Dayton City Commission Meeting - March 25, 2026

The Dayton City Commission convened on March 25, 2026, with Mayor Turner Sloss presiding. The meeting included a monthly demolition update, consideration of several grant and service agreements, a public comment period, and the adoption of an informal resolution related to tax incentives. Commissioner Joseph was excused for the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the March 18, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
• The absence of Commissioner Joseph was excused by unanimous vote.
• The calendar items were approved as part of the consent agenda, including routine approvals and contracts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Paul Kerrigan (1825 Pershing Boulevard) thanked the Commission for installing speed signs and having police presence on Pershing Boulevard. He reported a dramatic reduction in traffic (estimated 40% decrease) and urged continued periodic patrols to maintain the improvement.
• Yusuf El Zayn (4906 Umberwood Drive) spoke about the ongoing conflict in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for Dayton to be consistent with its resolutions and to review city economic relationships. He also proposed that Dayton join the Greater Dayton Peace Coalition in holding a peace summit.

Discussion Items

• Monthly Demolition Update: Director Steve Gondel reported that 20 demolitions occurred in February 2026, all under the ARPA contract, bringing the year-to-date total to 33. No emergency demolitions were needed. The structural nuisance list added 19 properties (14 for blight, 5 for fire). The demolition pipeline included 127 title reports, 88 asbestos surveys, and 16 asbestos remediations. Commissioners asked about fire-damaged properties, the structural nuisance list, the housing condition survey, and coordination with water connection data. Commissioner Shaw requested additional details on fire-damaged properties and mitigation efforts.
• City Manager's Recommendations: Several items were highlighted:
  • B3: A $2 million grant agreement with Center City Residential LLC for 121 residential apartments in the Center City building (part of a $120 million investment).
  • B5: A $72,500 service agreement with SANVIC Architects to explore reuses for 34 North Main Street, including structural analysis and historic preservation services.
  • B6: A $5.2 million contract for the East Patrol Division renovations, with a completion date of April 30, 2027. A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is included.
  • B9: An informal resolution accepting the 2026 recommendations of the Tax Incentive Review Council, covering TIF, EZ, and CRA programs. Commissioners discussed the composition of the council, performance metrics, and return on investment. The resolution was later adopted.
• Legislation: First reading of Ordinance 32180-26 to abolish the City of Dayton Board of Building Appeals and redirect appeals to the State of Ohio. The action was explained as aligning with state law and reducing city responsibilities.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: The city manager's recommendations (consent calendar) were approved unanimously.
• Adopted: Informal Resolution 1016-26, accepting the 2026 Tax Incentive Review Council recommendations, was adopted unanimously.
• No other votes: The first reading ordinance was introduced but not voted on (first reading only). No other votes or directives were recorded.
• Directives: Director Gondel agreed to provide additional data on fire-damaged properties, the full structural nuisance list, and mitigation steps. The city manager noted that the tax incentive reports would be uploaded online.

The meeting adjourned with a reminder of a subsequent work session.