Good morning.

The Dayton City Commission meeting would now come to order.

Would you all please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance?

And the invocation will be given by Commissioner Joseph this morning.

Thank you, Mayor.

Dear Lord, thank you for your many blessings.

At the start of this day, we pray for your continued blessings on the city, on this gathered body, and all of our residents.

Amen.

Amen.

I pledge the delegions to the fire of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation.

Under God, individual with liberty and justice for all the Ms.

Blackshire, may we please have a roll call this morning.

Mayor Turner Sloss.

Aye.

Commissioner Joseph.

Birchow.

Beckham.

Aye.

Thank you, Ms.

Blackshire.

May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2026 meeting?

So moved, Your Honor.

Second the motion.

Aye.

It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2026 meeting.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Ms.

Blackshear, are there any commissions?

Communications, excuse me, or petitions this morning.

There are none, Your Honor.

Thank you.

May I call to the podium?

Mr.

Donald Bush.

Ms.

McClendon.

Good morning, sir.

Good morning, ma'am.

Thank you.

Ms.

McClendon, please proceed.

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

Whereas Donald Bush has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 National Leadership Achievement Award, recognizing his exceptional leadership, service, and commitment to the mission of the FBI National Citizens' Academy Alumni Association.

And whereas his servant leadership extends beyond formal formal roles as he invests his time in mentoring emerging leaders, supporting community initiatives, and fostering meaningful relationships that reflect his genuine care for people and public service.

And whereas the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting public safety and strengthening communities through leadership, education, and collaborative partnerships.

And it works closely with local chapters to advance civic engagement and outreach initiatives.

And whereas this award stands as a prestigious recognition presented to a chapter leader who exemplifies exceptional leadership and commitment to the mission, priorities, and goals of the FBI and chapter partnership.

And whereas, as a graduate of the FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy, and former chapter president, he demonstrated vision and integrity by strengthening chapter operations, expanding membership engagement, and strengthening the community.

Now, therefore, we, the Commission of the City of Dayton, do hereby proclaim the 22nd of April 2026 as Donald Bush Day.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Mayor, members of the Commission, City Manager, Chief of Staff, and Clerk.

When you volunteer, you don't volunteer to get recognized.

So this is very nice.

Thank you very much.

Receiving the national award was also very nice, uh, very surprising, very humbling, but I would like to say that I didn't get there on my own.

Leadership depends on everyone else that you work with.

You're just a conduit as a leader.

Um I don't even like to call myself a leader.

I like to call myself a representative.

Um during the time with the FBI Cincinnati Citizens Academy Alumni Association, I had the privilege of working alongside hundreds of dedicated volunteers, the lower 48 counties of Ohio and across this great country.

Uh partners that included our friends here at the Dayton Police Department have a very close relationship uh with them and community leaders committed service to who are committed to service, trust, and partnership and public safety.

Together with our FBI partners, we've grown engagement as you said in the proclamation and expanded outreach across Ohio.

The work that we do uh involves human trafficking, anti-human trafficking, let me clarify that.

Um cybersecurity, elder fraud, sex tortion, and crimes against children.

Uh not always a positive thing, but having the support there from community leaders like yourself, uh, we make a small dent, and every small dent is a large, larger picture.

This recognition is both humbling and it's motivating at the same time.

It reinforces the importance of building strong community relationships and investing in the next generation of leaders.

So again, I want to thank you for this honor and your continued supports to strengthen the city of Dayton.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Commissioners, uh, do you have any comments?

Commissioner Beckham, do you have a comment?

Just congratulations, Mr.

Bush.

Thank you for your service.

Commissioner Fairchild.

Yeah, it uh yeah.

If you want to come back up to the podium so we can see you and you can receive our accolades.

You know.

I just want to thank you, your volunteerism, your um standing in that middle of police and community and um relations and working constructively to build those is um admirable and a role model for others.

I really appreciate that.

One of the things I appreciate most about you, regardless of whether I see you, whether it's in City Hall or out in uh a church or um at the Levitt, you have an incredible infectious infectious joy about you.

And that goes a long way to bringing people to you and along.

So, you know, as you talk about in empowering um leadership and volunteerism in the next generation, you are a role model leading the way for that.

So thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Commissioner Shaw.

Couldn't say it any better than that.

Congratulations and thank you for your service.

Thank you, sir.

Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you.

I can my colleagues' comments.

Thank you very much.

It's you never know who you have among you until uh till episodes like this.

And I know you don't say it for recognition, or you don't do this for recognition, but uh you deserve it, and as do probably some other people who uh we probably need to work on recognizing too.

But congratulations, we're glad to have you here.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

I too want to echo my colleagues' comments, and again, you are the epitome of a public servant.

So congratulations.

Thank you for your leadership.

Thank you.

We would now like to recognize Miss Regina Blackshear for her 17 years of service to the city of Dayton and wish her congratulations on her retirement.

Ms.

McClendon, please proceed.

From the Commission office of the City of Dayton, Ohio, whereas whereas Regina D.

Blackshear has dedicated over 17 years of service to the City of Dayton, including her tenure as clerk of commission since March 17th, 2021.

And whereas, as clerk of commission, Regina has been the backbone of commission operations, expertly coordinating and managing meetings, maintaining official records, and ensuring that the work of the commission is conducted with efficiency, and whereas her attention to detail and unwavering professionalism have been essential to the success of the commission, and her steady presence has earned her trust and appreciation of elected officials, staff, and the public, and whereas throughout her career as a paralegal and public servant, Regina has demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the city and its residents.

And whereas, beyond her professional accomplishments, Regina is admired for her creativity and personal touch with her crafting beautiful handmade cards, tending to her garden, and bringing joy to others through her holiday decorating, especially her Christmas trees.

And whereas she is a devoted mother and a proud grandmother to four grandsons, and whereas, known throughout the city hall for her elegance, style, and grace, Regina embodies a sophisticated lady, leaving a lasting impression.

Now, therefore, we, the Commission of the City of Dayton, do hereby proclaim the 22nd of April 2026 as Regina D.

Blackshear Day.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

Make sure you underscore that fashionista and edging style.

So congratulations.

Regina Blackshear, it has been a joy and privilege to work beside you over the last decade.

Watching you go from paralegal to office manager to clerk of commission was no surprise given your intelligence, work ethic, and tough love.

Thank you.

Well-deserved retirement.

I know you'll be jet-setting in no time.

Congratulations.

Wishing you all the best.

Good morning.

Good morning, commissioners, city manager.

This crybaby up here, I'm gonna get this all together.

So first of all, um, I want to say thank you very much for all that you've done.

Um I met Regina.

I don't even know how this happened.

My son got loose in the the basement for the workout area.

I don't know why.

He went to where she was working out and said, I have a project, and I'm on six that needs to be done.

Well, in Regina's fashion, she scolded him for waiting until the last minute.

They don't even know each other.

And he came up and said, Mom, this lady, her name is I'm like, why did you talk to her?

But Regina got Jonathan together.

So I want to say thank you.

Three years later, three years in now, um, Regina and Commissioner Beckham helped me a great deal in this position.

And I'm not ashamed to say that it wasn't all written down in stone what I was supposed to be doing, but the two of them extremely, I have to really say that um made my life a lot better for the first year and a half.

Uh they were telling me what to do, and you need to go and do this, and you should be doing this.

And I say this publicly, thank you so very much.

I really appreciate you.

Uh I really hate that you committed to retiring.

But her daughter said, she always keeps saying it, and so she's doing it, and we will miss you uh greatly, and we appreciate you.

Today's staff has decided, they made the decision that they would dress up and wear heels for the sophisticated lady.

Uh we tried to get the song to get played because everybody had a song to describe themselves, and she came up with sophisticated lady, but because of copyright, we could not do that this morning.

So, those of you that know it, don't sing it, but y'all know that's Regina.

But with that being said, I do want to say to your family who are is in the audience, uh, thank you very much for loaning your mom to us, your daughter to us.

It's more than an eight to five job.

It's some it it is stressful many days, and it is a lot of work.

So, to the family, I wanted to definitely say thank you very much for loaning Regina D.

Louise Blackshear to this office.

So, with that being said, thank you again.

Thank you.

All right, good morning.

Good morning, I wrote my remarks out, uh, trying to be as brief as possible.

Um, I read a quote from Muhammad Ali that said, Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

Mom, you serve the city well.

Every place where I've been, there's at least one person that has come up to me and said how helpful you were to them.

May you find fulfillment in knowing that you've made a difference in the lives of those you've interacted with.

Though the days may have been long and not always easy, your light always shine bright, and that is something that will be truly missed here at the city.

Retirement is not the end, but only the beginning.

You worked hard, you've worked hard uh to get to this point, and I know that you won't be sitting around for too long.

Uh, but I want you to enjoy me to enjoy it.

Uh you know, retirement was something uh my dad always talked about.

He dreamed about to see you reach this milestone is something he would have been proud of.

I can hear him now saying, follow the plan.

Well, for those of you who knew my father, this this was the PG version.

So to close, there's not enough words to say how proud I am of you.

Thank you for answering the call of service.

Thank you for always putting others before yourself.

Thank you for always setting an example for others to follow.

And most importantly, thank you for being my mom.

I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world.

Thank you.

That that was a lot.

Well, we're not done, Miss Black Shear.

So will you all please join me?

I guess.

Keep it healing.

So on behalf of the City of Data Michael.

Oh, thank you.

All right.

So on behalf of the City of Dates and the City Commission office, we would like to present to you, Miss Blackshear, this plaque of service.

Thank you so much for all of your time and your your service and commitment to the city of Dating.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

You love it.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Maybe you want to live on with your family as well.

The family, please join.

When I practiced that speech, I was going to do that.

Matt.

Matt.

Chris.

Matt.

Everyone's left.

Wow.

Adopted.

Cordill.

Come on.

Cordell.

Come on.

Not balanced, but okay.

Commissioners, do you have any comments?

Commissioner Beckham.

Yes, thank you, Your Honor.

Uh Regina, it has been a pleasure working with you for feels like a while now.

Um I think we kind of arrived in the commission office at the same time uh in these last several years.

I just want to thank you for your grace, uh, your professionalism, and more than anything, your light uh that you have provided to our office.

Uh I will miss having you as part of the team, and uh I wish you a wonderful retirement.

Get some rest.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Yeah.

Ms.

Blackshear, my comments revolve around three D's.

Details.

Your office handles a lot of details, and you have done that with exemplary professionalism and um uh uh uh putting it into process and effectuating it and doing the work that needs to be done.

And it makes this meeting and the office run very well.

So thank you for um your attention to details, your dedication.

I think anyone who knows you knows that you are committed to the city and to this work and to the well-being of our city.

So thank you for your dedication.

And finally, I think uh in the proclamation it was alluded to, but delight.

Um you have brightened up the office, um the handmade cards, the coming into the entryway and it being decorated for the seasons really brings um an element of beauty into the office.

And uh sometimes this work is hard and we don't have the opportunity to have beauty, and you have brought beauty into this work spot space.

So thank you.

And may you have a great retirement.

Thank you, Commissioner Shaw.

Regina, congratulations on your retirement.

Uh really appreciate you for your leadership and leading with grace and excellence uh in this position.

And also uh your ability to share with others.

Uh I've seen the way that you've worked with uh the LAs and and uh preparing them uh for for the future.

I just want to thank you for that.

Uh it's it's clear that you're a dedicated professional that you care about the city, and we just appreciate you so much uh for the work that you've done over these years, and I want to wish you well in your retirement.

I know that you're gonna uh check out the Twitter world and and uh just really hope you uh enjoy yourself.

Thank you.

Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I want to start by saying uh Ms.

Jackson mentioned that you had helped uh you and Commissioner had helped her through some tough times at the very beginning.

But you were going through some tough times yourself when you came on.

Uh you helped this commission help the city greatly by working through a very difficult situation when you came on.

You were brand new in the position, you had great experience at the city, of course, but uh jumping right in, fixing things, uh coming into a tough situation and helping all of us keep moving day to day, running meetings day to day, making sure things got done.

Your organization skills have been mentioned, uh your personal person abilities we mentioned, but uh those those first few days, first few months showed your toughness.

And and I really do appreciate that.

That was that was not easy to work through, and and you really saved the city a lot of trouble, a lot of trouble.

So uh I want to lead with that and end with uh you're such a great person to have around, the kind of person that you want to work with, uh the kind of worse person you hope your your kids grow up to be like uh in your professional life and your personal life.

Uh, you've been a joy to work with, and I wish you the best retirement.

Thank you, Commissioner.

I too would like to echo my colleagues' comments.

Um I believe I first met you joining the organization back in 2007, and it was instantly I said, Oh, she is sharp.

And then to have the the privilege and the honor to work with you again when you were on the second floor.

Um, actually, it was what was that, the third floor in the law department.

Serving as a paralegal and then working your way to office manager and then now serving as the clerk of commission.

I have uh had the opportunity to witness you progressing your career.

Um again, it's been a pleasure and honor to work with you.

Thank you for your attention to detail, the the beautiful handmade cards.

Um, and again, it has been a joy, and I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors and happy retirement.

Thank you.

I'm I'm not gonna say much because I don't want to get an ugly cry.

But this is just the end of a chapter.

I'm gonna take the rest of this year off to figure out what I'm gonna do.

I've got some trips planned, and you'll see me around, so don't think this is the end.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

All right.

Thank you, Miss Blackshare, and congratulations.

This morning we have two presentations.

Ms.

Dixie, please proceed.

I would like to call to well go ahead first.

No, I I don't I'm not sure which presentations you're referencing.

Oh, sure.

Okay.

Well, I would like to call to the podium, Miss Michelle Riley.

Is that correct?

Oh okay.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I'm sorry, Your Honor.

I don't have the I wasn't shared the presentation.

That's okay.

Teamwork.

Just want to get it right sometime.

Thank you, uh, Miss Regina for again more excellent public service and helping me remember.

Uh this morning we uh we do have two presentations.

We have um a presentation uh with uh University of Dayton to uh come and talk uh uh share a little bit about the experience that um the University of Dayton um law enforcement team did with our uh City of Dayton law enforcement team uh for the post-St.

Patrick's Day party.

So I'd like to call forward Savalis Kidd to come and make some remarks.

Okay.

Thank you, Ms.

Good morning, sir.

On behalf of the university, I just want to say and express our sincere gratitude to the city, the city police department for their continued partnership and support.

This year's student celebration, the St.

Patrick's Day celebration was absolutely fantastic.

Um it was nothing less than than um great, I will say, and it was uh it's a direct tribute to the relationship of the City of Dayton Police, University of Dayton Police, University as a whole, and the city.

We're so grateful.

We work very closely, and we're so grateful to work with City Manager.

Chief Absol, Chief Henderson.

It was we started planning this at the beginning of the year.

And the collaboration was absolutely superb.

At the university, we deeply value our relationships that we have cultivated with the city, and we are not only working together to enhance safety, but we really are strengthening the unity in the community.

I would be remiss.

So thank you for your service.

Thank you for your service, your partnership, your unwavering commitment and making Dayton a safer and stronger place for all.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next, I'd like to call forward Michelle Riley.

There's been a lot of conversation around the Dayton Citizen Assembly, and Michelle is one of the co-chairs would like to come and provide some uh uh information regarding that work.

Thank you, Miss Dixteen.

Good morning.

I know you just want this morning to be over.

But I have to tell you, I saw you but I didn't see you, right?

I met you at the airport with your son.

I live with an elected official, and our family is not just fans of your husband, but of your son, and he uh comes forward often, even before he had his seat uh to help us hand out food to our neighbors who are hungry.

So I can only tell you that the children that you raise uh speaks volume for the woman that you are.

So I'm thrilled because I was really nervous to come up here, but you know, this was such a wonderful tone.

So congratulations to you.

Yeah.

So I'm gonna stick to the script and I'm nervous.

Um I'm gonna read our prepared statement, but we're here because we promised to keep you in the loop ongoing.

Uh we missed you at the meeting.

Um, so I'm gonna read where we're at today because we had some date changes, so we want to make sure you have uh everything you need.

And at the end of my statement, if you have additional questions, we'll just keep coming back so that we can make sure that we're authentic and deliberate for everything that we say.

So good morning, Commissioners.

Good morning, Mayor.

Good morning, uh Chief of Staff and Clerk.

Dayton Deliberates is a new way for randomly selecting students.

I'm gonna give context first for randomly selecting residents from across the city of Dayton to come together to learn, deliberate, deliberate, and make recommendations to the city.

This year's Dayton will hold its first ever citizens' assembly, an innovation new to the United States.

Dayton is once again pioneering a first for community engagement and democracy.

The Dayton City's Assembly will be followed by a deliberative town hall conducted by Ohio State University's Institute of Democratic Engagement and Accountability, the first Citizens Assembly to do so in the world.

Updates.

We would like to invite you to welcome the Assembly delegates on June 6th and congratulate delegates at the end of the Assembly on August 1st.

A memo will be provided to you for with all these details, and they will also be on the website.

Ohio State University IDEA, IDEA conducted a survey and response to identify a pool of residents that will make up the assembly and town hall.

Delegates will be notified shortly of their opportunity to participate.

OSU Idea sent out over 30,000 mailings with follow-up text messages and intentional additional outreach to neighborhoods that have been historically underrepresented.

We have received many inquiries about how we came to select the topic of West Dayton Public Hospital.

Our partners at OSU Idea have created a document that outlines the process for how the topic was selected and is publicly available on the Dayton Deliberates website.

A learning committee has been established for the Citizens Assembly.

This committee stands side by side with the advisory committee to review the learning materials that the delegates will receive.

The learning committee is integral to the assembly process.

Overall, they are ensuring a balanced and fair learning process that ensures delegates make informed recommendations back to you.

Anyone that is wanting more information can search for Dayton Citizens Assembly on the city's website and sign up for regular updates.

Or you can email Dayton Deliberates at Gmail.com.

We are also preparing a memo on the topic selection process.

We would like the city and commissioners to review.

Feedback on that will be again presented to you publicly.

If you have questions, what we would like to ask as we keep coming forward, and it will be often and as much as you need and you request, we will gather the questions and then come back and answer them so that we have time to thoroughly look at and evaluate what you need.

Do we have any questions today?

I'm so nervous.

I don't know why you make me so nervous.

I'm usually not nervous in front of a mic and they don't like me to go off script.

So does anybody have any questions today for the commissioners?

Commissioner Beckham.

Actually, no questions, Your Honor.

Michelle, uh, just thank you for being here and further clarifying the process.

Uh look forward to uh monitoring it and you know the um the development of the process further uh, you know, of course, uh meeting the goals of of this work.

So good to see you.

We missed you when we presented.

So if you need us to present or come to you, please let us know.

I certainly will.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Fairchild.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for accepting this role.

Um like the next critical um piece is going to be how the question that's going to be put before the public assembly, I guess you call it the mandate or the remit.

Um can we expect to see that and who is making the who is deciding on the wording of that uh mandate?

Great.

That's a great question.

Um and you'll see part of the process, I don't want to get ahead of that, is that we're going to submit to you how that's done.

And we're going to submit to you after they are selected.

They have not been notified yet.

The process as I understand it, and we'll we're going to submit all this in writing.

And again, they probably don't want me answering these questions, but from what I understand, and we've been working on this a year just to bring it forward to you, is that once the qu you know, once they have the uh wording of the question and it's been submitted to you, that we will then go back and have an educational piece where everyone who has a say or feels they need uh or who previously had a say in this will be invited to speak and will and we'll have learning groups.

Then that's why we have five different sessions, and then it will process from there and each time we'll come back.

I hope that as many of you as possible can actually show up that day when they get these instructions so that it will be forward-facing.

Um will the recommendations at the end be processed?

Will the Citizen Assembly themselves create those recommendations?

Yes.

Yes, and they will be written.

That's why we have three different uh consultants, I guess is the correct word, right?

Because this is a new process for us.

Um that's why we are working with both Ohio State and Unify.

So they will bring that back to you.

And these are recommendations.

I want to be clear about that, right?

Um, after everyone's been heard.

Um, and I'm hoping that they have thought of something that we all haven't thought of, right?

Uh, so that we can move the process forward.

And what role was staff have in kind of creating those recommendations?

The to my knowledge, staff does not have a role, just like we as co-chairs do not have a role.

I'm going to try to show up at it myself because I want to learn, right?

Stand for common ground.

Right.

So FIDE and IDEA won't like take what residents have said and write the recommendations and then bring them back.

Oh, yes.

Oh, yes, that's a but that is a give and take process through the five meetings.

Okay.

But on August 1st, we will have the recommendations.

August 1st or shortly thereafter, yes.

I don't want to get again, I don't want to get ahead of the process part of the five meetings is to put together the process to keep coming back to you and telling how we did it and to make those things public.

Okay.

Um then How was the advisory board committee?

When was that selected and how was that selected?

I had asked this in the past and I hadn't gotten an answer.

Absolutely.

And so how I got how I I can only guess how I got um chosen, Brandon and I got chosen.

Um I mean, I our our nonprofit is a on-paper $33 million nonprofit that serves both Democrats and Republicans in 45417.

Additionally, I raise my children in 45406.

Anyone who reads the paper knows that historically our area has been disinvested in.

So I'm assuming I came as a voice of the neighbors that we serve who are hungry, and I think Brandon's uh his resume speaks for it.

Right.

I'm not I mean, it's it's clear that you know you have a lot of um your resume is outstanding and you have the qualifications.

I'm curious like who asked you and when did they ask you to serve on the advisory board?

So Mike Squire, who's in head of your community engagement, uh met with me and asked if I was interested, and I gotta tell you I was scared to death to say yes, right, because I agree and believe that the disinvestment in the hospital is extremely important.

I also am the voice in the face of the food bank.

So it took me a long time to say yes because it could put me at odds, right?

I'm not I'm not picking any fights with any of you.

I'm just bringing recommendations back.

But it was a process where they met with us several times to talk about Dayton Deliberates.

We at the food bank held something called common ground where we invited political parties, women.

We had three nights of talks, and you had to bring somebody whose voice and heart you believed in that was the opposite party of you.

And out of those talks, we had tremendous things happen.

And so it was the process that I fell in love with and we learned about that.

So they were trained, Mike and his crew um were trained in Akron with uh the Democracy Project Citizens Assembly.

Yeah, thank you.

And you think that's that I am I answering your questions?

Yeah, yeah.

And like roughly when was that?

A year ago.

A year ago?

Yeah, the process started a year ago.

Okay.

And uh March.

I think it was March, correct?

Yeah.

And the whole advisory, the whole advisory board was selected again.

No, it was just Brandon and I in the beginning.

Okay.

And when were the other members brought on?

So I Mike and Barb came to us, and then Debbie was added maybe three months ago because again, uh Debbie Chess is with the library, her role represents the citizens at the library.

So she was brought on.

Okay.

And Mike Squire invited everyone to be on the Yes.

Okay.

Great.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Yes.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Shaw.

Brandon uh as well, in my opinion.

Um it's really remarkable that you accepted this responsibility with all the other people.

Hold that breath while my board weighs in on that.

Right.

Right.

But no, I I think that this is a great process, and I appreciate the way that you're kind of laying it out today, but I also look forward to the updates uh that you will be bringing us in the future.

I think that um the selection of this hospital conversation.

When I first uh heard about the citizens' assembly, I I immediately thought, wow, this would be a great process to identify how to move forward with with um with this hospital plan or process.

So I just again want to thank you for your service and look forward to hearing your updates on the future.

Thank you.

Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, just want to echo my colleagues' thanks for doing this.

This is uh this is a role you had to know when taking it that was going to be thankless.

Um we'll give you a little bit of thanks here.

Uh it's a fascinating process.

I'm really curious how it plays out.

I know I'm not allowed to be involved in it at all, but uh I really look forward to your updates.

I look forward to following the process because if it works well, it could be a model for uh citizen engagement, increasing citizen engagement, and frankly, finding new solutions to problems that are uh that are very tough.

So look forward to the process.

I appreciate you taking it this on.

You and Brandon, I'm sure we'll do a great job.

Uh and we're here to support you as you need.

So thank you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Riley, for being here this morning, and congratulations.

And once again, thank you for committing to um taking on this role outside of your many other obligations.

I think it does speak to your sentiments and your commitment to the community as a whole.

So again, thank you for signing up for such a uh a very involved process and an initiative.

I do have a couple of things.

It is.

It's uh it's right, it's it's a brave move because I have great faith that the citizens are going to think of things that we can't, so that we can make it successful.

So thank you.

Absolutely.

I do have a couple of questions.

The first is in regards to when not to get into weeds, but I'm just really truly want to understand how, in fact, the advisory committee was selected.

I understand that you received a call from Mr.

Squire who initiated um the interest for you to be a part of the advisory board.

So I guess my question is not necessarily directed to you, is more so to Mr.

Squire, who made the determination as to how and who would be selected for the initial advisory committee.

So I don't know if that's a question for Ms.

Dickstein or Mr.

Squire, if you want to address the podium.

Do you have do you have any more questions?

You do.

Yes.

Thank you, Ms.

Riley.

Good morning, Mayor.

Good morning.

Commissioners.

Yeah, I appreciate the question.

I would say there's a bit of organic nature of how the advisory committee came together.

It's a combination of identifying Brandon Michelle as co-chairs and then bringing on partners that uh both are active in the work of democracy.

So uh uh an example might be Marjana Sasi, who you heard from uh through Fide North America, and part of her role is to provide uh and you know inform the process and be on the advisory committee.

Um similar to others uh that came on, a few of our advisory members are here today, Dr.

Forward, uh Valerie Lemmy, um, and so I would say that there's a bit of informal process that an organic nature of people that were doing the work that are partners uh have stepped up as as the Dayton Metro Library is a partner in this and uh Kettering Foundation and others.

So that I can provide you a timeline uh of when people came on, uh and then obviously a f I think we uh on our website we have a full listing of who is on uh the advisory committee, but would be happy to provide that that list and then kind of timeline of who it came uh who came on to the advisory committee, I can provide that to the city manager.

Uh and then what I would add to that is the learning committee uh as Michelle mentioned is a um a partner in the process.

And what I think can be misconstrued is that uh the the learning committee is a a subcommittee of the advisory committee, and that is not true.

The the learning committee and advisory committee stands side by side in this process, and we are actively um inviting people onto the learning committee as an example, the the clergy community coalition um and others that have our stakeholders uh particularly in the West Dayton Public Hospital, so that they can directly inform the learning and the education of the delegates.

Um they'll be called on to review materials ahead of time, potentially called on to speak directly to the delegates.

Uh and so what I would would say is the learning committee is actually some of the most influential people in the process because they are face to face with the delegates and the material that's being learned, whereas the advisory committee is kind of overseeing and ensuring the integrity, the transparency of the process and providing uh you updates along the way.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

But you still didn't answer my question.

My question is in regards to how, in fact, the advisory committee was established, how were the two names identified in that process?

Were you directed to identify those two members?

Explain to us how, in fact, those individuals are were identified outside of their resume, outside of their commitment, which is all stellar, which I all wholly agree with, wholeheartedly agree with.

But again, were you directed?

How were those two identified to lead as the advisory committee?

Sure.

No, not directed to particularly select them.

Uh Brandon and Michelle in particular.

Um, I wouldn't wouldn't say that was a a direction given.

Uh I'd I'm calling on a year ago.

Um before we knew the public hospital was the topic, by the way.

Um but yeah, no, not directed.

We felt like and as we looked at Michelle and Brandon in particular, that they embodied the values of what the assembly could bring, and they uh brought uh respect in the community um and a neutrality to the process first before the topic was selected.

Um so that yeah, that that would be that would be what I would say.

And again, I'm happy to provide like a D detail of that.

Who is we?

Who is we when you say organically we establish and we learned to identify.

Absolutely.

Uh so a combination of talking with uh staff, certainly with the city manager, um with uh Barb Dosic, uh, and then the people that are involved have been involved in the process.

So talking with uh Marjan and Fide North America and folks like that that have expertise in citizens' assemblies and were able to say, you know, obviously they do not know the people in Dayton, but they were able to say, hey, these are qualities that you should look for and and that kind of thing.

So that would be we.

Okay.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Thank you very much.

So I will tell you that uh that I do have some concern, which I have raised this prior to in uh previous conversations as well as the work session.

I am very excited that the City of Dayton is uh participating in this initiative.

I think the Citizens Assembly is a remarkable uh model.

It is something that will definitely raise credibility to the organization in outlining and upholding our mission and goals of the organization.

My concern is that with the call for transparency, I want to make sure that we hold true to that, and I want to make sure that that is clearly identified and that there are no confusion as the process, there's no ambiguity as to who provides the level of support and who would lead the initiative overall.

So with that, my ask, and I'm so so very glad to hear that the I believe you call it the participation, the learning committee.

The learning committee.

And then the other thing that I will ask is in the future when you present anything before this body, as well as to the public, please provide us with a presentation, whether that is a few slides, uh a document, something that we can follow along with as well as the public.

And I know we're still in the beginning stages and a lot of things are still evolving, but even the presentation that was provided to us during the work session would have been extremely helpful to outline the milestones and the dates and the course of correction that you all have now uh adopted too.

So thank you for your leadership.

I'm very excited about the CA.

I think there's a couple of areas that we need to tweak, but nonetheless, we have uh some stellar partners that are a part of this process, so I look forward to hearing the recommendations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Ms.

Riley.

I really appreciate you being here this morning.

Thank you for your leadership.

You're welcome.

And I I also want to offer um clearly uh you have some concerns, and I want to offer at any given time if one I don't want to speak for Brandon, but if you have someone else or you need me to step away because of my work, you just need to ask.

No, no, not at all.

We want you a part of the advisory committee.

Okay.

We just want to be clear as to the selection process because from my understanding, the model speaks to uh at arm's length, if you will, of the government's involvement.

And so we want to make sure that we hold true to that.

I see.

So by no means are we questioning your uh your ability to to lead this initiative and to act as uh one of the co-chairs for the the advisory committee.

However, we would just want to make sure that we are practicing what we preach, what is laid out on paper, and we want to hold true to the model itself of the citizens assembly.

So you are the perfect person.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Riley.

Ms.

Black Share, are there any additions, deletions or comments to the calendar this morning?

I have none, Your Honor.

Ms.

Dixteen, are there any additions, deletions, or comments to the calendar this morning?

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

I do have several items I would like to highlight.

Uh the first is item number two, which is a service agreement with entree consulting services.

This is a uh contract uh for three years of $600,000 to support the uh really critical work now that goes along with implementation of our ERP process.

Just as a highlight, our um ERP RFP is coming to a close uh this week.

We should uh should be elevating to the um entity that we will be um seeking an award of contract with.

Uh there is certainly a lot of negotiation that can be a lengthy process.

We're hoping to have that done by the end of the summer so that we can stay on target for fall implementation.

But this contract will provide critical services around alignment of business critical systems, ensuring tech requirements are met, critical project management, training, data governance, implementation support, testing coordination, go live activity coordination, and and most importantly, post-implementation assistance as we get to implementation and then have to continue with tweaks or adjustments, et cetera.

So we're excited to bring this forward.

This is being funded from general fund and from much of that investment money that we have been putting aside for years to support this really critical operation.

Item number three is a service agreement with John R.

Jurgensen company.

This is our CDBG asphalt resurfacing program with uh 2020 for 2026.

Uh you will see we had a 25 percent HUD section three uh and five percent targeted worker labor hour participation goal, which we met both of those.

Uh this will provide residential streets and uh pavement for residential streets and alleys in the neighborhoods of Linden Heights, Midtown, University Park, South Park, Wright View, Westwood, Edgemont, Historical, Inner East, Old North Dayton, Riverdale, and Roosevelt.

There will be a map probably by the end of the week on our website for residents if they want to drill in on the details to see exactly where uh that street paving and alley paving is occurring.

Um item number eight is an ordinance, uh uh ordinance number 32184-26 that expands and modernizes the CRA district to in east inner East Dayton to uh a 15-year 100% abatement, which makes it consistent with the rest of our C AR CRA districts.

So that is an important alignment and opportunity to continue it to attract investment into our um neighborhoods in on the east side of Dayton, like we had did years ago for the West Dayton CRA district.

And then finally, um item number um our emergency resolution number 6926-26 is an emergency resolution objecting to the issuance of liquor uh permit associated with reserve on third.

This is an emergency because objections for renewals have to be postparked by May 1st to the Ohio State Liquor Board.

There has been a lot of conversation, and I just received confirmation.

Our law department has confirmed with uh reserves attorney that reserve is very interested and supportive of entering a good neighbor agreement, which we think is really important to involve all of those property owners and businesses around the reserve, which have voiced concerns throughout this process, and they are sincerely interested in resolving these issues so that associated with the club so that you know everybody can continue to go forth and prosper in a in a great community.

So to help describe the high-level process of this to remind the community what that process looks like when we're looking at liquor license objections.

Um I would like to call forward Alyssa Schreiner from our law department, who is the lead on this activity in the law department.

Good morning, Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, Clerk.

Good morning.

Um as we spoke previously, um, if the city objects to the renewal of this liquor permit, um renewals are a little different than new applications for liquor permits.

Um the city objects, it then gets set for a hearing.

And that setting that hearing, it can be a matter of few months before that actually takes place.

After the hearing, it's usually about 30 days before we get the decision on whether our objection is sustained or overruled.

During that entire time, the business can continue to operate as usual until or unless the city's objection is actually sustained.

Um our city manager explained, it seems as though the reserve on third is open to working on a good neighbor agreement, which is great.

Um, but it does take time to come up with the terms of that agreement to try to address everyone's concerns in ways that are actionable, measurable, that kind of thing.

Um we will work on that in the next few months.

In the past, the Division of Liquor has been definitely has worked with us.

If they if the Division of Liquor knows that we're working on a good neighbor agreement, they've been willing to kick out that hearing further to give us even more time to work on those agreements.

They're definitely not against us working on those agreements.

Are there any questions that I can address?

I do.

I will turn to my colleagues, though, because I want to Commissioner Beckham, do you have any questions or comments?

Thank you, Your Honor.

I have uh a few.

Um for one, I just want to clarify that in situations like this, uh our ability to make known to the liquor, the State Liquor Board that we are working on a good neighbor agreement allows them to uh give us the timeline to get to that good neighbor agreement.

I wouldn't want a situation where we approve the objection with the intent to reach a good neighborhood agreement, uh, noting that the business can operate normally uh but then the state sustains it immediately or something to that effect.

And I think that's abnormal, but I want to make sure that we do what we need to do to make known to the state that the goal is to reach a good neighbor agreement.

Sure.

So I don't think they even could sustain our objection until that hearing, because they don't have any evidence at that point.

That hearing is when we present evidence to support our objection and the permit holder is there and is able to present evidence to argue for theirs.

And we would bear the burden in that hearing to put forward the evidence.

So if they wouldn't have that evidence until that hearing, um the way we set up hearings, the division of liquor contacts, um, myself and the permit holder to with a few dates say, hey, when does this when would this work for you all?

And if we're working on an agreement, we'll tell them that and usually try to pick a further outdate.

So they're very open to working with us on that.

Appreciate you clarifying that.

And I just want to say um I appreciate uh the owners at an air in being here today.

Um I think it is in all of our best interests to make sure this business uh can continue to operate and reaches a good neighbor agreement that is uh suitable, right uh for all the parties involved.

And uh I just want to lift them up as uh business owners that are striving to make our downtown more lively and vibrant and provide a community space uh for young people, but we want to do that, of course, uh in a way that uh makes sure that everyone uh is secure uh and feels comfortable.

Uh so thank you uh for providing this clarity and uh those are all my questions.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Fairchild.

Yeah, uh question of clarity.

Um the date of the hearing is set, what's the time window?

Like is it 30 days, 14 days?

For reference, excuse me, um our last last year we had the two objections.

One hearing was set in July and the other was set in August.

When we get contacted by the Division of Liquor to set up that hearing, it's usually about 30 days out.

So and it can be longer if they know we're working on this.

So that's and I don't know that it will be exactly the same timing as last year, but that's my best guess.

Can the commission be notified with the status of the good neighbor relationship and the setting of that hearing if we ever get to the point when it's set so that we can review whether it was a good faith effort to reach the good neighborhood agreement?

Um and we would have, if I understand this right, we would have the opportunity then to pass another resolution to withdraw.

I mean, in either case, whether we get the good neighborhood agreement or not, the commission has the power to adopt another resolution withdrawing our objection.

Exactly.

Okay.

Um in order, so after the cooperation agreement, I do prefer to have it signed by both parties and actually be in place, and I would present uh prepare legislation and recommend withdrawing that objection, um, and I can give you updates kind of more on the status of that good neighbor agreement.

Great.

Um and then just in a um in this particular case.

My understanding is the business has been open to working with police and other entities to resolve these issues.

And their impression is that I guess this is a question for city manager.

Their impression is that we haven't been good partners in trying to resolve these issues.

And so I don't know if there's an opportunity to go back and review what's happened, um, what kind of interactions our police have had with these owners and the landlord and kind of look and I don't think our mediation center has been involved, and it seems like this would be a really good place for our mediation center to have been activated at some point.

And so I'm curious if we could go back and review and see if we had an opportunity prior to this moment to do a little mediation.

Yeah.

And I I spoke with uh Ms.

Dosick this morning and uh I wonder if we can review our process because my understanding is the owners didn't get notified until relatively recent that an objection was coming.

And it really seems like we have opportunity to try to remedy the issues before they get worse and before we get to this location if there's some place in the process where we can, you know, let a business know that we're heading on this path, give the opportunity for mediation or correction, and uh so I would ask that we review that process and see if we can't modify it in a way that prevents us from getting to this this place.

Sure.

We have to be careful not to not for it to be perceived as a threat that we, you know, we're gonna, you know, so we it it is a balance for that, but that sure that makes sense.

Well, I think our mediation center could be really helpful in in not in creating a way to do it so it doesn't come across as a threat.

Sure.

Yeah, great.

Thank you.

My colleagues have addressed uh any questions that I would have had than we had the briefing last week, so I'm I'm I'm clear.

Thank you, Commissioner Shaw.

Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you, Mayor.

You answer my questions in our brief, so thank you.

Great, thank you.

Uh I do have one clarifying question.

So it will be noted that again.

Um you will provide the law department will provide a notice, a memo to the State Liquor Board to acknowledge that the applicant, that the owner and the applicant are in support of a cooperative cooperation agreement, a good neighbor agreement, and that will lay out all of the particulars now.

With that noted on record that there is a cooperative agreement in place.

Does that does the State Liquor Board can it in fact preempt the process in terms of can it override being that the law department, the city, and the applicant have a cooperative agreement in place?

I've never seen it happen.

Okay.

I I can't imagine.

Um they the way it would work is we would be sending the resolution withdrawing our objection.

I don't think there's much more inquiry on their end from it.

I would have been um talking to an attorney from the division of liquor explaining what our pro what's going on with the working out of cooperation agreement.

And they've kind of like how we described before, they wouldn't sustain our objection unless or until we put forward at a hearing all the evidence and arguments about why we why this should be sustained, why under the statute there is a basis to um for their renewal to not be renewed.

Sorry, their permit to not be renewed.

So I I don't see how I don't understand, I don't think it could operate that way.

Um once we withdraw our objection, there is no objection to be heard.

Okay.

That's fair.

Thank you.

Yes.

And again, from your understanding and having conversations with the the applicant and the owner's attorney, they are fully aware of what the process will look like in terms of it go before the state, the liquor uh commission state board, they will then determine the outcome giving the the 30 days and then from there as well as noting that they are in support of the cooperative agreement.

So I and I know that's third party, but again, I just wanted to be noted that our law department has had communications with their attorney and fully understand the process.

Their attorney has been in a murder trial all week.

Okay.

Not been able to do a phone call.

Okay.

Um and he requested that we that I um I talked to him via email.

So I have not been able to go over at length the entire process, but he is an attorney who works at a he's a very competent attorney, and he works a large firm.

Um, and if he is not aware of you know every single little detail of the step, I will be um once he is out of trial and able to communicate more, I will definitely be talking with him more about that.

Thank you, Ms.

Shriver.

I appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Thank you.

Ms.

Blackshare, are there any citizens that are registered to speak on calendar items this morning?

Your Honor, one citizen has registered to speak.

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

As you address this 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 and 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 podium Aaron Pat Parrot.

Good morning.

Your name and address for the record.

Yes.

My name is Aaron.

Last name is Parrott.

I've listed our business address with one of them, which is 452 East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio, 45402.

You may begin.

All right.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Commissioners, mayor, city manager, and congratulations on your retirement.

Although this is not ideally the type of conversation I planned on having in front of the Commission board, I am all the while thankful for an opportunity to bridge the gap of misunderstanding and finding a collaborative resolution.

Now I want to give just some brief background, three-minute brief.

Over the course of the last four years, Ed and myself, we've invested over a million and a half dollars in downtown.

We first started off with our store after five, which is also an event space in the fire blocks.

We then moved on to form an entertainment venue that would meet the likes of a large city, like a Cleveland, like a Miami and a Vegas, and that club is the reserve on third.

We are currently developing real estate we purchased last year on Maine and Monument.

What we feel like will become one of the biggest highlights of downtown.

It's a three-level concept featuring the city's truly, I will say it's truly um riverfront rooftop bar and restaurant.

And that is called Parlay on the River.

This project in its completion will be over a two million dollar investment by us in the main corridor.

Our goal has always been to attract suburbanites, local Daytonians, and visitors from all areas of the country.

And then further down the years, we do plan on investing and resparking an area on the central main street corridor that has lacked some attention for a while.

So I say all of these things to give a bigger picture of who we are as business owners, who we are as stewards of the community when it comes to economic development in the city of Dayton.

I myself am a Dayton Public School graduate.

I graduated from Styver School of the Arts.

I will not divulge the year.

But you know.

And I also want to mention that since our opening in 2024, the reserve has been Ohio's number one selling tequila establishment.

What that means is that we have outpaced larger establishments and more metropolitan cities.

And what that has done for Dayton is it has shown large liquor divisions like the Diaggio brand and R and DC that Dayton is a place and a hub that can create commerce and bring people in and generate revenue.

Reserve is an example of what downtown in Dayton proper can be.

Now we have always made it a priority to operate our business in a collaborative manner, specifically with the Dayton police.

We understand the responsibility that comes with operating, and we always will take that serious.

Now, what we are asking asking for today is collaboration and fairness.

We ask that our business be evaluated based on facts and on the full picture of what we've contributed, not just isolated perceptions.

We are strongly believe we can work as a unit towards the common goal of making and sustaining a thriving and diverse downtown Dayton.

I thank you for your time and your consideration.

Thank you, Ms.

Paret.

Thank you.

That concludes the speaker on calendar items, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Black Share.

Commissioners, are there any comments to the city manager's recommendations this morning?

Commissioner Beckham.

I have none, Your Honor.

Commissioner Fairchild.

I have none, Your Honor.

Commissioner Shaw.

No.

Commissioner Joseph.

I can't let the ERP buy without saying something.

Thank you, City Manager.

It's been years, years in the making, well over a decade of talking about this.

This is a talking of thankless tasks today.

Uh rationalizing data and pulling it together in ways that we can use in the future is is great.

It's it's wonderful for the city.

It's going to save us time and money, but doing it is very tough, and nobody really wants to do that.

So I appreciate you doing this the right way.

We're bringing on people who know what they're talking about.

Uh and I just want you and the staff to know that uh we're looking forward to the results of this commission has been wise in putting away money every year to pay for this because the future benefits will outweigh all the money by many times that we put away.

So looking forward to the results of this.

We know it's going to be a tough process, but thank you for jumping in.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Just have a couple of uh brief comments.

I too want to echo Commissioner Joseph's comments in regards to the ERP.

Thank you so much for bringing this forward.

Again, I know this has been a long process, but again, the commitment of the staff and your leadership speaks to why this is such a value in the timing and all of the various different um investments that we have made to make sure that this is successful.

So congratulations and thank you for bringing this forward.

Also to the number of resurfacing CDBG asphalt.

Again, thank you for highlighting the number of neighborhoods that will be repay throughout the the spring and summer uh season.

So happy to see that before us.

Uh the last thing that I wanted to mention in regards to the the liquor permit, uh the objecting to the liquor permit, uh that is emergency resolution number six nine two six-26.

Thank you, Ms.

Parrett, for being here, as well as the uh Mr.

Um your name escapes me, I apologize.

Ed.

Last name.

Mr.

Ed.

Mr.

Ed.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much for being here, as well as your your business partner.

We appreciate your commitment.

Thank you for highlighting your commitment in terms of economic development down in our core, uh, which is in fact a um the the economic engine and allows us to do all the various different things in the neighborhoods.

Um and I know those are the sentiments of my colleagues.

I do um again, we understand that there is a healthy balance that go along with that to making sure that we were complimenting what we see downtown as well as in all of our neighborhoods, surrounding neighborhoods.

But I just want to applaud you for being here this morning and also uh being very open and uh receptive to the ideal of a cooperative agreement and understand that this objection is no foul or no um no dismiss uh by no means to your commitment that has been made to the downtown area, but understand that we are in the process of making sure that uh all of the various different concerns are in fact will be addressed through the cooperative agreement.

So I just want it to be noted that you fully understand the process and that the objection again is not to uh stall the business or the uh the sell of liquor at your establishment, and thank you for highlighting the Dayton area and I don't know if uh the number one tequila sale in the state, but again, if you're in that industry, that is something remarkable to be noted for.

Um but I want you to truly understand the process itself.

So um I look forward to uh joining my colleagues on the on the recommendation before us.

Um and that's all the comments that I have in regards to the the commission, the the um city manager's recommendation, excuse me.

So may I have a motion to approve the city manager's recommendations this morning?

Mayor, I move that we adopt the city manager's calendar recommendations.

Second, yeah.

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, please.

First reading, emergency resolution number six nine two six-26.

Objecting to the issuance of liquor permit number 07308480, renewal, reserve on third, LLC, doing business as reserve on third, 452, East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio, 45402, and declaring an emergency.

Being declared an emergency, I move for the immediate passage of resolution number 6926-26.

Second the motion, your honor.

It has been properly moved and seconded to uh approve the emergency resolution number 6926-26.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed.

Second reading, emergency resolution number six nine two six-26.

Objecting to the issuance of liquor permit number 07308480, renewal, reserve one third, LLC, doing business as reserve on third, 452, East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio, 45402.

Mayor Turner Sloss.

Aye.

Commissioner Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Fairchild.

Aye.

Beckham.

Aye.

Emergency resolution 6926-26 has been adopted with five votes in favor.

First reading, emergency resolution number 6927-26.

Placing a temporary moratorium not to exceed 180 days on the acceptance and processing of applications for zoning occupancy and or building permit approvals for data centers within the city of Dayton, Ohio, and declaring an emergency.

I move for its immediate passage.

Second motion, Your Honor.

It has been properly moved and seconded to approve emergency resolution number 6927-26.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Second reading, emergency resolution number six nine two seven-two six.

Placing a temporary moratorium not to exceed 180 days on the acceptance and processing of applications for zoning occupancy and or building permit approvals for data centers within the city of Dayton, Ohio.

Mayor Turner Sloss.

Aye.

Commissioners Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Fairchild Beckham.

Aye.

Emergency resolution number 6927-26 has been adopted with five favor five votes in favor.

First reading, ordinance number 32183-26 to vacate the alley south of Zenia Avenue from Fillmore Street to Steele Avenue and the alley east of Fillmore Street from the alley south of Xenia Avenue to the vacated Noel Court.

First reading ordinance number 32184-26.

Repealing portions of ordinance number 30421-05 and establishing and describing the boundaries of the inner east community reinvestment area in the city of Dayton.

First reading resolution number 6928-26, declaring the intention of the commission to vacate the alley east of South Main Street from the alley south of East Sixth Street to 106.54 feet south of the alley south of East Sixth Street.

And that concludes legislation, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Black Chair.

Are there any citizens that are registered to speak?

Your four citizens have registered, and I would like to remind everyone of the three-minute time limit.

I call to the podium, Greg West.

Good morning.

Congratulations.

That we're supposed to be covering the whole city, but we are only covering one section of the city right now, North Riverdale.

It will be an informational panel going on, well, uh informational meeting for the ones who um food motivate you free food will be there for the community.

Well, uh, I would like to get the information out.

This will be at 925 North Main, April 30th from 6 to 8 p.m.

Uh so please get the word out, have as many people attend as possible so that we can look the public know that the program is up and running.

We have boots on the ground in the community.

We're visible and doing what we're supposed to do so that you know any questions that they have, they have a chance our chance to come in and um ask those questions to them.

Second thing, I I've already given you guys the flyers uh for the um our our youth baseball game that we do every year.

Commissioner Fairchild, mayor, thank you for your support already.

Um I'm challenging the other three.

Pull out your wallets.

You have there, you already had a flyers, but if you need me, there's resend you the link, I will because the cutoff date is uh the 27th for this month.

The game will be in May this year because we didn't want to do it in April because the weather's been iffy over the last couple years.

This will be our fourth one, and over the uh uh previous three years, we've taken over 200 and I want to say 210 youth to a baseball game who've never attended a Dayton Dragons game.

So I'm challenging you three, and also whoever's watching on YouTube to please get with us to buy some tickets so that we can take more youth to the baseball game.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Westia Sankara Jabbar.

Good good morning.

Good morning.

Kia Sankara Jabbar 2426, Jerome 45417.

Thank you.

Good morning, Mayor and Commissioners.

Good morning.

Whew.

I'm here again this morning.

Uh I won't get into the data and the meat of everything that I have sent already via email on why I'm here today.

So I will speak directly from a heart posture uh this morning on why I'm here and ask you all to observe uh the t-shirt that I am wearing.

I am here again, and I have to say, um, I have moved back home temporarily, okay?

And I'm gonna be here until the status quo is broken.

I'm not leaving this city until the status quo is broken.

And what I mean by that is that from what I have observed, both near and far, there's only two people at this day that's working for the community.

That is Mayor Sloth and Commissioner Fairchild.

That's the two people that I see near and far that's consistently worked for the community for the people that voted for all of you all to be here.

Now, this city manager, Miss Dixtein, has been here for 10 years.

She was here before I left.

Okay.

Now, the city, I have the opportunity to not live here anymore and to come back and watch the deterioration of the neighborhoods, including of the neighborhood that I grew up in, which is in Northwest Dayton off of Freepike, where my great aunt, the great Creola Reese, an unsung community Shiro in this community.

I have watched her neighborhood continue to deteriorate while y'all invest 2.5 billion dollars downtown.

2.5 billion dollars downtown, community violence is out of control.

There's killings by the police, they harassing black people all over the place, and the community intra-community violence is out of control.

This city is in a crisis, in a public health crisis because of policies and practices and the concentration of power of this person right here that you all have allowed at this day.

It's over.

And let me tell you something.

I'm formidable.

If you don't understand that by now, by the power that I have and organizing both the Greensboro community and the Dayton community.

Make the right decision because I'm not going anywhere until you do.

And finally to you, Mr.

Beckham.

You're ambitious.

It was my honor to meet you and listen to your inauguration speech.

And I remember I saw you again at Care Source.

And I said, you know, I think the problem is downtown, you all are increasing policing.

I said, have you looked at what's happening in Baltimore?

I said, I'd love to connect you with Mayor Brandon Scott.

And because you're ambitious, I want to invite you to a meeting with me and the Layton Local Organizing Committee.

Okay, to get your thoughts and to also just learn a little bit more about you.

And so you can hear from the people.

Because I am representing the voices of hundreds of Daytonians, if not thousands.

People are tired.

I invite you to a meeting.

Fire the city manager.

Period.

Thank you, Ms.

Jabbar.

Talice Gage.

Grand Rising.

Grand Rising.

So y'all know why I'm up here.

My shirt speaks volumes.

I know it's like two on two with one deciding factor.

Come on, man.

And you need to wake up too, man.

You was falling asleep up there, I seen.

Several times.

I mean, I seen you, bro.

I mean, my camera don't lie.

But anyway.

She gotta go.

It's like two versus two.

Come on, man.

I love some of y'all up there, and some of y'all, you know, I really don't care about.

I don't like.

And y'all been, I see how you lasted, man.

You sleep through half of it and then say, I have nothing else to add.

I'm gonna follow up my colleagues.

Say, because you sleep half the time.

She need to go, man.

I know y'all don't I know some of y'all don't like me.

I ruffle feathers.

I'm good at it.

And I don't care neither.

I'm gonna say what I need to say.

And she needs to go.

Like I said, my shirt says what needs to happen.

I don't like them either.

Please do the right thing, man.

You're a powerful brother, man.

This is your time to shine, man.

This is your time to shine, man.

You're you my guy.

You know, I love you, man.

I done told you that we talk, you know.

So I appreciate you, Fairchild.

You know you're my guy too.

Shanish, you know, I love you.

You other two y'all stay awake, man, and you know how I feel about you, sir.

But she gotta go.

Thank you, Mr.

Tales.

Um good morning, everybody.

Good morning.

Uh, my name is Kimaru Watenza.

I live at 1200 West Grand Street Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, 45402.

This is some very trying times that we live in.

Um, our federal government has deliberately gone from policies of diversity, equity, and inclusions to WEI that's white, entitled, and incompetent.

Um the statement is not hyperbole or sarcasm.

If we examine the records of uh Pete Heggseth, Christy Gnome, Robert Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbett, uh Pam Bundy, among others, and these are um many incompetent people under the leadership of the most incompetent president in the history of this nation.

I mention all this because our primary defense against this band of bandits is our local government.

To that end, um, although I was born in Ragland, Alabama, many uh my driver's license doesn't say that.

So it's no proof of citizenship.

So if uh an ICE agent were to pick me up, and they will be in this area because of our significant uh population of Haitians in Springfield, they will be in this area, and they will be not staying in in Springfield, they'll come to Dayton.

So I personally have a passport, but I would venture to say that most Daytonians do not.

So uh if your passport, if your driver's license isn't proof of citizenship, what what's to keep these agents from just picking anybody up except our police department because picking somebody up without a warrant is kidnapping.

So I want to know what is the police department's plan to protect the residents of Dayton, and the Fourth Amendment does not say citizens, it says persons.

So, what is the police department's plan to protect the persons of Dayton against illethal um uh searches and seizures, which is kidnapping.

This question is not rhetorical.

I would like an answer, and I believe that we as citizens of Dayton deserve an answer.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Wattenza.

That concludes the speakers, Your Honor.

Thank you, Miss Black Share.

Ms.

Dixtein, do you have any closing comments this morning?

I do have um closing comments uh with regards to the the police chief hiring process that I'd like to share.

So to select the police chief, we had a hiring process that was thoughtful, reflected nearly five years of intentional succession planning, was supported by the majority of the commission and involved community.

As a key part of the hiring process, the city convened a diverse community stakeholder interview panel with leaders representing business, neighborhood, civil rights, education, nonprofit, and community advocacy organizations.

We had a hiring process that recognized that we already had an extremely strong internal candidate.

A candidate who has been in the DPD 27 years, who has held progressively responsible command positions from patrol officer to deputy chief, a hiring process that affirmed a candidate born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, and who has built trusted and meaningful relationships within the Dayton Police Department and throughout our community.

How many times have we heard from our community that we need more officers from our own community policing our neighborhoods?

We had a hiring process that selected a candidate with extensive experience managing large-scale public safety operations, providing oversight of multimillion dollar budgets, overseeing strategic planning initiatives, a candidate who has coordinated responses to tornadoes, active shooter incidents, protests, and played a key role in implementing officer wellness initiatives and innovative crime reduction strategies.

We had a hiring process that recognized a candidate that has intentionally invested in growing his leadership skills and perspectives by achieving a graduate certificate in criminal justice from the University of Virginia, who is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police, providing senior law enforcement leaders with intensive training in advanced management strategies and contemporary policing issues, and a participant in Leadership Ohio and a participant in UD's executive leadership program.

We had a hiring process that selected a police chief from our own community who is intimately aware of what the Dayton Police Department already does well and where they can elevate, with trusted relationships internally and throughout the community, who can hit the ground running, a process that avoided 75 to 100,000 in costs and months of delay to tackling the important and critical work needed now in our community.

And I am confident in Eric Henderson's abilities to work with any group that is authentically interested in continuing the work to make Dayton a safe and peaceful city for all, and this administration remains aligned with the priorities of the City Commission to do that critical work.

That's all I have, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Dixtein.

Ms.

Blackshare, do you have any closing comments?

I have a couple.

And due to a lack of quorum, next week's City Commission meeting is canceled.

Thank you, Ms.

Thank you.

Commissioners, do you have any closing comments?

Commissioner Beckham.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I want to thank the residents and citizens that came out to speak today specifically.

Mr.

Greg West.

Look forward to this community meeting.

I thank you for helping organize it.

And please send me a link.

I'm happy to donate.

Also, I want to recognize the fourth annual Black Men's Mental Mental Health Conference.

It was honestly a truly incredible event.

I want to thank the panelists, many of which I knew one of our own Dayton police officers, Officer Ray Rayford actually sat on that panel.

It was an honest conversation about black men's mental health, and I want to thank uh Deanna Clark and Dr.

Camilla Harris for continuing to organize these events, not just in Dayton, but around the country.

So I was an honor to be there.

Judge Rice gave some amazing opening comments as well, so I want to thank Judge Rice for him supporting that event for years.

Second of all, um, I want to congratulate my own neighborhood of Five Oaks, of which I am a proud resident.

Uh there are uh yesterday, actually, I attended along with my colleagues.

The mayor gave some great opening remarks where we celebrated the new home flat apartments.

It's a 260-unit workforce housing development with child care as well.

So it's just a very exciting development.

I am excited for how Dayton residents will benefit.

Lastly, I do want to congratulate our new chief, Chief Eric Henderson.

And I simply look forward to working with him beyond the work that I have already had the pleasure of doing with him over the years.

I have full confidence in his leadership, and we know that he he knows this city.

He knows this department, and he is aware of what is needed from here.

So look forward to working with him.

Those are all my comments.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Commissioner Beckham.

Commissioner Fairchild.

Yeah, thank you for the citizens who have come and brought their concerns here.

I appreciate your participation.

A couple of upcoming events this Saturday, April 25th, the Home Ownership Center is presenting its home maintenance class.

It will be held from 9 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

at Habitat for Humanities Learning Lab at 115 West Riverview Avenue.

To register, call 937-853-1600.

Registration ends today, and the cost is $10.

But attendees will get a $15 gift card to Habitats Restore.

So make sure you take advantage of that.

This Thursday, April 23rd, the downtown library is hosting the poetry contest showcase at the Basani Theater off third.

It will be held from 6 to 7.30 winners in each category of the DML's annual poetry contest will be invited to take the stage and share the words that won them first and second prize.

So another opportunity for us.

So congratulations to them.

It's the largest in the hospital's donation.

It will set the hospital up to advance its mission of improving the health of every child in our reach.

It's really focused around prevention and reaching children who are the most vulnerable in our community, and that comes from the Tom Galisano Foundation.

So congratulations to Debbie Feldman in Dayton Children's Hospital.

City Manager, thank you for that long explanation on the process of the selection of the police chief.

And I joined Commissioner Beckham's congratulations to Chief Henderson.

He's a top rate officer.

We know him.

We respect him and we look forward to working with him.

I look forward to working with him.

I feel like we own an apology to Chief Henderson, to our citizens, to our police force, to our stakeholders in this community on a decision this critical for the community.

We should not be relying on a three-vote majority given the nature of this.

So an apology to Dr.

Chief Henderson and to the community.

Here is what the ICMA, the International City Management Association said in guidance.

It's a bit dated, granted.

I couldn't find the most updated, or maybe this is the most updated, but it comes from 1999.

Unlike the appointment of the head of engineering or sanitation, the appointment of the police chief inevitably becomes a political act.

No other appointment will generate the news media attention, lobbying, or scrutiny, this one will receive.

Indeed, in some ways, the selection process itself is as important as the outcome.

If the pri if the process bypasses relevant stakeholders, even the appointment of a clearly superior candidate will denigrate, will be denigrated by those who feel that their opinions were ignored.

And then there was an update to the guidance or at least reflection on the guidance, which says in 2014, the interest in the selection of a police chief has increased from the public and continues to increase.

And so that this selection even more now is the process is important to be inclusive of the public, be transparent and open.

So I have two questions for the city manager and my colleagues.

Given the fact, first I want to commend the mayor.

The mayor did the hard work.

She had the commission collectively on the same page to follow the best practices.

The best practices being an open, transparent, publicly engaged process.

So thank you, Mayor.

But the question I have for city manager and my colleagues.

So I'll look forward to hearing that.

And the second question I have is because you know we talk about being a best practice data driven organization.

And so if we are going to do that, we have to live that out in all circumstances.

And then the second question I have is what message do we send to the rest of the organization, to directors, frontline folks, middle management, our police officers on the street.

When we ignore best practices, what message does that send to them in terms of their need to follow best practices?

When we don't do it at the top, it seems to be that we have undermined our ability as an organization to adhere by best practices down the line.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner Shaw.

Tomorrow, April 23rd is the last day to provide public comment to the 2050 plan for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.

The planning commission decides how local transportation funding is spent to decrease congestion and improve safety of our streets and roads.

You can find more information at Plan 22050.org.

And you can call 937-223-6323 for questions about how to leave comments.

I think it's just important for folks to engage within VRPC.

I know that uh Commissioner Joseph is on the board there.

So with regard to the hiring of Chief Henderson, I too uh fully support that hiring uh and support him.

He is the right one for the job, a uh hometown guy.

I think that's really important too.

And I think it's also important uh to take a first look at uh hiring within this organization.

And I want to commend the city manager for her work in that regard and and uh uh institutionalizing succession planning throughout every department and police department is just one of those.

I also commend her for the very robust public process uh that she engaged in with stakeholders from throughout this community that were engaged in the process.

And I can you guess can I?

Please proceed.

I do consider it to be an open and transparent process with the stakeholders that were at the table.

And I just think it's uh important that we uh well I think it's good that we we uh selected the best person for that job.

Um so congratulations to him and for you on your work.

Thank you, Commissioner Shaw.

Commissioner Joseph.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh first, Mr.

West, I'm late, but I'm I'll be there for you like I have.

Uh I have the fire sitting on my desk at home.

I'm just late.

So I appreciate you putting together the program to take kids over there.

Uh I'm I'm in.

Uh second, uh I want to thank the Southeast State neighborhoods.

They put together a successful recycling event last Saturday.

Uh a ton of people brought stuff.

And it was one of the few places you can bring styrofoam.

That's not an easy thing to recycle.

Uh so we had we probably had 20 volunteers out there from the Southeast neighborhoods, and a ton of people came by, dropped off recycling stuff.

Uh I'd love to see the Southeast neighborhoods working together.

That hasn't always been the case.

It's great to be there.

So I want to thank them for their efforts.

Uh and this is you know, we instead of Earth Day, we're making this Earth Day uh month, and we're calling Earth Dayton.

And there are four things I want to to events I want to give you some heads up about.

First is our environmental learning center is having tours from the 22nd to 24th.

So from today to Friday.

You can go online and find out when.

I wish I had an email or an email or a web address here, but you can Google Dayton Environmental Learning Center and you get tours out there for all ages, friendly friendly with kids.

This is tomorrow, so Thursday and Friday.

Google Altifiber e-waste collection.

I'll give you directions there.

Third, Old Audubon is having their annual native plant sale.

They have this is uh also this weekend uh Friday Saturday.

Uh look on their website, All at Autobond for details about that.

They wanted me to say that they have 180 plus native plants ready for you to buy.

They also said to get there early because people know about it and the best ones go quickly.

Uh finally, there is an adopt a park volunteer cleanup with Five Rivers Metro Parks.

Uh you can look at their website, that's uh the Saturday from 9 to noon, uh especially with you know spring is here, finally, summer's coming.

The park's going to get a lot of use.

I would love to see people out there to help uh clean up.

I know that a lot of people are already doing cleanups this Saturday, but if you'd rather go help uh clean up a park than a neighborhood, that's fine.

You can do it with uh Fiverr's Metro Parks this Saturday night afternoon.

Uh Commissioner, I'm glad you brought up the cleanup this weekend.

Uh I think all of us are going to be out at one or more events.

Uh look forward to having a great turnout again.

It's always heartening to see so many people out supporting the neighborhoods in the community.

Uh and it really does make a huge difference.

So uh thank you, everybody.

Thank you, my colleagues, for their support.

Uh finally, I'm I'm proud to uh support and congratulate Chief Henderson.

Uh it's been contentious.

Uh, but he's the best guy for the job.

Uh processes uh processes are uh they had tailored to each situation, and I understand Commissioners uh reference and best practices.

In this case, uh city manager followed the charter.

She consulted who she had to, she asked for our opinion and hired the best guy for the job.

And I'm I'm satisfied with the process.

I'm really satisfied with the outcome.

I look forward to continuing to work with Chief Henderson.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Commissioner Joseph.

Just have a couple of brief comments before we uh lead into the the work session this morning.

So please join the Human Relations Council on April the 25th for the Housing Resource Connection Fair, a number of things that are taking place this weekend.

This event is free and open to the public.

Uh, allows residents to connect with housing resources, support, and information on their rights.

And the event will take place at the Greater Dayton Recreation Center, located at 2021 West Third Street.

That is from 11 to 2 p.m.

Uh you have the opportunity to meet local organization, get answers, enjoy a free lunch and enter a raffle.

Uh the information could be found in the RSVP as well.

This can be found on the HRC's website at WW.

Dayton, D-A-Y-T-O-N-H-R-C.org.

So we encourage everyone to come out to the human relations event, the housing resource connection fair, as well as the cleanup.

So go to the cleanup first and then head over to Greater Dayton Recreation Center.

I would like to uh thank all of the presenters this morning.

Thank you, Ms.

Shriver, for bringing forward the lake the additional context as it relates to the liquor objection.

Um thank you to uh Ms.

Parrott, as well as Mr.

Ed and your business partner for being here this morning.

And again, I'll be happy to speak with you after the Commission meeting if you would like addition additional information or if you have any other questions in terms of the process itself.

Ms.

Riley, uh Dr.

Ford, uh thank you for being here, as well as Ms.

Valerie Lemming.

Um I just would like to acknowledge Ms.

Lemmy.

She was in fact the first, the first African American woman to serve as the city manager for the City of Dayton.

So we applaud your leadership and your commitment and the work is continuing on with the Dayton Foundation and happy to know that you are in fact a part of the Citizens Assembly.

It gives me uh great confidence in your leadership to know that you are in fact uh a part of this initiative.

So thank you for bringing this forward.

Thank you for your commitment, as well as Dr.

Ford, Mr.

Squire, thank you for your work that you're leading on this.

Again, hold hold true to my recommendations, and I hope that we can see that uh that memo and additional work that will come out of that.

Um I'm very excited about the CEA.

And thank you for inviting again the NAACP, Dr.

Ford, as well as the CCC, the community clergy coalition, a part of the conversation.

Thank you, Ms.

Parrett.

Again, thank you for being here.

Mr.

Greg West, thank you for all of the great work that you're doing with Felons with the Future, the community initiative, a community event that would take place.

Again, that is Thursday, April the 30th at Dominion Academy of Dayton, located at 925 North Main Street, Dayton at 6 p.m.

until 8 p.m.

And so I hope that you can send this to us digitally so that we can definitely get it out to all our various different social media outlets.

So again, thank you for your leadership and well as Mr.

Johnson and Gadaha and the great work that is being done with uh the CBG model and our violence interruption program.

Um Ms.

Jabbar, thank you for being here.

I'm glad to see that you're back home.

Um and thank you for uh your advocacy and your leadership, and it's good to see um your young one with you as well.

Thank you to all of the residents that are here, even those who did not register to speak.

This is a part of democracy, and I'm glad that you are lending your time and your talents to be here uh to hold us accountable and to really truly understand the business that is being conducted on your behalf.

So I applaud you all for being here this morning.

Mr.

Talas, thank you for being here.

Mr.

Watenza, thank you for being here and raising your concerns as it relates to ICE enforcement.

Um I have challenged my colleagues as well as Commissioner uh Fairchild, Commissioner Joseph.

Uh, we've been in conversation waiting for the Tiger team, if you will, the team that has been identified.

I believe that Ms.

Dosick is leading that initiative to identify what are the best practices.

We sent over a number of examples of model legislation.

Now it's time for us to pull the trigger for us to really start putting that plan in motion to identify how, in fact, we will respond if the enforcement agency were to come into the city of Dayton.

So again, Ms.

Dixteen, if you can follow up with the an update, that would be greatly appreciated.

I believe Commissioner Joseph and I, we have a conversation that is dated to happen soon.

I believe scheduled to happen soon with the Tiger team.

So I look forward to us to have that conversation to identify what those best practices are, and again, for us to pass uh legislation to address the concerns from uh member, many members in our community, especially our our immigrant community who is um very concerned on a number of fronts.

Um I will say this.

Just yesterday, um, I received a call.

Actually, it was the day before yesterday, so that would have been Monday.

I received a call.

I don't know how uh the individual received my number, didn't even ask any questions in that in that vein.

But it was very um heart-wrenching, gut-punching, all of the above.

Uh a woman called me and high distress.

You can hear the emotion in her voice.

Again, there's language barrier, barriers that we're trying to communicate with one another.

And she shared with me that she was, in fact, as much as I can make out in the conversation, that she was, in fact, a mother of four.

She was uh, in fact, a refugee from the she's Congolese, and she mentioned that she didn't have any any SNAP benefits.

And she was in awe and distress, and she called me looking for assistance, looking for some level of support.

And I share that with everyone to really truly one to uplift the concerns that we and the challenges that we are dealing with in this in the city in this country overall, that people are truly suffering and they are hurting.

They don't know who to call, they don't know who to lean on.

It literally brought me to tears.

She had no one to call, but I thank Mr.

Hoffman, Mr.

Hoffman from Catholic Social Services.

I made a number of calls that day.

He called me back, and we are now actively working together to make sure that this woman has the support and the services that she needs.

So again, I want to applaud Catholic Social Services for their leadership, and I also want to charge my colleagues and this commission as a whole for us to do more, and this is an imperative, and this is all the more reason why.

We need to make sure that we have a plan in place.

We have something that is noted and that is on record to give our residents to give the people in the community the confidence that we are not ignoring their concerns, that we are hearing them, and that we are listening, and that we're actively engaged and we're going to do something about it.

Within our purview, right?

We understand that there are limitations, but there's things that we could be doing.

There is a number of different uh models and best practices that we need to adopt.

And I also want to to challenge HRC, HRC to really start doing the work that they have been identified to do in collaboration with our citizen engagement department.

I know that we have a number of know your rights forums that are our scheduled.

I'm glad and I applaud uh Ms.

Dixtein as well as uh Mr.

Hall and their leadership, Mr.

Squire and community engagement.

But now is the time for us more than ever to make sure that we're we're doing the necessary work because so many people in this community they're suffering and they're in need of support and help.

It's also an opportunity for us to tap into our MRU, our mediation response unit, um, to make sure that people understand that that service is available.

The last thing that I want to say, and I was hoping that he would be here this morning, and I want this to be on record and I want it to be noted.

This is not about personality.

This has nothing to do with uh whether Lieutenant Colonel Eric Henderson has the uh the expertise, has the ability, have the skill set, none of the above.

I want to personally congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Eric Henderson on being selected as the next chief of police for the city of Dayton.

Lieutenant Colonel Henderson has a very distinguished record of service with DPD, Dayton Police Department, and I wish him nothing but success in all of his endeavors in his new role.

At the same time, I gotta be clear.

A forum of 11 selected people is not transparent.

That is not a robust public engagement process.

Individuals who were selected by the city manager and the city manager only, and which I ask repeatedly that you converse with the members of this body for recommendations.

And I know for a fact many of the members on this commission also gave recommendations as to who should be a part of that forum, but yet and still it was ignored.

Now it does not reflect the level of community invasion of engagement that our residents deserve when decisions of this magnitude are being made.

The residents of Dayton have a right to participate in shaping the leadership that their police department of their police department, excuse me.

That principle is not negotiable, and it will continue to be championed as well as while I am in this seat serving as the mayor.

So moving forward, I look forward to engaging with Chief Henderson on how he intends to lead the department and which aligns with the commission goals, including advancing, excuse me, transparency, accountability, procedural justice, and proactive community engagement.

The work of building trust between our police department and the community is ongoing.

And I am committed to ensuring that work continues.

So again, congratulations to Lieutenant Colonel Henderson, now Chief Henderson.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Mayor.

So, with no further business, come before the commission.

This meeting is now on adjourned.