Dayton City Commission Meeting - October 21, 2026

The Dayton City Commission met in regular session on October 21, 2026, with Mayor Turner Sloss and Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, Fairchild, and Beckham present. The meeting opened with an invocation by Commissioner Fairchild and the Pledge of Allegiance. It included a Lights On After School proclamation, approval of routine items and legislation, a board appointment, and comments from 17 to 18 registered speakers.

Proclamation

• The commission proclaimed October 22, 2026 as Lights On After School Day in Dayton. Wesley Biles, manager at Learn to Earn Dayton, accepted the proclamation and explained that the summer and after-school collaborative supports academic engagement, resilience, and economic mobility. Malcolm Keith, director of Dave Nurvin Young Life, said his group surveyed more than 450 high school students and left idea cards with the commission.
• Commissioners praised the program and its young participants; Commissioner Joseph asked about linking the program with HRC and Know Your Rights efforts and with recreation center programming.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the October 14, 2026 meeting by unanimous voice vote.
• Approved the city manager's recommendations by unanimous voice vote, including the purchase of three Silverado pickup trucks totaling $175,544 and a $12,500 moral obligation claim settlement involving Peter Gearrich and Height Law. Mayor Turner Sloss said settlement details are not disclosed because of confidentiality and attorney-client privilege.

Public Comments & Testimony

Calendar Item Comments

• Alec Johnson (Hearthstone) asked the commission to apply public trust doctrine to climate stewardship and to publish operational needs, cleaner alternatives, lifetime cost, and expected emissions for the Silverado pickup truck purchases.
• Sharon Screech objected that the agenda did not explain why the city was paying a $12,500 moral obligation settlement, saying taxpayers deserve to know why public dollars are being paid.
• Ebony Hastings asked how the city monitors maintenance, mileage, repair costs, driver behavior, GPS/telematics, and compliance for city vehicles, and what consequences apply for unsafe driving.

General Public Comment

• Leslie Shuart (Twin Towers) defended City Manager Dixtein, said she had never flat-out refused neighborhood requests, and criticized residents who complain without offering solutions.
• Jacob Kendrick asked the city to review an $1,800 waste collection bill and allow him to tear down his own house at 1217 Oak Ridge Drive instead of letting it be demolished; the mayor asked him to stay after the meeting for follow-up.
• Alec Johnson, speaking a second time, advocated for charter review or a citizen petition to create nine neighborhood districts and an elected mayor separate from the commission under the Dayton and Power proposal.
• Victoria McNeil asked for code enforcement and cleanup at 865/875 North Main Street and along East Third Street, citing overgrowth, broken windows, and graffiti.
• Paula Humphrey, representing the Hillview Neighborhood Association, requested urban preservation district zoning to stop deterioration caused by absentee property investment companies.
• Yusuf El Zayn supported the public hospital being built in West Dayton and urged quick appointment of a governing board; he also said pop-up curbs on East Third and Main Streets lack reflectors and are dangerous.
• Neil Huen, a substitute teacher, said he keeps getting school-zone speeding tickets even when he slows to 20 mph, and asked for guidance on how to comply.
• Sharon Screech, speaking again, demanded a public reporting practice for moral obligation claims and legal settlements and a transparent justification of the $80,000 outside contract for the city manager search.
• Talus Gage said he was hit by a car while cycling on a road without a bike lane after previously being ticketed for riding on the sidewalk, urging the city to build bike lanes.
• Ebony Hastings, speaking again, said accountability must also apply to city leadership, and stated that East Dayton has mental health services while West Dayton does not; she said residents deserve straightforward answers.
• Jerry Bowling, president of the McCook Field Neighborhood Association and Bear Valley Crest/Valley Pike Community Advisory Group, described Superfund cleanup delays, including a 30% remedial design about 900 days late and 250 vapor mitigation systems, and asked the city to help when needed.
• Margaret Merle raised zoning concerns at 18 Mercer Avenue, saying the structure failed front and rear setback requirements and no variance record could be found; she also asked about an inactive construction site near Edison School.
• Stephen Ware advocated for connected bike lanes, cited Week Without Driving, and noted federal cuts to bike lane grants.
• Jerry Bernbaum announced that Heritage Ohio will hold a virtual public meeting on November 2, 2026 about the Pine View Historic District National Register nomination, with review in December 2026.
• Rodney Stark thanked Commissioner Beckham for reconvening the use-of-force committee and encouraged the mayor to keep promoting Know Your Rights.
• Kia Hayes announced Hustle and Heart, a youth career fair for ages 13-18 on November 6, 2026 at the Southeast Branch of the Dayton Metro Library.
• Mark Donaldson criticized at-large city government, the end of priority boards, inspection department delays, and water costs, and said he would return with concerns about every department.

Legislation

• Emergency Ordinance 32220-26 (first reading): Amends Section 51.13 and repeals Section 51.14 to establish a single waste collection and disposal fee; the commission unanimously voted to declare the ordinance an emergency.
• Resolution 6964-26 (first reading): Declares the intention to appropriate real property interests in numerous parcels for the West Third Street Safety Improvement Project.
• Ordinance 32219-26 (second reading): Appropriates property designated Parcel 58 SH for the Smithville Road Reconstruction Project; passed 5-0, with Mayor Turner Sloss and Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, Fairchild, and Beckham voting aye.

Board Appointment

• The commission appointed Alyssa Jacobs to the Welcome Dayton Committee for a term ending December 31, 2029, by unanimous voice vote.

City Manager and Commissioner Follow-ups

• City Manager Dixtein said she would follow up on reflector visibility on new curb bumpouts, school-zone speeding complaints, the city cycling plan, and inspection activity. Commissioner Beckham requested follow-up on the North Main Street properties and said the $80,000 search-firm contract is routine for hiring a chief executive.
• Commissioner Fairchild said the city manager search contract with Raff Tillis, approved October 7, contains the scope of services and that she would provide updates after her first one-on-one on Friday. Commissioner Joseph corrected the record on priority boards, noting they were ended in 2015 under Mayor Nan Whaley and City Manager Warren Price, before City Manager Dixtein took office, and said the public hospital board still needs one more appointment.
• Commissioners also announced community events, including Route 35 public workshops on October 27-28, the Fall Harvest Festival on October 24, Beggars Night on October 30, and the Pine View webinar on November 2. Commissioner Beckham noted the commission had spent eight hours earlier that day on 2027 budget presentations.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the October 14, 2026 minutes and the city manager's recommendations by unanimous voice vote.
• Passed Ordinance 32219-26 on second reading by a 5-0 roll-call vote.
• Advanced Emergency Ordinance 32220-26 on first reading with an emergency declaration, and introduced Resolution 6964-26.
• Appointed Alyssa Jacobs to the Welcome Dayton Committee.
• Directed staff follow-ups on citizen concerns, including vehicle accountability, settlement transparency, school-zone speed enforcement, bike lane connectivity, zoning compliance, property cleanup, and the city manager search process.
• Adjourned after no further business.