Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order.

Good morning.

Would you please rise for the vacation?

Remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

This morning we're gonna have a invocation given by Commissioner Shaw.

Dear Lord, bless us and protect us as we serve our fellow members of the community.

Bless us with a gift of patience and humility to do good work.

Amen.

Amen.

If allegiance to the flag 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.

Mayor Turner Sloss.

Commissioners Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Aye.

Bearchild.

Aye.

Beckham.

May I have a motion to excuse the absence of Mayor Turn Sloss?

So moved, yeah.

Second motion, Your Honor.

This would be properly moved and seconded.

Excuse the evidence of Mary Turners Laws.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Uh may have a motion to approve the minutes of the June 17th, 2026 meeting.

So moved.

Second motion, Your Honor.

Thank you.

It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the June 17th, 2026 meetings.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Any abstentions?

No.

Ms.

McClendon, any communications or petitions this morning?

There are none, Your Honor.

Great.

Mr.

Clendons, any additions, deletions, or comments to the calendar?

Yes, Your Honor.

I would like to request the addition of a calendar item number seven regarding a contribution from the Montgomery County Office of Strategic Initiatives.

We have it up here.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Mr.

Clinton, any citizens that are registered to speak on calendar items this morning.

Yes, sir.

There are four citizens registered to speak on calendar.

Actually, if I can interrupt you just a moment, I miss skipped a step.

We have to hear from Mr.

Parlett.

Sorry about the Mr.

Parlet.

Oh, no, no worries at all.

Any additions over there?

Um I don't have any additions, just a uh additional comments relative to the addition.

Um this is a part of uh the contract with Miami Valley Housing Opportunities that you all approved two weeks ago.

Um along the way in the conversation upstreet outreach.

Uh Montgomery County committed to pay up to 150,000 to support uh personnel expenses were in that program.

So that's what this is us receiving 150,000 up to 150,000 for uh personnel costs from Montgomery County.

Uh additionally, I'd like to comment just very quickly item number three with LWC.

This is design services for what will be uh rent uh substantial renovation at the gateway uh men's shelter.

And then uh my final comment is on D6 uh with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dayton.

Uh 250,000 development agreement.

Uh and I know you are all aware that this is a 25 million dollar project.

So uh leverage the investment for sure.

Um representative of our commitment to the boys and girls club.

So that's all I have, Your Honor.

Thank you, Mr.

Parlett.

Excellent news all the way around here this morning.

Uh okay, now Ms.

Clinton, thank you.

There are four citizens registered to speak.

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

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

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

When the green light comes on, you will have three minutes to speak.

After you have spoken two and a half minutes, a yellow light will come on and you will have 30 seconds remaining to speak.

When the red light comes on, you will be asked to cease your comments and to take your seat.

To the audience in attendance, please be mindful.

This is a business meeting, and we kindly request that during this portion of the meeting, you refrain from any hand clapping, finger snapping, and conversation that would prevent the city commission from hearing the speaker's comments.

I call to the podium Taleb Petaway.

Uh Taleb Padaway 915 West Grand Avenue.

Blade cutters marching orders.

I have appreciation for blade cutters.

Most times they are doing good work.

My concern this morning is not the company.

They do what the city contracts them to do.

My concern is with the city standards because a contractor can only be as careful as the rules require.

We have a process for selling property.

Um the city labels a nuisance listed in the newspaper for months with a date, time, location, set for auction.

The public is notified.

So when there is a demolition, a matter of life and death, why is there no requirement to notify the public at all?

We notify people before we sell a building.

So who is checking rather someone is inside?

The reality is the unhoused sometimes take shelter and vacant properties.

I was young once, exploring empty houses, not knowing it was illegal.

Digital notice works for some, but not all.

I was told that as long as there is consistent work, the properties won't be torn down.

But consistent work is an opinion, not a standard.

Another citizen washing terror as she lost her family legacy.

She told the crew she was bringing the home to code, but it came down anyway.

So how are we deciding whose property matters?

If we call this a public health safety and welfare, are we saying we are saying it disingenuously?

It will cost this city the moment someone with financial resources takes it to court.

We finance these demolitions and we finance the failure to do them fairly.

We already know the answer.

I already know the answers to every question I asked this morning.

I'm asking them so you understand the optics.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I call to the podium Ebony Hastings.

Good morning, Ebony Hastings 1238 Wabash Avenue.

I am here today because the people of Dayton deserve more than a routine approval of decisions that do not reflect the best interest of the constituents who put this body in office.

If the city manager is going to be allowed to retire, that retirement cannot become a way to avoid accountability.

Retirement should not erase the public's right to ask hard questions about the decisions that were made.

The communities that were overlooked, and the recommendations that were repeatedly advanced without meaningful public scrutiny.

Too often the commission appears willing to unanimously pass the city manager's recommendations, even when residents have raised concerns, ask for transparency, and pointed out how those decisions may harm neighborhoods.

Small businesses and families already carrying the heaviest burden.

Your responsibility is not to protect the comfort of appointment.

Leadership, your responsibility is to protect public the public trust.

So today I'm asking for a change in practice.

First, require a written public explanation for city managers' recommendations before any vote, including who benefits, who is burdened, what alternatives were considered, and what community input was received.

Second, stop placing major items on consent agendas or rushing them through without full discussion.

Third, require each commissioner to publicly explain the reason for his or her vote.

When approving significant contracts, development deals, policy changes, and disciplinary matters.

Fourth, establish regular public oversight sessions so residents can review implementation, spending, and outcomes instead of hearing promises after the fact.

And finally, if it is true that retirement is happening, commission an independent public review of unresolved concerns so the public record is complete.

Make your constituents whole.

This is how you gain trust.

The people of Dayton are paying attention.

We are asking you to do more than vote.

Yes, together.

We are asking you to lead to question to investigate and to remember that your duty is to the residents of the city.

Accountability must not retire with any official.

This is how you earn the trust of your constituents.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I call to the podium, Rodney Stark.

Come to you to talk about these contracts with blade cutters.

I can see that the neighborhood planning and development and is going on everywhere except for my neighborhood.

I'm on borderline of Jefferson Township and Trotwood.

Is it getting borderline ridiculous listening to the city manager talk about what blight is?

Let's talk about 34 North Main Street.

That's been declared blight.

Understanding that things were falling off the ceiling and um falling from the roof, and we needed to fix something.

But I'm still a little confused as to who owns that building.

During the June June 4th meeting, she stated that the land bank owns or controls the building.

That's the word she used, control the building.

But in the RFP that went out, it says that the city owns 34 Main Street.

You you approved the city commission approved 1.5 million to fix that.

And then she came back September the 10th for another 1.4 million dollars.

Three million dollars.

And in the RFP, it says that another two million dollars was for asbestos abatement.

We're talking about five million dollars here for Main Street.

And she talked about the aesthetics and what the building's gonna look like.

I can show you poor aesthetics in my neighborhood when I leave from downtown.

I can show you asbestos sitting right there on Third Street, a fire pile that's still sitting there.

Those are hazards.

Children play in those areas.

The wind blow.

That's cancer causing materials out there, just still sitting there.

The same thing that happened over there at Cornell.

Where is the emergency resolution for that?

We are sick of the disinvestment from the city.

And there's got to be a change.

All right.

And guess what?

I'm not gonna continue to put everything on the city manager.

I'm putting it on you all because you all are voting for it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I call to the podium Paul Kerrigan.

Good morning.

Paul Kerrigan, 1525 Pershing Boulevard.

I think there's been a misunderstanding.

I wanted to address the city manager's recommendations coming up later.

But since I'm here, I'll ask the question I'm gonna have.

The uh what is I'm forgetting the name of it?

Actually, it's your petty cash account, 18 million dollars to be approved of about 12.5 million dollars every year.

This is for a year and a half.

Does it really my question is it really a petty cash fund?

Is this you're asking to fund this?

I'm trying to understand how that account works.

Item number P card.

Fifth third bank.

Service Cream is number two.

That's what I was talking about.

So if you guys can address that at some point, because he hasn't even presented it yet.

I'm out of order.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

I call to the podium, Kenya Akbar.

Kenya Akbar, 147 East Hillcrest, Staten, Ohio, 45405.

I just wanted to bring to your attention the redlining issue that I've talked about a number of times when I've come before you.

There is something called a community-based agreement.

So when these extractive capitalists come into our community via the city manager's office, we do have an opportunity to ask for a community-based agreement, which will allow us to make up for some of this disinvestment.

We can use that money to help rehab houses to even give some forgivable business loans for people in West Dayton to start new businesses.

So that's a great way for us to support the community that's been disenfranchised.

And so we need to consider that when these extractive capitalists are coming in.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That concludes speakers on calendar items.

Thank you.

Appreciate that, Mr.

Clendon.

Uh commissioners, any comments on the city manager's recommendations.

Uh Commissioner Beckham.

Um thank you, Honor.

Um, I'll be very brief.

Um very happy to see this investment uh in the new Dayton Boys and Girls Club, much needed uh youth services for West Dayton, so looking forward to that.

Also, I know gateway shelter, that's been a long time coming, so uh definitely eager to see those upgrades happen over there.

Uh thank you for the citizen and uh resident comments that were made uh particularly around uh demolition.

I think uh those are intriguing uh recommendations that we'll have to look into.

So those are my comments.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner, Commissioner.

Yeah.

Uh Mr.

Parlay, could you explain that $18 million?

If my understanding is many many employees are authorized to have these P cards to do regular purchases that are within the budget.

And the $18 million is simply the um finance department's ability to pay the credit card expenses that are charged in the routine business.

Uh actually, Commissioner and uh the Deputy City Manager Lofton can certainly chime in if necessary, but I believe these uh contracts are relative to us receiving payments and fees that the banks charge for those transactions.

It has nothing to do with P cards.

Oh pedigre.

I think there's two items on here, aren't there?

There's one around the two and four.

Oh, oh, you're right.

First one is P card.

I mean, you're right.

It is you're you're correct.

I'm sorry.

I I was focused on the uh the other one.

But yes, uh these it's not necessarily um discretionary to a large degree.

Um could you repeat your question?

No, I was just trying to help Mr.

Kerrigan understand the process.

These are not discretionary charges, these are actually budgeted items.

Correct.

Yes, everything is budgeted.

I don't know what the limit is, but on each P card there's a limit.

That's correct.

Employees have the authorization to make purchases, like well, you know the record department, the rec needs something in uh an emergency assistance.

It is internally, it is very heavily regulated, audited, and managed.

Yes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But it's simply this is giving the authority for us to pay for those charges that are accrued through the routine business of the organization.

All right, thank you.

Um Mr.

Parley, I had a question around the Indianola property.

Um I'm fearful, are there any um any provisions in this sale that if the property isn't brought to code, or is there a timeline for when the property needs to be brought into code?

And is there any like parameters that this it comes back to the city if the um purchaser isn't able to bring that property up to code?

Um, if you give me a hot second.

Yeah, it's uh it's the first uh legislative or we're selling 25 Indonola for a thousand dollars.

Right.

The the uh time of compliance has passed.

Um so action is being taken to dispose of the property.

Right, but I'm I'm curious if we've learned from our mistakes from lot links.

We're selling a property for a thousand dollars that's gonna need significant investment.

Um the city already owns it, so we're selling it to an investor.

Um I'm curious if we've done the due diligence to know the business plan that's actually going to be able to improve that property if we have a realistic timeline with that property, and if they don't meet it, whether it comes back, because you know the mistake of the lot links is people who would get that, they couldn't develop it, and then we had to spend more resources to get control back of it.

No, I I completely understand your question and my inability to answer your question would suggest that maybe we we pull this for a week.

Okay.

Um because I I I can't answer specific questions.

But I I would have appreciated an advanced uh question.

Okay.

Yes.

Yeah, all right, thank you.

Yep.

And then uh I just want to congratulate the mayor on working so hard to um bring about this um contract that's gonna be adding resources to address the uh street outreach program for pre people who are homeless.

You know, when the mayor um saw the safety report from downtown as well as her overall um vision for reimagining public safety.

You know when the mayor um saw the safety report from downtown as well as her overall um vision for reimagining public safety, um she saw this as a key piece of that, and I think we have a great opportunity to um start to put in place how we reimagine public safety and some of these opportunities to address issues um upstream rather than waiting for them to get downstream and you know being able to help people when they need that crisis, having these uh trained uh professionals out there engaging with these citizens, getting the resources they need, hopefully preventing them from getting into a place where law enforcement has to be involved is uh I think gonna be a significant um opportunity for us.

I think the mayor also I think the contract also allows us to get into more communities where we're seeing people who are homeless.

And uh so I congratulation.

Well, thank you, colleagues, for supporting this city manager for um doing the work um to get us here.

And uh thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner.

Yeah, real quick.

Just I really just wanted to thank uh my colleagues for uh uh agreeing to support this uh boys and girls club investment.

It is a leverage investment, significant uh leverage there.

Uh and I think it's gonna do great things for our young people.

Commissioner, you didn't mention your role in this, which has been huge, huge.

So thank you very much for your dedication to the community for the boys and girls club.

Thanks.

Uh I just have one additional uh you mentioned it, but I want to to foot stomp that we're we're starting up uh well continued renovation of the the Men's Gateway shelter, which uh everyone knows it's a crisis in this country right now.

I'm really proud of us.

Thank you, staff, and thank you, colleagues, for uh moving resources where they need to be to help help serve that population.

Uh there's a great need there, and I'm I'm glad we're rising to meet it here.

Your Honor, if I may, before we move forward, I was informed that we have staff present that can answer uh questions relative to Indianola before we pull it.

Um Ms.

Veronica Morris uh I'd ask from economic development to come forward and answer the questions that I could not.

Thank you, Mr.

Parlett.

That's great.

Thank you.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Morning.

Good morning.

Vice Mayor, City Managers, staff.

Um, yes.

To answer your question, our division division of economic development goes through a betting process for anyone looking to purchase property through the city.

So we asked for a business plan, we asked for a scope of work.

If possible, we ask for design, and then we enter into a development agreement on the back end to ensure that those things are actually occurring, and we have revisionary language in those agreements.

Okay.

Great.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Morris.

Commissioner, you okay to move?

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

Uh well, thank you, Commissioners.

Uh, may I have a motion to approve the city manager's recommendations?

I move to approve the city manager's recommendations.

Second the motion, your aye.

Thank you.

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

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

Any abstentions?

Thank you.

Uh colleagues who have board appointments this morning.

For which I'm going to abstain.

Do we do legislation before board appointments?

Not on this calendar.

All right.

Um I moved to reappoint Cheryl Garrett, Katie Joseph, and Kenya Meyer to the Board of Tax Review for a term ending June 30th, 2028.

And I second that.

So we're properly moved and seconded to a reappoint Cheryl Garrett, Katie Joseph, and Keena Meyer to the Board of Tax Review for a term ending June 30th, 2028.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed say no.

And I abstain.

My sister-in-law.

Yeah.

Uh legislation, Ms.

McClendon.

First reading ordinance number 32195-26, authorizing the sale of certain real estate located at 25 Indianola Avenue for economic development purposes.

First reading ordinance number 32196-26, authorizing the sale of certain real estate located at the corner of North of Main Street and Helena Street for economic development purposes.

Second reading ordinance number 32194-26.

Repealing, amending, and enacting various sections of the revised code of general ordinances relating to the zoning code.

Commissioners Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Aye.

Fairchild.

Aye.

Beckham.

Aye.

Ordinance Ordinance number 32194-26 has passed with four votes in favor.

Second reading resolution number six nine three nine-two six.

Approving the submission of a grant application for the fiscal year 2026, United States Department of Transportation, Small Community Air Service Development Program Authorizing the Acceptance of a Grant and an amount of $1 million and zero cents on behalf of the City of Dayton.

Commissioners Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Aye.

Fairchild.

Aye.

Beckham.

Aye.

Resolution number six nine three nine dash two six has been adopted with four votes in favor.

Second reading resolution number six nine four zero dash two six.

Declaring the intention to appropriate real property interests in parcels 8T, 9 SHT, 12T, 15T, 22 T, 30 T, 33T, 36 SHNT, 38 T, 43T, 46 T, 47T, 48 T, 51T, 54 T, and 57 T in connection with the Smithville Road Reconstruction Project.

Commissioners Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw.

Aye.

Fairchild.

Aye.

Beckham.

Resolution number six nine four zero-26 has been adopted with four votes in favor.

Second reading resolution number six nine four one-two six, declaring the intention to appropriate real property interest in parcels 130 T, 156 T, 166 SHT, 168 SHT, 169 T, 171 T, 172, SHT, 175 T, 177 T, 178, SHNT, 179, SHNT, 180T, 181, SHNT, 182 SHT, 183, SHT, 195 T, 196 T, 197 SHT, 198 SHT, and 199 SHT in connection with the Salem Avenue Reconstruction Phase 5 project.

Commissioners Joseph.

Aye.

Shaw?

Aye.

Fairchild?

Aye.

Beckham.

Aye.

Resolution number six nine four one-two six has been adopted with four votes in favor.

And that concludes legislation, Your Honor.

Thank you, Ms.

McClendon.

Uh are there any citizens registered to speak today?

Your Honor, there are nine citizens registered to speak.

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

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

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

When the green light comes on, you will have three minutes to speak.

After you have spoken two and a half minutes, a yellow light will come on and you will have 30 seconds remaining to speak.

When the red light comes on, you will be asked to cease your comments and to take your seat.

To the audience in attendance, please be mindful this is a business meeting, and we kindly request that during this portion of the meeting you refrain from any hand clapping, finger snapping, and conversation that would prevent the city commission from hearing the speaker's comments.

I call to the podium Ebony Hastings.

I am here to ask the commission to do one thing in the 2026-27 budget.

Shift real money.

About 10 million dollars a year into the West and Northwest Staten neighborhoods that have been disinvested in for three generations.

We can't wait until August to begin the necessary requests.

We must be proactive rather than reactive and consider all things contributing to the public safety issues.

The disinvestment is a public safety issue, and here is why.

Last year, four out of five shootings with the injuries in this city happened in West and Northwest Dayton.

Those are the same census tracts that were redlined in the 1930s.

The same blocks that lost their grocery stores, the same neighborhoods that lost 15,000 jobs when NCR left.

The geography of the disinvestment and the geography of the violence are the same, Matt.

And right now, this city depends on about this city spends about $7 on policing for every $1 on neighborhood revitalization and youth programming combined.

I am not asking you to cut a single officer.

I am not asking you to rebalance the growth in the budget and the discretionary dollars that already exist towards prevention.

Here's what 10 million dollars a year would do.

First, scale the cure violence program from one pilot side to four or five sites across west, northwest, and east Dayton.

The research is clear.

Every dollar invested in community violence intervention saves up to 41 dollars in medical and criminal cost.

Criminal justice costs.

Second, double summer youth jobs and extend recreation hours during the 4 to 10 p.m.

window when the youth violence peaks.

Third, keep demolishing the worst grade five properties, but give Dayton residents first right of purchase on grade three and grade four homes.

They will rehab and live in, one dollar acquisition price, a forgivable rehab loan, a rehab concierge to walk them through the paperwork, build resident wealth, not invest their portfolios.

Fourth, bring manufacturers and grocery stores back to West Dayton, but do it the right way.

No more 100% 15 year tax abatements with no strings attached.

Dayton public schools already lose 1.2 million dollars a year to TF TIF deals.

Every future incentive must come from with a binding community benefit agreement with real clawback.

If the community company leaves in local hiring requirements, we have been burned too many times.

Commissioners, you can spend the next decade managing the consequences of disinvestment through the criminal justice system, or you can spend a fraction of that addressing the cause.

The evidence says the second path is cheaper.

The lives say it's right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I call to the podium to lead Petaway.

Talid Pedaway 915 West Grand Avenue.

Morning.

The same way data centers became an issue that needed nipping in the bud, need to be proactive in reinforcing zoning.

So residents are enabled to decide to live more densely, guiding them towards ownership with local policy that state can model.

We need to look at easing the process for turning properties into co-ops and condominiums.

We are a nation that prides itself on the idea that ownership matters, but continuously takes that ability away, employing private businesses to make affordable housing that the tenant would never own.

In my estimation, we're enabling social programs for businesses, not the people.

And what is the plan when the 10-year clock runs out when the building is no longer required to serve only the people who need affordable housing?

As costs keep rising, these discussions stop being about housing by affordability and become about deciding where we put our poor, which is never where there is abundance.

We have setbacks, but we are not on the coast.

We have an abundance of vacant land and bordered up housings, boarded up houses.

So I see no reason to regulate, relegate low-income folks to congestion.

You want to do this community a favor, figure out how to account for the working poor.

Those making 80 to 100,000 a year, still living paycheck to paycheck.

We need a city integrated by income, not segregated by it.

So finally, to this board, I ask how many vacant lots do we have zone for large residentials, and how many of those does the city already own?

Thank you.

Thank you.

I reside at 150 North Wolfward Avenue, Dayton, Ohio.

I was here last Wednesday.

I mentioned that uh I'm a member of the Heavenly Parents' Holy Community, Heavenly Parents, which means God.

And we believe that God is a male being and a female being, heavenly father and heavenly mother.

I just wanted to also share with you that my purpose in life is to live for God, is to live for Jesus, my only begotten.

Um of God in Christ.

Um from 1974, I lived as a missionary until now.

And I want to in my life, I don't know how much longer I can live, I'm 71 now, but I want to really live my life to serve God and to serve Christ and to serve mankind.

So while I'm here in Dayton, I'm at Daytonian until I return to Nigeria, which is where my husband is.

But I just want to share a little bit about our beliefs in our movement at this time.

From the beginning, our creator, that means God, Heavenly Parent has had a dream.

That dream is to live together in oneness with all humanity, as sons and daughters through the perfected true parents and the kingdom of heaven on earth and in the and the eternal world.

And the original parents were Adam and Eve.

But unfortunately, they fell into sin.

So God has been working throughout human history to bring about his true parents of goodness.

To realize that dream, there must be perfected true parents.

The creator made all things in heaven and on earth in the divine image and lastly created the man and woman who were to become our first ancestors.

The creator gives human beings a period of growth and waits for them to grow and attain perfection through their own conscious effort.

However, because our first ancestors fell away from Heavenly Parent before attaining perfection, the dream could not be realized.

As a being whose beginning and end are the same, Alpha and Omega.

After starting something, Heavenly Parent must see it through completion.

Heavenly Parent cannot abandon everything that went wrong due to the fall and create something new to replace it.

Instead, in keeping with the principles of creation, in order to bring about the birth of the only begotten son and only begotten daughter, who would restore the world from its fallen state.

Heavenly Parent had to carry out the providence of salvation after selecting the people of Israel as the chosen people.

Heavenly Parent has to guide the work to indemnify.

Beginning from the individual level.

Thank you.

I'm very grateful.

Thank you for your attention.

God bless you and have a good day.

Thank you, and thank you for your service.

Thank you.

All right.

I call to the podium Cody Rowling.

Rowden.

Hi, Cody Rowden, 60 6701 Taywood Road, Inglewood, Ohio, 45322.

Good morning, commissioners, city managers, and clerk.

My name is Cody Rowden once again, and I am here today on behalf of the Dayton Black Rodeo to express our sincere gratitude to the city of Dayton and the entire Dayton community for the incredible support shown to our inaugural event.

The Dayton Black Rodeo was more than a single day of entertainment.

It was an opportunity to showcase Dayton on a larger stage.

Bring people together and highlight the talent, businesses, and community spirit that exists throughout our region.

More than 4,000 people attended the rodeo, including visitors from communities across Ohio and from other states.

And a special thank you to our mayor and commissioner Beckham for attending.

And if I missed anyone else who attended, my apologies.

The response though was incredible, and we were proud to see Dayton represented in such a positive way.

The media coverage surrounding the event helped tell a different story about our city, one centered on culture, entrepreneurship, community, and opportunity.

The impact of the rodeo extended far beyond the gates.

More than 60 vendors participated, creating opportunities for small businesses, our entrepreneurs, and organizations to connect with thousands of attendees.

The event created an economic ripple effect across multiple industries, including local trucking companies, farming community, vendors, retailers, hospitality businesses, entertainment professionals, and countless small businesses.

More than 150 dump truck dump truck loads of dirt were supplied for the rodeo pit, coordinated through the hard work of Griffin Farms.

We want to specifically thank them for helping make that part of making them that part of the event possible.

We also want to uh recognize our media partners, CBK Media and Hard Work on Three, two outstanding local small businesses whose work helped capture the spirit of the day from engaging with guests on the ground to showcasing smiling faces and unforgettable moments on the welcome stadium video board.

They helped create memories that will last a lifetime.

We do want to recognize the partnership with the Dayton Police Department.

A special thank you to Ron Miller and Chad Nedler for working with us on safety planning.

Thousands of people attended the event, and there were no incidents at the rodeo.

Beyond that, the interactions between officers and attendees were positive and showed the value of building trust and relationships within our community.

The success of this first year has motivated us to continue growing.

We are already preparing for next year's rodeo and looking for ways to expand our impact throughout the Dayton City year-round.

So we just want to thank you.

Thank you to the city of Dayton, our residents, our businesses, our partners, our volunteers, and everyone who welcomed the Dayton Black Rodeo.

This event showed what happened when a community comes together.

Dayton shines.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I call to the podium, Rodney Stark.

Rodney Stark, 4526 Alfred Drive, Dayton, Ohio.

After Miss Cody, I think I'll calm it down because it just took me back to that rodeo.

I had a great time, I'm telling you, it was great.

I want to say I want to give a special thanks to all the commissioners who met with me.

I know it took a little while for me to uh meet with you.

Um Commissioner Fairchild, Commissioner Shaw, Joseph, and Commissioner Beckham.

I appreciate it.

And I also met with the mayor's policy aide, uh, Mr.

Jacob.

Thank you all.

I I really appreciate the conversation that we had.

I learned a whole lot from each and every each and every one of you.

But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna hold you all accountable, also.

And I also found that uh, in order to move some legislation through, you need three votes, right?

And it starts with Miss Jackson.

She is the chief of staff, all right?

The lich pen between the commission and the city manager, right?

You heard the citizens today.

They're not just here wasting their time.

I'm not here wasting my time just to come down here just to speak.

I don't care nothing about public speaking in front of people, but I'll come out when I have to come out.

And the things that I'm hearing from the citizens today is disinvestment.

You all have said that we have been disinvested so for decades, right?

We have been redlined for decades, especially on the west side of Dayton.

Where is the emergency order?

Where is the money that's going into our community?

You can draw a line directly from to the from the disinvestment to the deaths, the murders that's happening right here in the city.

You all are responsible for that because you're not investing.

Some people say no, you're not.

It's personal responsibility.

Yes, it's personal responsibility, but also a city responsibility because you're not bringing the dollars to invest in our areas also.

I have a personal uh uh been affected personally by a death, right?

I'm a I am a mentor in a veteran's treatment court.

I mentor veterans who come back who's going through different issues.

I helped them get the services they need, whether it's therapy, housing, whatever the case may be.

One of my veterans was killed out here on Niagara.

That's why I'm wearing this uh ribbon.

Why should a veteran come back home from combat and walk around and can't find decent housing in the city of Dayton?

Why?

I knew when he took that housing over there, I said it was not a good area.

All areas in the city of Dayton should be a good area to live.

And it should be a safe area, especially for our veterans.

I'll talk to you more about that.

So thank you.

Thank you.

I call to the podium, Kimaru Watenza.

Good morning, everybody.

Uh, my name is Kimaru Wattenza.

I live at 1200 West Grand Avenue in Dayton, Ohio.

Um May 2nd to May 4th, 1945.

The seven the all-black 761st Tank Battalion liberated thousands of Jews from the Gersh Ken Chin Concentration Camp in Austria.

Um, Israel, with the assistance of the U.S.

government is committing genocide to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

We must divest in Israel and stand against genocide.

The same forces who are assisting the genocide of the Palestinians and are currently gerrymandering black people in this country so that our votes do not count in several states.

These fascist forces will soon come to Dayton to kidnap Dayton residents for to put in their four pop profit concentration camps.

So my question to the police department is what is your plan to protect Dayton residents from these illegal searches and seizures?

The question is not rhetorical.

I would like an answer because I've not heard a plan.

And these people are coming.

They have come from four citizens and residents of other citi cities.

They will soon come for the Haitian community in Springfield, and they will certainly come for citizens in Dayton.

What is your plan to protect us?

Thank you.

I called to the podium, Kenya Akbar.

David Ezradi.

David Osradi, 113 Bonner Street.

Morning.

What?

Morning, Matt.

Why do we have kids running the streets with nothing to do?

Maybe it's because our incompetent city manager and her team can't keep a single pool open seven days a week, like any other community.

She closes at 3 p.m.

on Saturdays.

Never open on Sunday because she thinks it's a Chick-fil-A she's running.

We have a water park.

It's been closed since COVID.

We've never been told the real reason it closed.

Was it bad pipes?

The line about lifeguards is bum.

Okay.

You have no shortage of lifeguards.

We have four to five lifeguards working at a single pool at any one time.

That means we have one lifeguard in the chair and two to four others sitting in the back, reading, eating, watching videos, playing on their phones.

They can't keep the locker room showers clean.

That's their job.

Their one job other than sitting in that chair.

They can't keep the drains clean.

And we're paying a three dollars extra per hour to some undisclosed staffing firm that has no contract according to city employees.

$3 an hour more to them.

Because somehow you don't seem to think that lifeguarding is a real job, like trash collecting is, and you don't want to have city employees.

So somebody at that staffing firm is giving a kickback to somebody in this building, and you need to look into it.

Because there is no excuse for the demeaning nature of a temporary staffing firm to an essential job to keep vital city services open.

Because you sure aren't getting your money's worth right now.

We can't even station one of those lifeguards to make sure people shower before entering the pool, which is more like a public bath these days.

Little old biddies getting in with their lotions and their perfumes on first time they get wet is when they go in the pool.

That is not how you run a pool.

And that's why the water visibility is horrible.

The no-shower enforcement is a big part of it.

The rest is general incompetence by your swim staff.

Congrats, one small bit of racism gone.

But before you say your staff, so many lifeguards, because of the risk of another child drowning in the pool, and you have to pay a million dollars, you still let Dayton residents get shipped to the Montgomery County jail where they torture and kill your constituents.

You also have lots of money for 34 North Main Street that has no public use.

Let's be clear.

We've known for months that they were going to close Laura, and yet the GDCR is not open.

Thank you.

And congratulations on filling in for you.

Thank you.

I call it the podium, Paul Carrigan.

Good morning once again.

Paul Kerrigan, 1525 Pershing Boulevard.

And uh every time I come here, I feel ridiculous in what I'm here to complain about compared to all the other issues these people have in this great city.

But I'm here to talk about two things.

One is continuing speeders on my street, Pershing Boulevard, the hill section.

Um it's not gonna stand.

Not here to talk about petitions.

Nobody's gonna want to talk about a petition on that street.

We've had it up to here with petitions with all the renters that live there.

That's the second issue I want to talk about.

The rental properties on that street and around Belmont and around Dayton for that matter.

There's one in particular.

Trying to decide whether I want to say the address or not.

I think I'll I'll reserve that for later.

Um that is a plight.

Hasn't been mowed.

Hasn't been mowed in years, as a matter of fact.

People that live there just recently moved in back in February.

They haven't bothered to attend it.

Well it was sat vacant since last summer.

I moated at the end of last year.

I'm not doing it anymore.

Backyard is taking out our control.

I don't know what to do about it, other than to call the usual numbers to complain.

Owners are taking this money.

I know the rent, two doors down for me.

It's $1,340 a month.

The rent.

So they're playing probably somewhere close to that.

And they have two teenage boys that live there.

They can't manage to mow their lawn, clean up their gardens, have weeds up to here in them.

Again, my complaints are petty to the ones that I've heard here today.

But they're my complaints.

So my question is what do I do about this?

Because there's when you get to the top of the hill on the east side, that's a whole row, seven straight houses of rentals.

Just past Marymount.

So it's coming, it's taking over our neighborhood, and it's bringing them down.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Kerrigan.

Uh, luckily we have Mr.

Richie here who can listen to uh whatever might be.

He's right back there.

You can talk to him afterward if you would.

We'll figure out what we can do.

Yes, sir.

That concludes speakers, Your Honor.

Thank you, Mr.

McClendon.

Uh Mr.

Parlet, any closing comments?

I have none, Your Honor.

Mr.

Parlett, Miss McClendon, any closing comments?

I have none, Your Honor.

Uh Commissioners, any closing comments from you, Mr.

Beckham.

Thank you, uh, your honor.

Uh just a few.

Uh of course want to thank all the residents who came out this morning and share their concerns and comments um to us as a commission.

Um, I also want to um uh comment on the uh I mean, we have all, I think, uh asked for updates on the GDRC pool, and uh we'll be of course monitoring uh the progress of reopening that pool as soon as we can.

So uh it is something I continue to hear about, and I've of course uh engage staff to see where we are, and we'll continue to do so until uh we are able to successfully reopen that pool.

So um thank you for raising that again.

Um to Commissioner Joseph's point, uh unmowed grass is a uh inspection concern.

Uh so glad Mr.

Richie's here um to help you address that concern, Mr.

Kerrigan.

Um to the Dayton Black Rodeo, Miss Cody.

Um, just want to congratulate her and the team on that event.

I was able to spend about an hour or so with them Saturday.

Um truly uh very positive and exciting uh event for the city.

I thought it very much brought uh some good energy uh this past weekend, and I just want to uh thank them for their leadership uh to bringing that event to Dayton and look forward to uh them making it annual.

So uh I know she left, but Miss Cody, if you see this, congratulations.

Um want to thank the recreation department um who was able to also go out to Westwood for the um Dayton recreation event in the neighborhood this past Saturday.

Uh saw a lot of young people and families out there.

Uh I think there's about two more of those this summer.

So uh thank you to the recreation department.

And lastly, uh just want to thank uh Bishop Joel Lofton.

Uh he hosted a uh panel discussion also Saturday morning of uh uh African American males at his uh church, Abundant and Christ Center Ministries.

I was able to MC that panel um and it was really I think empowering and um uh insightful, a lot of uh diverse careers up there uh during that that discussion.

So uh just want to thank all of the events uh uh that were organized this past week, and I hope everyone enjoyed Juneteenth.

And um again, thank you for um all of the organizers and uh appreciate everyone for attending, so thank you.

Those are all my comments.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Commissioner.

Yeah, um Mr.

Parlant, I had a question.

Uh I'm used to on the last commission meeting of the month, getting a demolition report.

I'm missing Mr.

Gondel this morning.

I believe he's out of town.

Okay, great.

Um what he'll be next week, all right.

Um and I say that particularly for Mr.

Stark, who was asking around the demolition, and uh one of the things about that report is you can see where all the demolition has taken place across the city, and you'll see that um is spread out quite significantly across the city.

Um but I appreciate your points and wanted to make you aware of that.

We also have the housing condition report that's gonna be made this month.

Do I have that correct?

It's coming up, so you want to watch for that too, which will help us uh think about um our priorities and how we um continue to work to not only remove blight but improve neighborhoods.

Um Ms.

Hastings, I wanted to thank you for coming, starting to talk about budget priorities.

Um I think that's one of the um most neglected public conversations that we have.

We make public hearings available for the budget, and oftentimes very few citizens come and speak.

So hopefully um your initiative will help a more robust conversation around the budget as we enter into that season.

Uh well, I was gonna greet Reverend Forbis, who was here, but it appears that he stepped out.

Um it's good to see my classmate.

Um echoed Commissioner Beckham's comments about all the organizers around Juneteenth.

Uh the Wine Laggers had their first of four beautification days, and from what I can tell, it was very successful.

They have opportunities coming up on June 27th, July 11th, and July 18th if you want to join them in making our city uh more attractive, improving the conditions of our neighborhoods.

Uh opportunities coming up.

The Dayton Metro Library is holding a ribbon cutting this afternoon for the dedication of the Center for Community Impact and Innovation.

This will be at the main library, and it's from 4 30 to 5 30.

Uh this new hub will connect residents, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and community organizations with resources and partnerships that support economic growth, workforce development, wellness, and long-term community impact.

So I invite people to come out for that.

Umgratulations to the group from the neighborhood leadership institute who hosted the watch party over at Yellow Cab.

The place was packed, the men's team won.

It was an exciting time.

Um I got to sit at a table with the man who came the furthest.

There was a pilot for FedEx who lives in Utah, was here overnight, looked up where can I watch the watch the game and found the yellow cab.

And it was a great time for community.

Um the men teams play again tomorrow night at 10 p.m.

And I know we can watch at least the first half together at Fifth Street Brew Probe if people want to come out for that.

And then finally, um, you know, you know of big reads.

I'm having a mini read.

Uh I'm looking for a book to read in July and invite you to join me.

It'll be around American ideals, around the 250th anniversary, uh democracy, uh, what patriotism means.

I have one recommendation.

I'm looking for more, so uh please send them my way, and next week I'll tell you the book I'm reading and uh in July.

And if you want, you can join me.

It may be a mini read of one, but hopefully if you will join me.

Thank you, Commissioner.

Mr.

Shaw.

Yeah, well, I also want to thank the residents that came out to speak today.

Appreciate you being here.

Uh the Mayan Valley Urban League is hosting a series of college tours this summer, giving students the opportunity to explore five local college campuses.

Uh participants will visit Antioch, Sinclair, the University of Cincinnati, uh University of Dayton, and Central State University.

Uh the tour is open to students in Montgomery County and surrounding areas, but registration closes on June 30th.

Interested students should shine up uh as soon as possible on uh Myam Valley Urban League's webpage or call 937-226-1513.

And then finally, I see uh Mike Campbell is in the audience today.

I understand that you are retiring, and I just want to thank you.

I know that we all would like to thank you for your service to our community uh and wish you uh much success and and uh and fun in your retirement.

All right.

Thank you very much.

You should mention 40 years of services.

40 years.

Hard to believe, isn't it?

Okay.

But thank you very much.

I echo my colleagues' comments.

Uh also thank you to everyone who's come out.

Uh it's good to hear what folks are thinking.

Uh, we have some action items to take here, obviously.

We need to work.

Uh and I just have two other items to mention.

First is that uh Saturday is gonna be another uh East Neighborhood Recycle event.

Uh they're accepting things like styrofoam, which is not often accepted.

Styrofoam batteries, tires, electronics, small appliances, cardboard, uh some other materials.

It's gonna be at Highland Park from 9 to 1130 on Saturday.

It's a great event.

Uh, frankly, it's kind of a nice social event too, because a lot of folks from the East Neighborhoods are there.

Uh but bring bring uh whatever recyclables you have and stay and chat a little bit.

Uh also this Saturday uh we have a welcome to Dayton Award Refugee Day.

We're celebrating with the rest of the world.

Uh we have it at the main Dayton Metro Library downtown from 11 to 2.

There's food, there's performances, opportunities connect with services uh and other folks that are work with refugees.

Uh attendees are encouraged to bring personal hygiene donations for Catholic Social Services Refugee Services Program.

Hope to see you there.

That's this Saturday at the main library from 11 to 2.

Well, with no for the business come before the commission, this meeting is adjourned.