OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Dayton City Commission Meeting August 6, 2026: Demolitions, NCA, and Tenant Retaliation Concerns

City Commission — Thursday, August 6, 2026
BodyDayton, Ohio
SessionCity Commission
DateThursday, August 6, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:21:19
Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

The Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order.

0:08

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

0:13

This evening, the invocation will be given by Commissioner Shaw.

0:18

Dear God, grant it grant us strength and courage to tackle talent as of today.

0:23

Let our choices honor you and serve those we represent.

0:27

Amen.

0:28

Amen.

0:30

I pleasantly to the flag of the United States of America.

0:34

And to the Republic who is standing one nation.

0:50

All right, Miss McClendon.

0:52

May we please have a roll call?

0:54

Mayor Turner Sloss.

0:57

Commissioners Joseph.

1:00

One second.

1:01

Yep.

1:01

Excuse me.

1:16

Thank you.

1:43

All right, good.

1:50

Thank you all to our in there are in attendance this evening.

1:53

Miss McClendon, please proceed.

1:56

Mayor Turner Sloss.

1:57

Aye.

1:58

Commissioners Joseph.

2:00

Shaw.

2:01

Aye.

2:01

Fairchild.

2:02

Aye.

2:03

Beckham.

2:04

Aye.

2:05

Miss McClendon.

2:06

Excuse me.

2:06

May I please have a motion to excuse the absence of Commissioner Joseph?

2:10

So moved on.

2:13

Second the motion.

2:14

It has been properly moved and seconded to excuse the absence of Commissioner Joseph.

2:18

All in favor say aye.

2:20

Aye.

2:20

All opposed say no.

2:22

May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the July 2020.

2:29

Excuse me.

2:30

July 22nd, 2026 meeting.

2:32

So moved, John.

2:33

Second motion, your honor.

2:35

It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the July 22nd, 2026 meeting.

2:41

All in favor say aye.

2:42

Aye.

2:43

All opposed say no.

2:44

Any abstentions?

2:46

Miss McClendon, are there any communications or petitions this evening?

2:50

There are none, Your Honor.

2:52

All right.

2:52

This evening we have the monthly demolition update.

3:10

All right.

3:11

Good evening, Mayor, Commissioners, Deputy City Manager, Ms.

3:14

McClendon.

3:15

Steve Gondel, Director for the Department of Planning, Neighbors, and Development, with your Dayton Recovery Plan Demolition Udate for the month of June 2026.

3:25

All right.

3:25

In June, we saw 24 demolitions completed.

3:31

20 of those were with Ohio Department of Development Funds.

3:34

Four were with the ARPA funds for uh and that represents a total completion of the date of 121 demolitions, uh, the bulk of which are still with our ARPA funds with our ODOD funds uh sh behind that at 49.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Housing Abandonment███████████████15%
Procedural█████████9%
Housing███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Racial Equity█████5%
Economic Development█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Dayton City Commission Meeting - August 6, 2026

The Dayton City Commission convened on August 6, 2026, for a regular meeting that included a monthly demolition update, debate over the proposed New Community Authority (NCA) for a downtown hotel, and extensive public testimony on tenant retaliation, affordable housing, and governance transparency. Multiple votes were taken, including approval of an emergency airport easement ordinance and the city manager's recommendations.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the July 22, 2026 meeting (unanimous).

Public Comments & Testimony

Fifteen residents addressed the commission. Key themes included:

  • Tenant Rights and Retaliation: Sarah Linhart, Moss Dickey, Alexander Stone, and attorney Christy Ortiz detailed retaliation by Peak Ten Management at Parkland Apartments against tenants forming a union, including non-renewal of leases and restricted common areas. Ortiz proposed a city anti-retaliation ordinance and a mold ordinance modeled after policies in Columbus and Cincinnati.
  • New Community Authority (NCA): Ebony Hastings and Janet Michaelis questioned the emergency designation for the NCA, noting the public hearing lacked a quorum and the process limited public input. Hastings asked for a clear accounting of the existing NCA at the Dayton Arcade. Michaelis argued the NCA does not meet the legal definition of an emergency and cited that national convention attendance remains below 2019 levels.
  • Gaza Ceasefire: Yusuf Elzane and Dominic Stratton urged the commission to take a stance on the conflict in Gaza, referencing the city's 2020 procurement resolution on human rights. Stratton requested a ceasefire resolution on the next agenda.
  • Demolition and Gentrification: Kenya Akbar and Ebony Hastings argued the demolition program accelerates gentrification, advocating for redirecting funds to rehabilitate grade 3 and 4 homes and selling them to owner-occupants for $1.
  • Other: Jerry Bowling thanked staff for a memorial event. Rick Dawson requested renaming McCage Park to Dwight Anderson Park. L Strong expressed concerns about a group home and psychiatric facility near her home despite a moratorium.

Discussion Items

  • Demolition Update (June 2026): Steve Gondel reported 24 demolitions completed in June, 121 year-to-date (36% of 334 planned). Five emergency demolitions occurred, all fire-related. Sixty-eight structures were added to the nuisance list (89 total year-to-date). Discussion included fire tactics at a recent structure fire; Fire Chief French explained the use of a tactical burn due to structural instability. Commissioner Beckham asked about fire versus structural fails; the Mayor inquired about pile removal timelines and owner notification processes.
  • City Manager's Recommendations: Mr. Parlett presented emergency ordinance 32199-26 for an airport easement purchase to meet an ODOT funding deadline. Citizens Hastings and Stark criticized the repeated use of emergency procedures and lack of transparency. The commission voted to approve all recommendations.
  • Board Appointments: The reappointments of Nicole Miller and Marlon Aldridge to the Human Relations Council were tabled after Commissioner Fairchild requested further discussion.
  • NCA Debate: In closing remarks, Commissioner Fairchild provided background on the convention center's history (previously a "dump") and questioned the need for a new hotel given high downtown office vacancy. Commissioner Shaw defended the NCA as an economic development tool and criticized commission dysfunction. The Mayor acknowledged trust issues and proposed codifying a $1 million commitment to neighborhood development as part of the NCA.
  • Tenant Protection Legislation: Commissioner Beckham and the Mayor expressed support for exploring anti-retaliation and mold ordinances. The Mayor invited the tenant union and attorney Ortiz to meet with staff to develop next steps.
  • Investigation of ALPR Audit Logs: Commissioner Fairchild called for a full investigation into whether the city violated its own policy on auditing license plate reader logs. The Mayor affirmed support for such an investigation.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    • Approved minutes of July 22, 2026 (unanimous).
    • Approved city manager's recommendations (unanimous).
    • Passed emergency ordinance 32199-26 (airport easement) with 4 in favor (Commissioner Joseph absent).
  • Directives:
    • The Mayor will propose a resolution to formalize $1 million in neighborhood development funds tied to the NCA.
    • Staff to investigate the group home situation on Hopeland Street (noted by Mr. Gondel).
    • The Mayor and Commissioner Fairchild committed to advancing tenant anti-retaliation and mold ordinances.
    • Commissioner Fairchild raised the need for an investigation into ALPR audit logs; the Mayor concurred.
  • Next Steps:
    • NCA public hearing input to be compiled and posted on the city website.
    • Rental pilot program for home repairs launched through the Dayton Energy Collaborative.
    • Registration for the World Soccer Games (August 2026) is open via the city website.

Meeting Transcript

The Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order. Would you all please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance? This evening, the invocation will be given by Commissioner Shaw. Dear God, grant it grant us strength and courage to tackle talent as of today. Let our choices honor you and serve those we represent. Amen. Amen. I pleasantly to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic who is standing one nation. All right, Miss McClendon. May we please have a roll call? Mayor Turner Sloss. Commissioners Joseph. One second. Yep. Excuse me. Thank you. All right, good. Thank you all to our in there are in attendance this evening. Miss McClendon, please proceed. Mayor Turner Sloss. Aye. Commissioners Joseph. Shaw. Aye. Fairchild. Aye. Beckham. Aye. Miss McClendon. Excuse me. May I please have a motion to excuse the absence of Commissioner Joseph? So moved on. Second the motion. It has been properly moved and seconded to excuse the absence of Commissioner Joseph. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the July 2020. Excuse me. July 22nd, 2026 meeting. So moved, John. Second motion, your honor. It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the July 22nd, 2026 meeting. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. Any abstentions? Miss McClendon, are there any communications or petitions this evening? There are none, Your Honor.

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