Dayton Public Hearings on Citywide New Community Authority – July 29, 2026

The City of Dayton held two public hearings on July 29, 2026, regarding the proposed establishment of a citywide New Community Authority (NCA). The meetings were informational only, with no formal action taken due to a lack of quorum. The first hearing addressed the petition to establish the NCA; the second addressed the addition of parcels for the convention district hotel. City staff presented the NCA mechanism, and multiple residents and business representatives offered testimony expressing both concerns and conditional support.

Presentations

First Hearing – Citywide NCA Presentation City development coordinator Cole Hetman explained that an NCA is a public-private partnership under Ohio Revised Code 349, used to finance street, sidewalk, parks, and community facility improvements. Participation is voluntary; property owners must sign a declaration agreeing to community development charges. The NCA boundary does not need to be continuous and can include parcels citywide. Charges are recorded at the county level and stay with the parcel upon sale. Hetman emphasized the tool’s flexibility: charges can be based on assessed valuation, business revenue, food and beverage, or a parcel fee, negotiated per project. The NCA board will be appointed by the city manager and city commission collectively. The city manager would initially nominate three development members, and the commission three citizen members. Hetman noted the NCA could issue bonds but said no bond financing is currently planned. The initial addition would be parcels from the Montgomery County Convention Facilities Authority (MCCFA) for the convention center hotel.

Second Hearing – Convention District Addition Presentation Pam Plagman of the MCCFA presented the need for a headquarters hotel attached to the Dayton Convention Center. She cited $700 million in prior district improvements, and two market studies showing 80% of meeting planners require an adjacent national-brand hotel. The proposed Marriott Tribute Portfolio Hotel would generate an estimated $25 million in regional economic impact. She noted a $17 million funding gap, which the NCA would help bridge. Concord Hospitality’s Carl Renn confirmed that 73% of the hotel’s investment comes from private sources, but the NCA financing tool is critical to close the gap. John Oney, CEO of Destination Dayton, added that without the hotel, Dayton is at a competitive disadvantage for large conventions.

Public Comments & Testimony

First Hearing Speakers

• Mary Sue Gaminer (1418 Arbor Avenue) expressed appreciation for the clearer presentation but raised two concerns: first, that staff time spent on the NCA could have been directed to neighborhood needs like tenant protections and affordable housing; second, that there are no guarantees the NCA will redirect general fund dollars to neighborhoods. She asked for a guarantee that any revenue downtown would be matched by equivalent spending in neighborhoods.
• Cinda (speaker name not fully clear) criticized the governance structure, arguing that the city manager should not act as the developer and that the commission, not the manager, should appoint all board members. She noted that other Ohio cities (Beaver Creek, Huber Heights, London, South Bloomfield) have their council appoint the board. She called for five things: (1) show the NCA’s CDC assets and data on downtown tax breaks, (2) remove the city manager from the board, (3) let the commission appoint all board members, (4) disclose costs to parcel residents, and (5) delay the vote until a quorum is present.
• Alex Johnson (3206 Linden Avenue) thanked the mayor and submitted ten questions. He outlined five commitments he wants in the public record: (1) regular public reporting on finances and outcomes, (2) geographically balanced investment with a visible path for West Dayton, (3) strong labor standards (local hiring, apprenticeships, prevailing wages), (4) anti-displacement protections, and (5) continuing public oversight. He said he would support the proposal if these commitments are met.
• Rodney Stark (4526 Alfred Drive) alleged that the NCA was created to address a pre-known $17 million funding gap for the hotel, citing a June 5, 2024 FAQ. He criticized the city for leasing the former Crown Plaza property to MCCFA for $1 per year for 40 years, totaling $40 over the contract. He argued that MCCFA already collects a 3% hotel/motel tax countywide and that Dayton gives it 100% of its lodging fees. He expressed distrust, stating that the NCA is primarily for the hotel and that corporations get subsidies while neighborhoods lack basic services.
• Sarah Campbell (2224 Chamberlain Avenue) emphasized the lack of transparency and public involvement from the inception of the NCA process. She noted that the city manager mentioned $1 million in development funding for neighborhoods but asked for specifics: which neighborhoods, how priorities are set, and whether residents will have a meaningful voice. She also called for true community representation on the NCA board.

Second Hearing Speakers

• Rodney Stark spoke again, reiterating his opposition. He argued the NCA is designed to fund the hotel’s $17 million gap, and warned that if hotel underperforms, the city could be liable for $77 million. He said hotels often degrade after five years, citing the example of the nearby “Vitality” property. He stated that despite promises of neighborhood benefits, he has seen no dollars directed to his community.
• Asha Parson (605 East Fifth Street, President of Oregon District Business Association Board) expressed thanks for the MCCFA’s collaboration with the Oregon District and support for the NCA and the hotel project. She noted that the association is strengthening its structure and identifying priorities, and that the MCCFA has committed to working alongside the business community.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes, resolutions, or decisions were made due to the lack of a quorum. The hearings were informational only.
• The city commission is expected to consider a resolution to establish the NCA at a future meeting with a quorum present.
• If established, the commission and city manager will appoint the NCA board, and the first parcels (from MCCFA) will be added to the NCA, enabling the convention hotel financing.
• Several public speakers demanded amendments to the governance structure, enhanced transparency, and explicit commitments to neighborhood investment before they would support the proposal.