Dayton City Commission Meeting – April 15, 2026: Cleanup, Sister Cities, and Public Testimony

The Dayton City Commission met on April 15, 2026, with Mayor Turner Sloss presiding and Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, and Beckham present. Commissioner Fairchild was excused. The meeting included presentations on the Living City Project cleanup and Sister City updates, followed by the adoption of an emergency resolution objecting to a liquor permit. Seven members of the public testified on various topics including a proposed birthing center, street conditions, bike lane design, and concerns over recent incidents involving police and public speakers.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approved: The commission unanimously approved the minutes of the April 8, 2026 meeting.
• City Manager’s Recommendations: Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathleen Galt expressed support for the city public hospital ballot initiative, specifically a birthing center for Northwest Dayton. She highlighted Black Maternal Health Week, citing statistics that Black women die 3.5 times more often in childbirth and Black infants in Ohio die at twice the rate of white infants. She urged the commission to advance the initiative.
• Kevin Keller thanked the city for paving residential streets and fixing potholes. He promoted adding more art to public spaces, particularly the airport. He also objected to the policy banning water bottles at commission meetings, arguing it was inequitable.
• Victoria McNeil requested three actions: establishment of a gas aggregate program for residents; extension of the public speaking time beyond three minutes; and provision of traffic safety statistics on the recent North Main Street road diet.
• Jacob Hewitt expressed concern about planned curb-separated bike lanes on East Third Street from Keowee to Linden. He argued that dedicated painted bike lanes with traffic flow would be safer and more intuitive for cyclists, especially given his disability. He supported the Active Transportation Plan but feared the current design could have negative outcomes.
• Sharon Screech raised the death of Reginald Thomas, who was killed during a police stop for a missing bicycle light. She also criticized the detention of Talus Gage after his public comments at a previous meeting. She demanded to know who ordered the detention and called for accountability.
• Talas Netzeru criticized the city manager’s performance and questioned why she remained in her position. He claimed the commission fails to listen to the community and called for action.
• Stanley Hurdle expressed full support for the city public hospital initiative, citing health disparities and the closure of Good Samaritan Hospital creating a healthcare desert in West Dayton. He urged the commission to conduct a needs assessment and consult advocacy groups to improve healthcare.

Discussion Items

• Living City Project Cleanup: Stefan Watts presented the upcoming Citywide Cleanup on April 25, 2026. He noted that since 2019, the initiative has collected 566 tons of trash and aims to involve students and youth.
• Sister City Update: Kevin Lighty reported on the Dayton Sister City Committee’s activities. Upcoming exchanges include: 20 Dayton students to Augsburg, Germany (June); grant application for German cultural delegation to Dayton in 2027; ceramic artist exchange with Oiso, Japan (failed grant but still pursuing); Japanese students to Dayton in July; renewed engagement with Monrovia, Liberia; continued virtual meetings with Holon, Israel; exploring ways to continue Sarajevo youth program; developing youth soccer exchange with Rushmoor, England; and pilot pen pal program with Salfit, Palestine. Economic impact data cited: 117 international visitors, over 100 visitor nights, $40,000 in direct local spending, and 1,300 volunteer hours valued at $30,000. Mr. Lighty highlighted the long-term impact through the success of Tomoya Suzuki, a former exchange student from Oiso who graduated from Sinclair Community College and now lives in Dayton.
• Commission Discussion: Commissioners praised the Sister City Committee’s work and requested posting the event calendar on the city website. Commissioner Shaw promoted the upcoming Kids Entrepreneur Expo (April 18) and Boys & Girls Club groundbreaking. Commissioner Beckham highlighted Voices Against Violence poetry night (April 17) and Black Men’s Mental Health Conference (April 18). Commissioner Joseph announced the return of the Dayton World Soccer Games on September 12, 2026, with registration opening April 15.
• Water Bottle Policy: During public comments, Kevin Keller raised the policy banning water bottles in the chambers. Mayor Turner Sloss explained it was a safety precaution due to recent events, but Keller argued it was inconsistent as officials have beverages.

Key Outcomes

• Emergency Resolution Adopted: Resolution 6925-26, objecting to a liquor permit for Dayton Downtown BP (433 S. Main St.), was read twice and passed with four affirmative votes (Commissioners Turner Sloss, Joseph, Shaw, Beckham; Fairchild absent). Ordinance 32182-26 also passed with four votes.
• Next Steps: Upcoming events were announced: Citywide Cleanup (April 25), Kids Entrepreneur Expo (April 18), Voices Against Violence poetry night (April 17), Black Men’s Mental Health Conference (April 18), Dayton World Soccer Games registration opens (September 12). Registration for Next Gen Leaders (ages 13-17) summer program is open until May 22, and Urban Explorers registration is open. The Sister City Committee will continue to pursue cultural exchanges and grants.