, 2026
Dayton City Commission Meeting – February 11, 2026
The Dayton City Commission convened on February 11, 2026, at 4:34 PM. The meeting opened with invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, roll call (Mayor Turner Sloss and Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, Beckham, all present), and unanimous approval of the minutes from the February 4, 2026 meeting. The main agenda included a detailed presentation on the Mediation Response Unit (MRU) evaluation, discussion of a development agreement and resident park upgrades, passage of a zoning ordinance, a public comment period, and closing remarks.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: The commission unanimously approved the minutes from the February 4, 2026 meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Lawrence Lindsay (1014 Marywood Drive, Inglewood): Mr. Lindsay, founder of Back to Basic Youth Education Center / Miami Valley Digital Learning Center, requested a city sponsor for a facility project with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. He described the nonprofit’s free after-school and weekend coding, cybersecurity, and AI training programs for youth since 2018, serving at Thurgood Marshall High School and a downtown lab. He provided a deed and application materials. The Mayor thanked him and arranged follow-up with the planning department.
Discussion Items
- Mediation Response Unit (MRU) 2024–2025 Evaluation: City Manager Dixtein introduced the MRU evaluation by Dr. Jeannie Zimmer (Georgetown University) and Michelle Zuremba. Dr. Zimmer presented findings: the MRU is fully integrated into public safety, receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from community, police, and partners, and covers the entire city. Key data: In 2021, potential calls estimated at 10,000; top call types include neighbor disputes, juvenile disputes, noise, roommate, and animal issues. Cases and activities increased significantly with full staffing and expanded hours, with a 1,000% increase in landlord-tenant calls. The MRU uses computer-aided dispatch, a unique feature nationally. Evaluation confirmed no statistical reduction in use-of-force or arrests yet, but every MRU response eliminates a potential use-of-force incident. Ongoing evaluation plans include partnerships with Sinclair College and Cornell. Commissioners praised the program; Commissioner Shaw noted initial police skepticism that evolved into strong support. Commissioner Fairchild asked about call diversion – MRU responds to previously unresponded calls and receives direct referrals. Commissioner Joseph highlighted the importance of independent evaluation. Mayor Turner Sloss inquired about evaluation duration (two-year grant with ongoing plan) and social service gaps. Chief of MRU noted a need for longer-term case management after losing a contracted social worker from Goodwill Easter Seals.
- Calendar Item D4 – Development Agreement with Hornstein, Nicholson, and Blumenthal: City Manager Dixtein described the agreement: retains 47 high-salary jobs, creates 10 new jobs, and is part of a 2014 city-wide incentive program. Commissioner Fairchild requested the item be pulled for additional review, citing concerns about the use of development funds during COVID-era work-from-home trends and vacancy rates. Commissioner Shaw cautioned against unintended consequences for the development community. The item was discussed but not voted on at this meeting; further information requested.
- Calendar Item #3 – Contract Modification for Resident Park Amenities: A $244,000 investment (Issue 6) plus $71,362 CDBG funding for playground, basketball court, parking lot, new sanitary line, and curb replacement at a resident park.
- Legislation – Zoning Ordinance 32176-26: Second reading to amend the official zoning map for 1.48 acres at 1508 Valley Street from light industrial (IA) to eclectic single family (ER4). Unanimously approved (roll call: ayes from all).
Key Outcomes
- Minutes Approved: Unanimously.
- MRU Evaluation Acknowledged: Commission accepted the evaluation with congratulations and directed continued monitoring. No formal vote needed.
- Calendar Items Approved: Motion to approve the city manager’s recommendations (including item #3 and others) passed unanimously (roll call ayes).
- Zoning Ordinance Passed: Second reading ordinance 32176-26 approved unanimously.
- Commissioner Fairchild's Request: Item D4 (development agreement) was pulled for further review; information on total development fund usage and budget requested.
- Public Comment Follow-up: Mayor arranged for Mr. Lindsay to contact planning department for sponsorship assistance.
- Closing Comments: Commissioners announced upcoming events including Black History Month programs, sustainability learning circle, and community workshops.
Meeting Transcript
The Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order. Would you all please rise for the invocation and the remaining in remaining standing excuse me for the Pledge of Allegias? The invocation will be given by Commissioner Beckham. Thank you. Dear Lord, thank you for the stay. Thank you for the opportunity to serve our city continual meeting guide uses. Amen. I pledge for Monday. Ms. Black Share, may we please have a roll call? Mayor Turner Sloss. Aye. Commissioners Joseph. I Shaw. Beckham. May I have a motion to approve the minutes for February the 4th, 2026 meeting? So moved, John. Second motion, Your Honor. It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes for the February 4th, 2026 meeting. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. Ms. Blackshare, are there any communications or petitions this morning? There are none, Your Honor. This morning we have a presentation. Our mediation center is here, a mediation response unit. Ms. Dixtein, please proceed. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, Your Honor. And Commission this morning, we will have a presentation about our mediation response unit 2024-2025 evaluation findings. This was a police reform recommendation that came out of the community engagement committee that commit commissioner Shaw co-led. And it is the evaluation confirms, not to steal anyone's thunder, that the mediation response unit operates as designed, is well integrated and to integrated into the city's public safety system and is has produced early meaningful outcomes consistent with its slated purpose and positions Dayton's approach as a national model for mediation based alternative response. I can attest to this because I was in uh uh Madison, Wisconsin, and the mayor talked about using um understanding Dayton's model and and integrating Dayton's model into their alternative response. So it was exciting to hear. So I am pleased to call forward Dr. Zimmer and Michelle Zuremba uh to um share the findings of this evaluation. Well, good morning, Mayor, Commissioner, City Manager, Clerks, and Mediation Center staff. Um, I'm pleased to um introduce you to Dr. Jeannie Zimmer. She is a seasoned mediator and evaluator with deep deep expertise in transformative mediation. She served as the executive director of dispute resolution center in Minnesota for 17 years. Um she has a doctorate in evaluation studies from the University of Minnesota, and she currently teaches evaluation and mediation at Georgetown University. So I'd like to turn it over to Dr. Zimmer to do the presentation. Thank you so much, Michelle, and thank you, um City Manager Dixtean, Your Honor, and Commission members. Um I have a very brief report that highlights uh that um highlights some of the activities and the findings from the evaluation that was conducted over the last year. And um City Manager Dixtean did steal a little of the thunder, and that overall the findings are positive.
openpublica.com