Dayton City Commission Meeting – September 3, 2026

The Dayton City Commission convened on September 3, 2026, addressing a range of topics including a moment of silence for a deceased Haitian student, a semi-annual report from the Independent Accountability Auditor (IAA) on police complaints, public testimony on the proposed New Community Authority (NCA), and first readings of three resolutions, including one dedicating $1 million of general fund revenue to neighborhood development.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The commission voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the August 26, 2026 meeting, with noted corrections.
• City Manager’s Recommendations: The commission unanimously approved the city manager’s recommendations, which included several grant agreements for community development block grants and resolutions related to the NCA.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Calendar Items (6 speakers):

• Sharon Screech (515 West Grand Avenue): Opposed the NCA, arguing it will impose a surcharge on downtown businesses and residents, disproportionately affecting low-income workers. She criticized the commission’s division and lack of trustworthiness.
• Alec Johnson (3206 Linden Avenue): Opposed the NCA as a tool that centralizes power and risks burdening workers and customers. Proposed the Miami Valley Community Wealth Initiative as an alternative focused on import replacement and local ownership.
• Lynn Lamance (1061 Bertram Avenue): Opposed the NCA, noting neglect of neighborhood business districts and raising concerns about gentrification. She also pressed for progress on a public hospital and maternity health services for Black women.
• Ebony Hastings (1238 Wabash Avenue): Opposed the NCA and raised broader issues including the need for a forensic audit of city contracts, a housing trust fund, police vehicle abuse, and the city’s contract with Zen City (based in Tel Aviv). She also highlighted discrepancies in Daybreak numbers.
• Rodney Stark (4526 Alfred Drive): Called the NCA a “Ponzi scheme,” arguing it will not benefit neighborhoods until bonds are paid. He criticized the use of ARPA funds and pointed to high unemployment and poverty rates in Dayton.
• Talus Gage (1921 Gettysburg): Urged commissioners to focus on one street/block at a time for community improvement and expressed frustration with unmet communication from an unnamed official.

On Legislation (11 speakers):

• Talus Gage (again): Repeated his call for focused neighborhood work and threatened to campaign against three unnamed commissioners in the next election.
• Sharon Screech (again): Asked for a timing dial instead of verbal time warnings. Criticized the commission for ignoring working-class residents and questioned who benefits from the NCA surcharge.
• Bishop Jerome McCorey (1461 Cornell): Advocated for a strong mayor form of government via a charter change, arguing it would improve accountability and give the mayor a direct mandate.
• Alec Johnson (again): The Miami Valley Community Wealth Initiative offers a practical alternative to NCA. Stated that public power should produce public wealth, not private accumulation.
• Yusuf El Zayn (4906 Amberwood Drive): Condemned the death of Pierre Damas Bell (a Haitian student wearing an ICE ankle monitor) as a result of governmental hate and indifference. Also referenced violence in Lebanon and Gaza, urging the commission to reject indifference.
• Lynn Lamance (again): Questioned the pause on the home repair loan program, board membership requirements (non-residents on HRC board), and asked for public access to IAA complaint details and patterns of officer behavior.
• Ebony Hastings (again): Demanded real power for the IAA (full video review) and joint oversight with the county. Criticized police accountability in recent deaths (Brian Moody, Reginald Thomas) and called for more resources for recreation centers and pools.
• Ryan Klein (1360 Cornell Drive): Described dangerous traffic conditions at Cornell and Catalpa, citing crashes and pedestrian injuries. Asked for physical barriers before a fatality occurs.
• Rodney Stark (again): Criticized city management of ARPA funds, cited the city’s debt from Port Authority, and called for more oversight. Said “one trick pony downtown isn’t working” and called for new leadership.
• Kevin Keller (3922 East 3rd Street): Raised traffic safety concerns on East Third Street hill, referencing near-fatal crashes. Criticized lack of action and the rule against citizens having water in chambers while commissioners do.
• William Hookstedon (1216 Cornell Road): Supported Mr. Klein’s comments, noting he was hit while walking his dog 13 months ago, suffering three broken ribs.

Discussion Items

• IAA Semi-Annual Report (Presenter: Ms. Brown, Frost Brown Todd):
  • Reviewed citizen complaints against Dayton Police from Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2026. Total of 70 originating incidents, with 23 citizen complaints and 60 specific allegations.
  • Complaints were 55% unfounded, 23% exonerated, 17% sustained (increase from previous 10% average), 3% not sustained, one in progress.
  • Sustained complaints (10) stemmed from three incidents involving three officers: oral reprimands for one officer (two incidents), written reprimands and no-work-together directive for two officers (eight allegations including discourtesy, missed court, insubordination).
  • IAA recommended revising the de-escalation policy to emphasize broader use (not just potentially violent encounters), address officer conduct that escalates situations, and clarify expectations. Policy review committee will meet within 30 days to consider changes.
  • Commissioners asked about follow-up, training (ICAT training planned for early next year), and how discrepancies in findings are handled.
• New Community Authority (NCA) Resolutions (First Reading):
  • Resolution 6949-26: Declares the City of Dayton New Community Authority and District (renamed from “Citywide” due to confusion with Citywide Development Corporation) conducive to public safety and welfare.
  • Resolution 6950-26: Adds certain parcels to the district.
  • Resolution 6951-26 (added by Mayor): Supports dedicating $1 million of associated general fund revenue to fund and promote neighborhood development across the city.
  • Commissioners expressed support for the $1M resolution as a commitment to balance downtown development with neighborhood investment. Mayor Turner Sloss noted the NCA is a pilot; if it works, it will continue.
• City Manager’s Comments: Updated that two police officers injured during an arrest of a domestic violence suspect were released from the hospital and are doing well.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved unanimously.
• City manager’s recommendations approved unanimously.
• First reading of three resolutions (6949, 6950, 6951) occurred; no vote taken on adoption – they will come back for second reading.
• $1 million neighborhood development commitment formally introduced via resolution 6951-26, with commissioners pledging to work on strategies for neighborhood corridors.
• IAA policy recommendation will be reviewed by the policy review committee within 30 days; Chief Henderson noted ICAT training will be rolled out department-wide early 2027.
• Traffic safety will be investigated at Cornell/Catalpa and East Third Street; data collection and engineering evaluation promised.
• Home repair loan program confirmed as reopened (the pause lifted).
• Public education on strong mayor vs. city manager government suggested by Commissioner Fairchild.
• Next meeting will be after Labor Day; City Hall closed September 7, 2026.