Dayton City Commission Regular Meeting - July 22, 2026

The Dayton City Commission met on July 22, 2026, to conduct regular business. The meeting opened with a memorial resolution honoring the late Pearl Howard, recognition of three exchange students from Oiso, Japan, and the announcement that the Dayton Sister City Committee received a national award. The Commission then considered the City Manager's recommendations, which included a service agreement for airport cleaning, weatherization contracts, a manufacturing facility development, and a grant to Wesley Community Center. Following public comments, the Commission voted on legislative items including emergency funding for Sierra Nevada Corporation, property conveyance at the airport, and resolutions to establish a New Community Authority (NCA). Several citizens voiced concerns about the NCA, the city manager's performance, and outsourcing.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the July 8, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Five speakers registered on calendar items addressed the Commission: Alec Johnson raised equity and transparency questions about the NCA; Lucas Smith (AFSME Local 101) thanked the Commission and administration for reaching a compromise on the airport cleaning contract; Zikia Sankara Jabbar criticized the NCA model and called for the city manager's dismissal; Rodney Stark questioned the NCA and downtown investment while highlighting West Dayton neglect; Larry Williams expressed support for the Wesley Community Center grant; and Ebony Hastings criticized the outsourced contract to a North Carolina firm and demanded better community engagement.

Discussion Items

• Airport Cleaning Service Agreement (Item 2): The City Manager presented a one-year contract with Environmental Service Systems (a North Carolina company) for deep cleaning at Dayton International Airport, 10 PM–6 AM, three days per week. The contract includes a 30-day termination clause. The agreement was developed after the item was pulled from the previous calendar and following negotiations between city leadership and AFSME Local 101. The union accepted the city's proposal, establishing a path to grow custodial staffing and a joint retention task force. Commissioners expressed support for the compromise but voiced concerns about outsourcing to an out-of-state firm. Quarterly reports will be provided.
• New Community Authority (NCA): The Commission adopted resolutions (6944-26 and 6945-26) to set a public hearing for July 29, 2026, regarding the establishment of a citywide NCA to finance development, including a $77 million downtown hotel. Multiple public speakers questioned the NCA's potential impact on equity, the displacement of African American residents (citing Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine), and the lack of transparency. Mayor Turner Sloss and other commissioners defended the NCA as a financing tool and committed to public outreach.
• West Dayton Investment: A $100,000 grant to Wesley Community Center from West Dayton development funds was approved. The center serves 1,300 unique service hours annually and supports over 200 families. Public speaker Larry Williams thanked the Commission.
• Sustainability Plan: Commissioner Joseph announced a community engagement kickoff for the city's new sustainability plan with an online survey.

Key Outcomes

• City Manager's Recommendations: Approved unanimously (all five commissioners voted aye). This included multiple contracts and grants. However, Resolution 6946-26 (Sierra Nevada Corporation project) was voted on separately as an emergency measure: passed with 4 votes in favor (Turner Sloss, Shaw, Fairchild, Beckham) and 1 abstention (Joseph, citing a conflict of interest as the project involves his employer).
• Second Readings:
  • Ordinance 32198-26 (airport property conveyance): Passed 5-0.
  • Resolution 6944-26 (NCA petition sufficiency): Passed 5-0.
  • Resolution 6945-26 (property consent to NCA district): Passed 5-0.
• Public Hearing Scheduled: July 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM for the NCA petition.
• Commissioner Fairchild's Conflict of Interest: She disclosed she requested an advisory opinion from the Ohio Ethics Committee on June 24, 2026, regarding her potential conflict on a future public hospital matter; a decision is pending within 40 days.

Public Comments & Testimony (General)

Six citizens spoke during the general public comment period: Alec Johnson condemned NSPM-7 as a political surveillance tool and proposed a Dayton Civil Liberties Act; Kenya Akbar, Asadak Sankara Jabbar, Zikia Sankara Jabbar, Reverend Kelly Kelly, and Rodney Stark criticized the city manager's performance, alleging disenfranchisement of Black residents, police misconduct, and lack of accountability. They called for her immediate firing rather than allowing her to retire in March 2027. Mayor Turner Sloss and the City Manager defended her record, citing diversity improvements in police and fire departments.