Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order.

Would you please rise to the invocation?

Remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Shaw is giving us indication tonight.

Dear Lord, help us pray together so that when your will is known, we may do it together.

That when crises occur, we may face them together.

In the liberty and justice for all.

Mayor Turner Slaus.

Commissioners Joseph.

Shaw.

Beckham.

Thank you.

May I have a motion to excuse the absence of Mayor Turner Slaus.

So moved, John.

Second the motion, Your Honor.

Thank you.

It's been properly moved and seconded to excuse the absence of Mayor Turner Sloss.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the February 11th, 2026 meeting?

So moved.

Second motion, Your Honor.

Thank you.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

All right.

Ms.

Black Sure, are there any communications or petitions?

There are none, Your Honor.

Great.

I see there are no presentations this evening.

Ms.

Blackshire, any additions, deletions, or comments on the calendar?

I have none, Your Honor.

Great.

Ms.

Dixtein, any additions, deletions or comments this evening?

Your Honor, this evening I have no additions or deletions to the calendar.

I do have a few items I would like to highlight.

Item number two is a grant agreement with Northeast Church's Emergency Center Inc.

This is grant funding for the renovation of the city owned building located at 1404 Webster.

It is currently owned by the city, but soon not going to be owned by the city.

We're getting ready to convey it.

This is in the Claridge Park.

You recall there was a lot of engagement and conversation around what to do with Claridge Park and some of the and the facility that's there.

And the reason that we are going to be conveying this property is so that the food pantry can continue to operate out of there for the community.

So we're excited about bringing that forward.

Item number four is a contract modification.

This is the first step of many that will uh establish the early work package for the comprehensive project to advance our PFOS treatment project.

And this is a construction management at risk project with shook construction.

So you we will not see any real work or a notice to proceed until later this year, about November, because we are still obtaining OEPA approval and the uh guaranteed maximum price for this project that has to come along with it.

So the but this one ensures that funding is in place as we move through those um steps so that they can move right into design and they can keep the project moving and it won't be delayed waiting for more activity.

So this is a 22 million dollar item, and as you know, the the PFOS treatment um improvement is a $300 million uh improved capital improvement.

So just wanted to make sure that you are aware that that is this is the very first step of something of many things to come because of its size.

Um item number seven is an exciting award of contract.

This is um e-plan inc to get us to that electronic document review system that we've talked about to go hand in hand with our permitting so that we can um go faster and bring transparency to that process.

So why this is important?

Um the digital moving us to digital brings our plan review process fully online and instead of paper plans back and forth and emails and and it will all occur digitally.

It's better for our residents and businesses because they can upload their building plans from anywhere from home in their slippers if they want.

And they can also track and see comments and updates as to the plan review process while it's going through the plan review process.

So they'll be able to track that a little bit more and obviously allows us to go faster.

So we're excited about this.

The system will be up and running by the end of Q2 this year.

So they've got to bring this on and integrate it and test it and make sure it's all working.

But when we were working with our customers and talking with them over these last two years about what would be impactful changes, investments into our planning and permitting process, this was an item that they all emphasize.

So we're excited to be bringing this forward.

And finally, or no, next two more things.

Back on calendar is the development agreement for the Hornstein Nicholson Blumenthal Development Agreement.

Again, as I cited last week, this is an agreement that retains high wage jobs in downtown and grows downtown numbers.

So they have both retention and an expansion number.

It is performance based, so it only they only receive the incentive if they create the new jobs, and it's all about the new income tax that is generated.

So it secures their existing income tax for the next 10 years due to the lease in the care source ballpark village building.

So it retains 47 full-time jobs and creates another 10.

Um and so we are excited to be bringing this forward.

Uh it's an important part of retaining the critical mass that we need in downtown, which is our economic engine for the whole city, generating 65% of our general fund uh annually.

And then finally, we have a first reading for appropriating the funds for the budget for 2026.

And so I'd like to call forward director management budget Abby Patel Jones to walk you through that presentation.

Thank you, City Manager.

Good evening, mayor, commissioners, clerk.

Good evening.

Um, as the city manager mentioned, my name is Abby Patel Jones, Director of Management Budget.

Um tonight we have our first reading of the 2025 2026 of the original appropriation ordinance.

Um the proposed ordinance is in totality is 1.5 billion dollars.

Um, and this is largely driven by the carryover.

Thank you.

Thanks, Kim.

The proposed ordinances, as I mentioned, is 1.5 billion dollars and is largely driven by the carry-over budget from prior year.

As you can see, the difference between the uh temporary budget, which was adopted in November.

Um, the increase is 473.6 million dollars.

Um, of that increase, 466 million dollars is the carry-over balance.

Um, the carryover balance represents the previously approved unexpended fund from the prior year that are reappropriated as part of the original appropriation.

This occurs every year since the carrier amounts are not identified until December 31st of the prior year.

Um these carryover amounts are primarily the capital and non-operating budgets that are moved forward, allowing for the funding to remain available as multi-year projects move forward.

For context, last year's carryover capital non-operating funds were 334.6 million dollars.

This year's carryover balance is 466 million dollars, which is a difference of 131.4 million dollars.

The majority of this increase is driven by the 2025 budget increase to water capital.

As the city manager mentioned, in anticipation of that PFAS project, um, we added the budget um authority in 2025.

Um, so majority of that difference between last year's carryover versus this year's carryover is due to that.

And as you can see, the carryover budget is really what's driving the difference between the temporary and the original appropriation.

The actual substantive changes, as you can see on the screen are 7.6 million dollars.

Um, walking through the changes, the first adjustment is 769,300 in the special revenue fund.

Um, this increase is to pay an invoice under an active agreement that runs through June of 2026.

This funding was approved by the Commission in December of 2024.

But due to the year-end budget timing, um we are bringing this forward since operating care forwards are only available for one year.

The next change is the 937,900 increase in water operating fund.

Um this increase allows us to use the remaining debt proceeds.

This is largely interest earnings from prior years to pay down portion of the outstanding 2020 debt for water system improvements.

Similarly, um sewer capital is also seeing the same increase we're operating, excuse me, of 1.4 million dollars.

Um this is also utilizing prior year debt proceeds to pay down portion of the 2020 debt that was issued for the sewer project improvements.

To support those payments, you will see a corresponding transfer from water and sewer capital into the respective operating funds.

And then lastly, we have an increase of $2.1 million in workers' compensation fund.

Majority of this increase provides funding for real estate development, in addition to $45,000 increase from the temporary to original appropriation for firefighter physical exam that was not included in the temporary appropriation.

And that is the totality of our all of our changes.

Any questions?

Thank you.

Uh Commissioners, any questions?

Uh I have none, Your Honor.

Commissioner.

I just want to make sure a couple weeks ago when you presented at the public hearing, I had asked around those um those moments when we do the reappropriations throughout the year.

And one of the things about budget is that it's a roadmap for us, right?

We never exactly do the budget because we don't have a crystal ball and we don't know the expenses and the income and all those things exactly.

So it's a roadmap.

The reappropriations is a time when we are readjust as we get a better sense of how the year's expenses and income are going.

If I understand I had asked, like, do we have a plan for what we prioritize at those reappropriations?

And I don't I haven't got that list, and I understand in our conversation that we don't have that list.

So I talked with you about the fact that those reappropriations come forward as changes occur in the organization's operating.

Right.

We get grant funding, we get we we have changes occurring with whatever whatever the operation is.

We don't know about them because they don't we don't fully authorize the budget to all of the departments.

And so they are constantly coming and coming back to make sure they have authorization.

That's that's what we explained.

Right.

And so it's a dynamic process.

There are some expenses we only anticipate, they get included.

You guys do an incredible job of looking in all those places where there's fungibility within all of the funds that we have.

How many funds do we have?

I mean, that's mind-boggling when I first learned that.

Uh we have an um I'll get you the exact number, but we have a four or five hundred funds, I would say.

Yeah.

So I mean, you guys do an incredible job managing 400 funds with all the different restrictions on them because some come with grants and all of that.

All that's to say is is a dynamic process, and I know that sometimes the commission might identify some needs that we didn't anticipate in the budget process, and that there's opportunities for us to address those along the way through the reappropriate reappropriation process.

Is that fair?

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

Great.

Thank you.

Commissioner, any street?

All right.

Thank you.

Ms.

Dacene, anything further?

No, that's it.

All right.

Thank you.

All right.

Well, then uh Ms.

Bleisher, any citizens registered to speak on calendar items this evening?

One citizen has registered, Your Honor.

I would like to state that there is a three-minute time limit.

As you address the Commission, we ask that you state your name and address for the record.

At that time, I will turn on the green light.

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 will 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 prevent the city commission from hearing the speaker's comments.

I call to the poll to podium, Jerry Bowling.

Name and address for the record.

Good evening.

My name is Jerry Bowling III.

I live at 522 Herbert Street.

And I'm here tonight on behalf of the McCookville Neighborhood Association and also the Bear Valley Pike and Valley Crest Community Advisory Group.

Sorry, I got the order mixed up there.

And I'm also here to support the grant that the city manager spoke of earlier.

And we're we uh are asking for your support for that.

Um what that will do, and this is for the Northeast Church's emergency center at 1404 Webster Street.

And 1404 Webster Street has history in the McCookfield neighborhood, formerly also part of Old North Dayton.

And um it's kind of been like the anchor of the park.

Um at one point in time, uh Clariver's Health Center was there, and as a teenager in 1973, I had a summer job and helped clean out that building.

So obviously to me it means a lot.

Um the the fact that the Northeast Churches um emergency center will have a um a home that uh we know will last, and I'm sure they're thankful uh for the support the city of Dayton has given them over the over time.

I don't think they could sustain their effort without the support of the city.

Um it also sustainability of the building, Claridge Park, um, and the nonprofits that are going to utilize that building, including the CAG.

Um so I'd like to thank uh city staff for bringing this together, uh the city manager as well.

And these funds um my understanding came from the Bear lawsuit, and it's good that those dollars are staying where they're actually needed in an area that's affected by a super fund site.

Um just to give you some history on that.

Um the first public meeting for the Bears uh th Dayton Thermal Products Superfund site was in February of 2007, 19 years ago.

So the Superfund process is a long process.

Um our neighborhood first became aware of the contaminated groundwater in May 2002, and our primary concerns were what the test wells were going to look like at Claire Ridge Park.

So Claridge Park was immediately impacted by that, and the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the park as well.

So 19 years Valley Crest Superfund site, it took 30 years before it was finally completed.

So we still got work to go.

Um in 1996, the McCookville Neighborhood Association was formed, and Clareridge Park was our primary rallying point uh for our group.

So we have history there.

Um we're also looking for this location to be a future hub uh for the CAG the food food group and any other like-minded um nonprofits.

And this use is also good for the neighborhood as well.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Bowling.

That concludes the speaker's comment.

Thank you, Ms.

Blectshire.

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

Commissioner Beckham.

Yes, Your Honor.

I just have a few um definitely um excited to see this grant agreement uh come forward.

Uh seems like we're obviously gonna maintain a critical asset for the McCookfield neighborhood, so good to see you, Mr.

Bowling and some of the other old North Dayton uh neighborhood leadership that's here tonight.

Um also want to thank the city manager for bringing forward, I believe, item number seven.

Um this is you know certainly going to save um you know folks investing in our our city a lot of time on on the permitting side of things.

So very excited about that.

I would love uh if we could just get a report out on how much time right uh is being cut down on the process moving forward.

That'd be good to have.

Um and lastly, I want to also uh lift up this uh uh item number four in terms of taking this critical step to treat PFOS.

Um this is um obviously a major uh you know undertaking, so it's good to see that we're making some progress, and I know uh the water department is certainly happy uh to to see this this progress being made.

So it's all I have your honor.

Thank you.

Commissioner First.

Yeah, I just want to echo some of Commissioner Beckham's comments.

It's great to see our leaders from McCookfield and know North Dayton here, and congratulations on this grant and thank you for your service to that community for speaking to the people this afternoon while they were literally working in the food pantry.

And so it's it's a shame that the food pantry is needed, but because there is a need, I'm grateful that you're there, and I'm grateful for the use of these resources for your neighborhood.

Um I'm excited about the e-plan.

I was at the Chamber of Commerce uh briefing on Friday morning and sat at a table with a developer, and all he could talk about was our process.

And so I'm looking forward to reaching back out to him and saying we pass this tonight and improvement is coming.

And um, and I'm curious, do we know a timeline of when we think that this might be in place to end of second quarter?

Okay, awesome.

And do we have a way to I'm sure we have a communication plan that we can buy?

Right.

And we'll we'll follow up directly with our um customers that use the that submit plans, you know.

That's our architects, engineers, developers that we've been meeting with and talking with.

They will get uh an update um as well as other ways that we'll communicate.

Great.

Thank you.

And then um finally, thank you for um my colleagues and you for that uh that week to look at that uh legislation a little bit deeper.

I appreciate the uh the information that's city manager.

Look forward to making sure that we are making our investments in a strong and uh in a um a way that is catalytic for our downtown.

So thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner, not a well that I I just really wanted to amplify this electronic review, yeah, document review system.

You know, it's uh it's so important that government try to catch up to the speed of business.

And uh this is uh moving us in that direction.

So thank you, uh city manager for your work in that space, and I look forward to uh to hearing more about that.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Uh I'll say that uh I'll second everything they've said.

I want to add uh the emphasis on what Commissioner Shaw just said is a technological advance like this sometimes takes longer than we expect.

Uh but it's nice to see that it's paying off, and I really look forward to seeing uh how this advancement saves us time, uh, saves us energy, and we can finally take a deep sigh of relief that it's working like it should.

So uh I really do appreciate your work and your staff's work and willingness to go out on the limb to get this thing working.

Uh and my colleagues have covered everything else I wanted to say, so thank you all.

Uh so I would uh look for a resolution uh motion to approve the city manager's recommendation.

I'll move ahead.

I move that we approve the city manager's recommendations.

Second.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye, all opposed say no.

Legislation, Ms.

Blackshare.

First reading ordinance number 3217-26.

Appropriating funds for the year 2026 to provide for the operating and capital expenses of various office offices, departments, and divisions of the government of the city of Dayton.

First reading resolution number 6917-26, declaring the intention of the commission to vacate the alley south of Xenia Avenue from Fillmore Street to Steele Avenue and the alley east of Fillmore Street from the alley south of Zenia Avenue to the vacated Noel Court.

First reading resolution number 6918-26, declaring the intention of the commission to vacate Vicksford Street from Maywood Avenue to Maywood Avenue.

And that concludes the legislation, Your Honor.

Thank you very much.

Uh Ms.

Blackshire, are there citizens registered to speak this evening?

Your Honor, six citizens have registered, and I like to remind everyone of our six our three-minute time limit.

I got to the podium, Greg West.

Uh Greg West, 1320 uh Kingsley Avenue, Dayton Ohio.

Good evening.

Good evening, Commissioners, City Manager, and everybody else who's watching.

Um it's that time of year again, our fourth annual um days with the Dragons uh baseball games.

Well, I'm here soliciting as usual, trying to get uh raise funds uh uh from different organizations, companies, individuals.

The way we've done this over the last four years, we asked people to go on the link that the dragons have provided for us, buy a ticket, donate it back to us, and then we take uh some of the youth from different um neighborhoods to Dragons game.

Um what this being our fourth year, we've certain we've taken over 250 kids over these four years to games.

What still amazes me is how many of these kids from different neighborhoods have never been to a game here in our own city.

So this is a way of getting them the exposure to new activities that are safe and fun and everything like that, and also little note that they they have things to do in our community other than just sit around and play PlayStation.

So, as uh usual, I'm asking the the commissioners.

You see what you can dig in your personal pockets for and go on the link and you know, buying thing, and anybody else who wants to they can uh reach out to us at 2 uh 937 270 3731, the numbers on the um website.

We'll also be putting a link on our uh web uh on our website uh probably in the next couple days.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

West Yusuf Al Zayn.

Good evening, Yusuf Zayn, uh 4906 Umberwood Drive, Dayton, Ohio.

I'm standing in front of you today as elected officials to beg of you to start speaking uh very loudly against the hate and bigotry is that is happening locally and nationwide.

This press release was issued last night on behalf of the Arab Social Association ASA that read as we approach the Haughty Month of Ramadan, a period dedicated to reflection, discipline, and human dignity.

Our community is deeply disturbed by the recent dehumanization remarks made by U.S.

Representative Randy Fine of Florida targeting Muslims.

Dehumanizing language toward any community is not political discourse, it's a moral failure.

History consistently shows that rhetoric which reduced people to something less than human fuels discrimination, exclusion, and violence.

And that's what we witnessed in the last 24 to 28 months in Gaza.

We are witnessing a troubling rise in hate across the nation, anti-Semitism, racist attacks against African Americans, with the latest uh news last week when two of our prominent figures were portrayed as nothing but apes.

And I didn't hear much officially about that.

Islamophobia, but dehumanizing language.

If you remember earlier when I spoke, when they were called Palestinians, we're called nothing but human animals.

And we saw the the course there.

Though these incidents affect different communities, they share a dangerous and familiar pattern that erodes of our human dignity.

As Muslims in Dayton, Ohio, we stand unequivocally for the dignity and equal protection of all people, not select people that our nation is issuing one resolution after the other, giving them impunity to speak their mind, and we are deprived of our first amendment.

We call on leaders at every level of government, starting with our local officials, to reject divisive rhetoric and uphold standards worthy of your public office.

Ramadan reminds us that moral strength lies in justice, restraint, and compassion, as well as reflection on what we're going through.

We invite all the people, including you, the people of Goodwill to stand together against hatred and in every form.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Alzheimer's.

Paul Kerrigan.

Good evening.

Evening.

Paul Kergan, 1525 Pershing Boulevard.

I'm here on good note.

Happy moment.

Yesterday, two traffic indicators were put on Pershing Boulevard, the Hill section.

I'm gleeful, so happy right now about all that.

It seems to be making an immediate effect.

So I'm gonna read some things and kind of go through it real quick.

I don't want to forget people.

Um seems that the traffic has slowed down a great deal, just you know, less than 48 hours.

Uh the sit move on the city's part uh shows uh giving us that neighborhood back to some degree.

You have no idea how bad the speeding.

Well, actually you do, because you saw the black box data.

And it looks like it's having an immediate impact.

The the engineers deserve a pattern on back where they place the two the uh indicators, perfect location.

I would recommend those locations.

If they asked me where to put them, that's where I would have put them.

Uh one of the colleagues down the street who spoke here a few weeks ago, Ed, they told me that he'd noticed several people coming up blasting up the street, regular people that use it that way, and slowed down his reaction to seeing that thing.

I don't know what they thought.

Maybe they were gonna get a ticket in the mayor, whatever.

I hope that's what they think.

The traffic again, it's too early to tell any other issue on that street beside the speeding was the volume of traffic.

And it looks like that's having those signs are having an impact on that as well.

So I'm gonna start with my thank you tour.

I want to thank all of you.

The former mayor of Mims and his aide right here, Cameron, who apparently has a new job.

I don't know about if that's okay.

Um the city engineers, city managers.

You all had a part in this.

The police officer put up the black box that got the data for us that made this go forward.

Uh the engineers, whoever is responsible for putting them up, because they were out there today fiddling with the one at the top of the hill, because what it was put up yesterday, all it said was high, HI.

So, like you're speeding really high or something.

So I don't know, or maybe under the influence or something, I wasn't sure.

But they were out there earlier this morning at 8 o'clock fixing that.

So because I got to see it.

And and it's where it's sitting in a spot where as soon as you come up your top top of the hill at the crossroad, and it's where you look into the sky when you're coming when you hit that.

First thing you come over that hill to head down is boom, it's right there in your face.

You cannot miss it.

It's just absolutely gorgeous.

I'm smiling.

I'm so gleeful.

So happy to be here to give you good news because I've been queuing on you guys for months now.

So thank you so much.

That's what I want to have to say.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Mr.

Kerrigan.

Kathleen Gallup.

Kathleen Galt, 5066, Safeway Drive, Dayton.

Um good evening to all.

Good evening.

I want to give another thanks to the voters of Dayton for getting issue nine, the public hospital issue over the goalpost.

I also want to encourage anybody who's unfamiliar with the issue of uh a pu you know, trying to grow the support for a public hospital uh and about the closing of Good Samaritan.

I would say go to Google why so.

They have tons of articles about the issue and the Dayton Daily News.

But bringing up to date on um January 14th, 26th, City Attorney Mousto explained very clearly where the hospital issue goes from here.

It was an incredible presentation, I thought.

Um there was an exchange at that time between Commissioner Shaw and attorney musto about economic leverage.

And then uh Attorney Mousso said, quote, he responded, he said, obviously, if there are other funding sources that want to contribute to this hospital, that's not a problem.

The state statute considers the possibility of receiving funds from other sources towards this hospital, so it's not limited to just these funds.

Unquote.

So I I would ask uh attorney Mousto to clarify, because I've been asked by several people how to donate to those funds.

So I would ask Attorney Mousso to clarify how a person goes about that.

I also want to encourage the incredibly funny, wealthy, kind, generous, extremely funny person, Dave Chappelle, who has done other things for the city of Dayton to the be the first person to walk up to the plate and donate to this effort, uh, you know, good through funding through whatever attorney musto sets up.

I'm gonna tell you my little Chappelle story.

About 15, 20 years ago, I'm in Yellow Springs riding bikes with my nieces and nephews in my then now deceased mother along the path.

We go down to we're going back to our cars, my nephew runs, bolts up to the car saying, Dave Chappelle, Dave Chappelle.

I go, who the hell's Dave Chappelle?

He goes, get the camera, get the cameras.

I go back to Ha ha pizza.

There's my mother at that point, a little older than me at this point, with her with Chappelle's arm, standing there with Chappelle's got his arm around her, and all the nieces and nephews who all know who Chappelle is.

I don't.

And I'm taking clicking away pictures, and my mother looks up at Chappelle and goes, by the way, who are you?

And because she had gone up to him and said, Would you take a picture with my nieces and nephews?

He graciously did so.

But he looks at my mother and he answers it and he goes, I'm really funny and I'm really rich.

And then he hands us two tickets to Wileys to the club.

So, Dave, step up to the plate, give the hospital issue some money, talk to attorney musto.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Ms.

Gold.

Logan Martinez.

He's not here.

Kevin Keller.

Kevin Keller, 3922, East Third Street, Nate Ohio, 45403.

Thank you, Mayor, Commissioners, and everybody else that's in this room.

And the folks on watching it on camera.

We see you.

First of all, I'd like to mention the fact that we don't have any trash cans on East Third Street.

Starting up the hill.

There's a trash can that I saw was somewhere around uh the um the the general store, the pizza, the pizza and chicken mart mini mart.

That was the last trash can I saw.

So nice to have a trash can and a bench at in front of my house because it's a major stop on number one route of the RTA.

I don't have any contacts there.

I really appreciate somebody mentioning that to whoever they make business with.

Because also when people don't have a place to put their trash immediately, I've noticed there's a large number of folks that just you know I don't know anywhere to put it, so I'll just throw it on the ground.

I mean, it's we frequency with the trash cans, I think we under much better, you know, it would just look nicer.

Also, uh Jen, my gem sculpture that I'm hoping to do here someday.

I'd like to do it during the month of the the year 2006 is because uh that happens to be the 2020th anniversary, 230th anniversary of the city of Dayton being incorporated.

Actually, not eight it became a city in 1917 um 69, I think it was.

So uh on with that, um I'm looking for some funding and some more interest.

Um belong to that uh I mean we have a heart our heart, an art committee that meets once a week, and we're working on that as an opportunity.

Plowing a streets and be so nice during the trend the when we have snow, do these do these streets the best we can.

How we did it in New York when I was a kid, one snowball would be uh right up front, the other split plot would be on the side, bringing it toward, and then they'd scoop it up and throw it away or into the big pile and where they can put it.

But that just seems so effective because our cars got snowed in for about four days.

We really had a hard time getting what do we need to get.

So um I'd like to uh everybody to think about what we witnessed as a city and as a group of people that um the International Peace Museum sponsored the uh 30th anniversary of the Peyton Peace Awards, and that was pretty awesome.

And I was there a few times, and turns out I have a sculpture that pretty much uh illustrates the uh the idea of peace from violence.

And it's gonna be on display when they start with their next exhibit.

Also, lastly, I'd like to like to say that um lastly I'd like to say that I have nothing else to say.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Keller.

That concludes the speaker's Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Blackshear.

Uh turn to my commissioners then for closing comments.

Commissioner Beckham.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Uh just want to thank all of the citizens of residents that came out to speak tonight.

Um specifically, Mr.

Kerrigan.

We are all happy uh that you're happy.

So this is wonderful.

Um just want to highlight a few uh events.

Um first uh UD's Fitz Center is going to be hosting a panel uh that I have the pleasure of sitting on this Friday.

Uh it's called Why Leadership in Local Politics Matters.

Uh it's gonna be uh myself, uh Ms.

Destiny Thomas, who's an assistant prosecuting attorney uh for our county prosecutor, uh and Brian Stewart, uh who we all know used to be employed by the city.

Uh he's currently director of strategic initiatives at the Digital Digital Transformation Center.

Uh it'll be February 20th, which is this Friday again, 3 30 uh at the Fitz Center on UD's campus.

Uh it'll be moderated by Jacob Burdick, who also I used to intern here in the mayor's office.

So I'm very excited for this panel.

We're mainly going to be discussing uh why we just need more young adults to participate in local government, uh, which is very critical.

Um secondly, um keep Montgomery County Beautiful recently announced their 2026 beautification grant.

Uh so if you are an organization or uh have an initiative uh that is based upon cleanup or graffiti abatement or community gardens or anything of that nature, uh they're offering up to 1,000 uh uh beautification uh grants uh to applicants.

So uh that link and application can be found online.

The deadline to apply is March 6.

Uh so if you have a beautification project, I certainly recommend applying uh for that up to 1,000 grant.

Uh lastly, um I just want to take a moment to uh recognize the civil rights icon that this country lost uh this week, uh Mr.

Jesse Jackson, um, who obviously um accomplished so much for um civil rights and and moving our country forward.

So just want to take a brief moment of silence uh for Mr.

Jesse Jackson.

Thank you.

It's all your honor.

Thank you, Commissioner Becker.

Commissioner Fairchild.

I have a smile on my face thinking about Jesse Jackson.

He was on Saturday Night Live and he read the green eggs and hand.

Oh yeah.

It is an incredible reading, and it brings joy.

I mean, there's many things that Jesse Jackson did that are commemorable and uh that we can learn from, but that's a real gift of joy, as well as there's a clip on him talking with kids on Sesame Street.

So you all are somebody.

All right, you are somebody.

So um let's see, got me all off my off my talking points.

Uh Greg West, yes, just left.

We will definitely buy some tickets, and I encourage we can have a little challenge up here to make sure we get some tickets for you for the baseball game and and the young people in our community.

Mr.

Kerrigan, yes, we are we are glad that you're glad.

And uh thank you for your persistence uh and your advocacy for your neighborhood.

Kathleen Gullop may uh may from your lips to Dave Chappelle's ears.

And uh Mr.

Keller, um I think we have an opportunity um around the snow removal.

And I think one of the things that I realized is it it was a snow declared a snow emergency, and I think we lost the opportunity to mobilize neighbors, helping neighbors like we do when there are emergencies.

I think about how this community responded toward the tornado.

And I think before next year, we can do some work to prepare because I can imagine there are neighbors who could could use help, and there are neighbors who are willing to come out and help.

And we just have to find a way to put those pieces together.

I can imagine neighbors shoveling out people pathways who live with disability.

I can imagine us shoveling out some of the key um bus stops and those kind of things, but we got to do the work ahead of time because you can't figure that out in 24 hours notice.

So uh thank you for encouraging us on that.

And uh I've already had conversation with uh city manager around that, and I think there's an opportunity for us because Dayton is a community Dayton Strong.

What's that?

Yes, so thank you.

Um couple of events coming up on Saturday, this Saturday from noon to four to celebrate Black History Month, the COZ Book Nook, located at 1400 East Third Street, will host a book signing event featuring local black writers.

Uh local authors will share their stories and sign copies of their books.

So I hope that uh people can come out for that event.

Uh the Dayton Art Institute will be hosting a guided tour of their permanent install installations, and that is on Saturday as well, and that is event from 1130 a.m.

to 1230 p.m.

is free for members and $15 for general admission for non-members.

Um there is scholarship opportunities to bring this up.

Um the African American Community Fund.

And the deadline is March 6th at 4 p.m.

Um you can get a different information from the Dayton Foundation Scholarship webpage, but there are three scholarship funds the Freedom Miller, the Dolores Winslow, and the Jerry Griffiths Senior Scholarship.

And uh the scholarships are for 750 $1,000 and $5,000.

So if you have a student who's looking for scholarship, encourage you to make application by uh March 6.

Um because you've given me well wishes.

My 60th birthday was Monday, so thank everyone for the well-wishes that you have shared with me.

Um and then finally um Yusuf El Zane, thank you for your comments and um I I think I speak for everyone.

We will stand with you against hate and dehumanizing language.

Um I think that's a uh a solid bet with this con this commission.

But also on this day when Ash Wednesday and Ramadan start together, it's um it's almost like the calendars are aligning to encourage us to be our better selves.

And you know, one of the things I know about both of these seasons of fasting is that it's an opportunity for those who are either Muslim, you know, doing their practice of Ramadan or Christians in their season of Lent to open themselves to draw closer to God.

And our whole community is better when people uh open themselves and to draw closer to God, but also the values um of our our best selves and of humanity.

And uh I'm mindful giving your comments of um encouraging us to be our better selves.

When uh back in 2019, when we had people come here who wanted to say hateful things, we had a big banner up in Courthouse Square that says love lives here.

And I believe that that's our aspiration, but the seasons of Ramadan and Lent encourage us to make that more than a slain in rhetoric, but to make it real.

And so I hope over this season that um all of us might open ourselves up to making uh love living here real.

And I wish everyone who is observing Ramadan and Lent to have a holy observance, and may you draw closer to God.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Shaw.

Thank you for that, Commissioner, and happy belated birthday.

Turns out I'm not the oldest commissioner on this.

All right.

Hope you enjoyed your day.

I'll make this this quick.

Uh registration for AirCamp is now open uh in partnership with the Dayton International Airport.

AirCamp provides uh elementary, middle, and high school students uh with exciting hands-on opportunities to explore STEM fields uh in aviation and aerospace.

It's an incredible way for students to discover new interests, build skills, and experience the world of flight up close.

Um camp uh camps fill up quickly each year, very quickly.

So be sure to register as soon as possible to secure your spot.

And for information or to sign up, visit aircampusa.org or call 937-304-5264.

That's 937-304-5264.

Uh really exciting opportunity, and I hope more folks from the inner cities uh take advantage of this great opportunity that is just it's phenomenal across this country, and we are very blessed to have them right here in Dayton.

As we celebrate Black History Month, I would like to recognize William Sumter McIntosh.

Uh WS McIntosh was a civil rights leader here in Dayton who embraced Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

He organized pickets, sit-ins, and boycotts to major Dayton businesses that had refused to hire black people.

I thank Mr.

McIntosh and those who join him uh for their efforts to fight racial injustice, which was and is uh not exclusive to the South.

Uh, it was absolutely here, and and he did a phenomenal job, so glad to recognize him today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner, and actually all my commissioners phenomenal comments today.

Um I want to start by wishing Commissioner belated happy belated birthday.

That's great.

Uh second, I also want to just say that uh I'm encouraged by the coincidence of Ramadan and Lent.

Uh let's all use this as a chance to be better people.

I appreciate Commissioner, your comments on that.

Third, I'm glad to announce uh some of you probably already heard this, but uh we at the City of Dayton, Office of Sustainability are partnering with the University of Dayton to launch the Climate Resilience Fund.

We are offering in uh joint effort up to 40,000 annually to support Dayton-based nonprofit and non-governmental organizations in their climate resilience efforts.

The fund supports specifically community-driven projects that address climate challenges and environmental justice needs, such as food access, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental education, among other things.

If you're interested, your organization is interested in those grants.

Uh applications are available starting April 30th, so you have a little bit to think about it.

And you can go to Daytonohio.gov slash forward slash sustainability to find more information.

Come April 30th, I'll remind you again.

But this is just uh to get folks started thinking about the the fact that this money is available for community-driven projects.

So we'd love to see more of that here.

Finally, I want to recognize uh an excellent staffer in his last meeting.

This is Cam Anderson right in front of you.

He really did an excellent job over the last couple years.

He's the whole package that he wanted a staffer.

He's knowledgeable, he's friendly, uh, he's receptive, and he gets the job done.

So I don't know if you have anything you want to say.

You're welcome to jump to the mic and then say it if you do, but we want to thank you for your work.

You you've been really excellent staffer for us and a boon of the city.

Might as well.

There you go.

I feel special with this microphone.

Uh I just want to say thank you all for giving me this opportunity uh to work in the city that I grew up in and continue to just work to help the people.

That's what I'm all about.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Cam.

I really appreciate that and wish you the best of luck as things move forward for you.

I know doors are opening everywhere, as they should.

All right.

Well, there being no further business, this uh meeting concludes.

Oh no, see, now I was I did fine all the way through, and I messed the final one.

With no further business to come before the commission, this meeting is adjourned.