City Commission - Regular Meeting

Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order. Would you please rise for the invocation? Remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Commissioner Charles is giving us the invocation tonight. Dear Lord, help us pray together so that when your will is known, we may do it together. That when crisis occur, we may face them together. Amen. Amen. Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Miss Bshire, may we have the roll call? Mayor Turner Sllos, Commissioners Joseph,

I. Shaw, Ichow, I. Beckham, I. Thank you. You may have a motion to excuse the absence of Mayor Turner Sloths. So moved, John. Second the motion, your honor. Thank you. It's been properly moved and seconded to excuse the absence of Mayor Turner Sloths. All in favor say I. I. All post say no. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the February 11th, 2026 meeting? So moved. Second motion, your honor. Thank you. It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the February 11th, 2026 meeting. All in favor say I. I. I. All post say no. All right. Miss Blackshere, are there any communications or petitions? There are none, your honor. Great. Uh, I see there are no presentations this evening. Miss Blacker, any additions, deletions, or comments on the calendar?

I have none, your honor. Great. Miss Dixstein, any additions, deletions, or comments this evening?

Your honor, this evening, I have no additions, or deletions uh to the calendar. I do have a few items I would like to highlight. Uh, item number two is a grant agreement with Northeast Church's Emergency Center, Inc. This is grant funding for the renovation of the city-owned building located at 1404 Webster. Um it is currently owned by the city but soon not going to be owned by the city. We're getting ready to convey it. This is in the Clarage Park. You recall there was a lot of um engagement and conversation around what to do with Clarage Park and some of the and the facility that's there. Um the grant will um provide funding to um renovations for the roof, the parking lot and other stabilization. And um the reason that we are going to be conveying this property is so that the food pantry can continue to operate out of there for the community. Uh along and they're also envisioning a firstf floor community room as well as a nonprofit organization offices upstairs as well. So, this property will continue to support community um activity and um gatherings. Uh so, we're excited about bringing that forward. Item number four is a contract modification. This is the first step of many um that will uh establish the early work package for the um comprehensive project to advance our PAS treatment project and this is a um construction management at risk project with shook construction. Um so you we will not see any real work or a notice to proceed until later this

year about November because we are still obtaining OEPA approval and the um uh guaranteed maximum price for this project that has to come along with it. So, but this one ensures that funding is in place as we move through those um steps so that they can move right into design and they can keep the project moving and it won't be delayed waiting for more activity. So, this is a $22 million item and as you know the the POS treatment um improvement is a $300 million uh improve capital improvement. So just wanted to make sure that you're aware that that is this is the very first step of something of many things to come because of its size. Um item number seven is an exciting award of contract. This is um e-plan inc uh to get us to that electronic document review system that we've talked about to go handinhand with our permitting so that we can um go faster and bring transparency to that process. So why this is important? Um the digital moving us to digital brings our plan review process fully online and instead of paper plans back and forth and emails and and it will all occur digitally. Um, it's better for our residents and businesses because they can upload their building plans from anywhere, from home in their slippers, um, if they want. And they can also track and see comments and updates as to the plan review process while it's going through the plan review process. So, they'll be able to track that a little bit more. And obviously, it allows us to go faster. Um, so we're excited about this. uh the system will be up and running by the end of um Q2

this year. So they've got to, you know, bring this on and integrate it and test it and make sure it's all working. But when we were working with our customers and talking with them over these last two years about what what would be impactful changes, investments into our planning and permitting um process, this was an item that they all um emphasized. So, we're excited to be bringing this forward. And uh finally, or no, next two more things. Um back on calendar is the development agreement for the Hornstein Nicholson Blumenthal Development Agreement. Again, as I cited last um week, this is an agreement that retains highwage jobs in downtown um and grows downtown numbers. So they have both retention and an expansion number. It is performance-based. So it only they only receive um the incentive if they create the new jobs and it's all about the new income tax that is generated. So it it secures their existing income tax for the next 10 years um due to the lease in the Caresource Ballpark Village building. Uh it so it retains 47 full-time jobs and creates another 10. Um and so we are um excited to be bringing this forward. Uh it's an important part of retaining the the critical mass that we need in downtown which is our economic engine um for the whole city generating 65% of our um general fund uh annually. And then finally, we have a first reading for appropriating the funds for the budget for 2026. And so I'd like to call forward director management budget Amy Abby Patel Jones to walk you through uh that presentation.

Thank you, city manager. Good evening, mayor, commissioners, clerk. Good evening. Um as the city manager mentioned, my name is Abby Patel Jones, director of management budget. Um tonight we have our first reading of the 2025 2026, excuse me, of the original appropriation ordinance. Um the proposed ordinance is um in totality is $1.5 billion. Um and this is largely driven by the carryover. Thank you.

Thanks, Kim. The the proposed ordinance is as I mentioned is $ 1.5 billion. Um and is largely driven by the carryover budget from prior year. As you can see the difference between the uh temporary budget which was adopted in November. Um the increase is $473.6 million. Um of that increase $466 million is the carryover balance. Um the carryover balance represents the previously approved unexpended fund from the prior year that are reappropriated as part of the original appropriation. This occurs every year um since the carrier amounts are not identified until December 31st of the prior year. Um, these carryover amounts are primarily the capital and non-operating budgets um that are moved forward, allowing for the funding to remain available as multi-year projects move forward. For context, last year's carryover capital non-operating funds were $334.6 million. This year's carryover balance is $466 million, which is a difference of $131.4 million. The majority of this increase is driven by the 2025 budget increase to water capital. As the city manager mentioned, in anticipation of that PAS project, um we added the budget um authority in 2025. Um so majority of that difference between last year's carryover versus this year's carryover is due to that. And as you can see, the carryover budget is really what's driving the difference between the temporary and the original appropriation. The actual substantive changes as you can see on the screen are $7.6 million. Um, walking through the changes, the first adjustment is $769,300 in the special revenue fund. Um, this

increase is to pay an invoice under an active agreement that runs through June of 2026. This funding was approved by the commission in December of 2024, but due to the year- end budget timing, um we are bringing this forward since operating care forwards are only available for one year. The next change is the 937,900 increase in water operating fund. Um this increase allows us to use the remaining debt proceeds. This is largely interest earnings from prior years to pay down portion of the outstanding 2020 debt for water system improvements. Similarly, um sewer capital is also seeing the same increase were operating, excuse me, of $1.4 million. Um this is also utilizing prior year debt proceeds to pay down portion of the 2020 debt that was issued for the sewer project improvements. Mhm.

Um to support those payments, you'll see a corresponding transfer from water and sewer capital um into the respective operating funds. And then lastly, we have an increase of $2.1 million in workers compensation fund. Majority of this increase provides funding for real estate development in addition to $45,000 increase from the temporary to original appropriation for firefighter physical exam that was not included in the temporary appropriation. And that is the totality of our all of our changes. Any questions? Thank you. Uh commissioners, any questions? Uh I have none, your honor. Commissioner.

Yeah. Um I just want to make sure couple weeks ago when you presented at the public hearing I had asked around those um those moments when we do the reappropriations throughout the year and one of the things about budget is that it's a roadmap for us right we never exactly do the budget because we don't have a crystal ball and we don't know the expenses and the income and all those things exactly so it's a road map. The reappropriations is a time when we readjust as we get a better sense of how the year's expenses and income are going. And if I understand I had asked like do we have a plan for what we prioritize at those reappropriations and I don't I haven't got that list and I understand in our conversation that we don't have that list. So

you know well I talked with you about the fact that those those reappropriations come forward as changes occur in the organizations's operating right we get grant funding we get we we have changes occurring with what whatever the operation is we don't know about them because they don't we don't fully authorize the budget to all of the departments and so they are constantly coming and coming back to make sure they have authorization. That's that's what we explained it, right? And so it's a dynamic process.

There are some expenses we don't anticipate. They get included. You guys do an incredible job of looking in all those places where there's fungeability within all of the funds that we have. How many funds do we have? I mean, that's mindboggling when I first learned that. Uh we have and um um I'll get you the exact number, but we have about four or 500 funds I would say.

Yeah. So I mean you guys do an incredible job managing 400 funds with all the different restrictions on them because some come with grants and all of that. All that's to say is is a dynamic process and I know that sometimes the commission might identify some needs that we didn't anticipate in the budget process and that there's opportunities for us to address those along the way through the re reappro reappropriation process. Is that fair? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Great. Thank you, Commissioner. Any I'm good. Yeah. All right. Thank you, M. Dix. Anything further? No, that's it. All right. Thank you.

All right. Well, then uh Miss Blackshire, any citizens registered to speak on calendar items this evening?

One citizen has registered, your honor. I would like to state that there is a threeminut time limit. As you address the commission, we ask that you state your name and address for the record. At that time, I will turn on the green light. When the green light comes on, you will have three minutes to speak. After you have spoken two and a half minutes, a yellow light will come on. You will have 30 seconds remaining to speak. When the red light comes on, you will be asked to cease your comments and to take your seat. To the audience in attendance, please be mindful this is a business meeting and we kindly request that during this portion of the meeting. You refrain from any hand clapping, finger snapping, and conversations that prevent the city commission from hearing the speaker's comments. I call to the pod podium Jerry Bowling. name and address for the record.

Good evening. My name is Jerry Bowling III. I live at 522 Herbert Street and I'm here tonight on behalf of the Makookfield Neighborhood Association and also the Bear Val um Bear Valley Pike and Valley Crest Community Advisory Group. Sorry, I got the order mixed up there. And I'm also here to support the grant that the city manager spoke of earlier. And um we we uh are asking for your support for that. Um what that will do and this is for the Northeast Church's Emergency Center at 1404 Webster Street. And 1404 Webster Street has history in the Mookville neighborhood, formerly also part of Old North Dayton. And um it's kind of been like the anchor of the park. Um, at one point in time, uh, Clar Health Center was there and as a teenager in 1973, I had a summer job and helped clean out that building. So, obviously to me, it means a lot. um the the fact that the Northeast Church's um emergency center will have a um a home that uh we know will last and I'm sure they're thankful uh for the support the city of Dayton has given them over the over time. I don't think they could sustain their effort without the support of the city. Um, it also sustainability of the building, Clarage Park, um, and the nonprofits that are going to utilize that building, including the KAG. Um, so I'd like to thank uh city staff for bringing this together. Uh, the city manager as well. And these funds, um, my understanding came from the bear lawsuit. And it's good that those dollars are staying where they're actually needed in an area that's affected by a super fund site. Um, just to give you some history on that, um,

the first public meeting for the Bears Dayton thermal product super fun site was in February. of 2007, 19 years ago. So, the super fund process is a long process. Um, our neighborhood first became aware of the contaminated groundwater in May 2002 and our primary concerns were what the test wells were going to look like at Clare Ridge Park. So, Clareidge Park was immediately impacted by that and the neighborhood immediately adjacent to the park as well. So, so 19 years. Um, Ballet Crest super fun site. It took 30 years before it was finally completed. So, we still got work to go. Um, in 1996, the Makookville Neighborhood Association was formed and Clareidge Park was our primary rallying point uh for our group. So, we have history there. Um, and we're also looking for this location to be a future hub uh for the KAG um the the food food group and any other like-minded um nonprofits and this use is also good for the neighborhood as well. So, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bull. That concludes the speaker. Thank you, Miss Blackshere. Commissioners, any comments on the city manager's recommendations? Commissioner Beckham.

Yes, your honor. I'll just have a few. Um definitely um excited to see this grant agreement uh come forward. Uh seems like we're obviously going to maintain a critical asset for the Mcookfield neighborhood. So good to see you, Mr. Bowling, and some of the other Old North Dayton uh neighborhood leadership that's here tonight. Also want to thank the city manager for bringing forward, I believe, item number seven. Um this is, you know, certainly going to save um you know, folks investing in our our city a lot of time on on the permitting side of things. So very excited about that. I would love uh if we could just get a report out on how much time, right, uh is being cut down on the process moving forward. It'd be good to have. Um and lastly, I want to also uh lift up this uh uh item number four um in terms of taking this critical step to treat PAS. Um this is um obviously a major uh you know undertaking. So it's good to see that we're making some progress and I know uh the water department's certainly happy uh to to see this this progress being made. So it's all to have your honor.

Thank you Commissioner Fcha.

Yeah, I just want to echo some of Commissioner Beckham's comments. It's great to see our leaders from Mcookfield and Old North Dayton here and congratulations on this grant and thank you for your service to that community. was speaking to people this afternoon while they were literally working in the food pantry. And so it's it's a shame that the food pantry is needed, but because there is a need, I'm grateful that you're there and I'm grateful for the use of these resources um for your neighborhood. Um also, I'm excited about the e- plan. I was at the Chamber of Commerce uh briefing on Friday morning and sat at a table with a developer and all he could talk about was our process. And so I'm looking forward to reaching back out to him and saying we passed this tonight and improvement is coming. And um and I'm curious, do we know a timeline of when we think that this might be in place?

End of second quarter. June. Okay. Awesome. And do we have a way to I'm sure we have a communication plan that we canify. Right. And we'll we'll follow up directly with our um customers that use the that submit plans. you know, that's our architects, engineers, developers that we've been meeting with and talking with. They will get a an update um as well as other ways that we'll communicate.

Great. Thank you. And then um finally, thank you for um my colleagues and you for that uh that week to look at that legislation a little bit deeper. I appreciate the information with city manager. look forward to making sure that we are making our investments in in a strong and uh in a um a way that is catalytic for our downtown. So, thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner. Yeah, not a whole lot. I I just really wanted to amplify this electronic review um document review system. You know, it's uh it's so important that government try to catch up to the speed of business

and uh this is uh moving us in that direction. So, thank you, city manager, for your work in that space, and I look forward to u to hearing more about that.

Thank you, Commissioner. Uh, I'll say that uh I'll second everything they've said. I want to add uh the emphasis on to what Commissioner Shaw just said is a technological advance like this sometimes takes longer than we expect. Uh, but it's nice to see that it's paying off and I really look forward to seeing uh how this advancement saves us time uh saves us energy and we can finally take a deep sigh relief that it's working like it should. So, I really do appreciate your work and your staff's work and willingness to go out on a limb to get this thing working. Uh, and my colleagues covered everything else I wanted to say. So, thank you all. Uh, so I would uh look for a resolution motion to approve the city manager's recommendation. I'll move ahead. I move that we approve the city manager's recommendations.

Second. It's been properly moved and seconded to approve the city manager's recommendations. All in favor say I.

I. All post say no. Legislation, Miss Blackshire. First reading ordinance number 32177-26 appropriating funds for the year 2026 to provide for the operating and capital expenses of various office offices, departments and divisions of the government of the city of Dayton. First reading resolution number 6917-26 declaring the intention of the commission to vacate the alley south of Zena Avenue from Filillmore Street to Steel Avenue and the alley east of Filillmore Street from the alley south of Zena Avenue to the vacated Noel Court. First reading resolution number 6918-26 declaring the intention of the commission to vacate Vixsburg Street from Maywood Avenue to Maywood Avenue. And that concludes the legislation, your honor.

Thank you very much. Uh, Miss Blackshire, are there citizens registered to speak this evening? Your honor, six citizens have registered and I'd like to remind everyone of our six our three minute time limit. I got to the podium. Greg West.

I'm losing some of your rollover minutes. You got letter. Uh Greg West, 1320 Kingsley Avenue, Dayton, Ohio. Good evening.

Good evening, commissioners, city manager, and everybody else who's watching. Um it's that time of year again. in our fourth annual um days with the Dragons uh baseball game. I'm here soliciting as usual trying to get uh raise funds uh from different organizations, companies, individuals. The way we've done this over the last four years, we ask people to go on the link that the Dragons have provided for us, buy a ticket, donate it back to us, and then we take some of the youth from different um neighborhoods to a Dragons game. Um, with this being our fourth year, we've ser we've taken over 250 kids over these four years to games. And what still amazes me is how many of these kids from different neighborhoods have never been to a game here in our own city. So, this is a way of getting them the exposure to new activities that are safe and fun and everything like that. And also let them know that they they have things to do in our community other than just sit around and play PlayStation. So, as uh usual, I'm asking the the commissioners and see what you can dig in your personal pockets for and go on the link and you know buy anything. And anybody else who wants to they can reach out to us at two uh 937270-3731. The number is on the um website. We also will be putting the link on our our web uh on our website uh probably in the next couple days. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, M. West. Yousef Alzain. Good evening. You Zayn, uh 4906 Amberwood Drive, Dayton, Ohio. I'm standing in front of you today as elected officials to beg of you to start speaking uh very loudly against the hate and bigotry is that is happening locally and nationwide. This press release was issued last night on behalf of the Arab Social Association ASA that read, "As we approach the holy month of Ramadan, a period dedicated to reflection, discipline, and human dignity, our community is deeply disturbed by the recent dehumanization remarks made by US Representative Rand define of Florida targeting Muslims. Dehumanizing language toward any community is not political discourse. It's a moral failure. History consistently shows that rhetoric which reduce people to something less than human fuels discrimination ex uh ex exclusion and violence. And that's why we witness in the last 24 to 28 months in Gaza. We are witnessing a troubling rise in hate across the nation. Anti-semitism, racist attacks against African-Americans with the latest news last week when two of our prominent figures were portrayed as nothing but apes. And I didn't hear much officially about that. Islamophobia Palest and dehumanizing language. If you remember earlier when I spoke when they were called Palestinians were called nothing but human animals and we saw the

the the course there. Though these incidents affect different communities, they share a dangerous and familiar pattern that erodess of of our human dignity. As Muslims in Dayton, Ohio, we stand unequivocally for the dignity and equal protection of all people, not select people that our nation is issuing one resolution after the other, giving them impunity to speak their mind, and we are deprived of our first amendment. We call on leaders at every level of government, starting with our local officials, to reject divisive rhetoric and uphold standards worthy of your public office. Ramadan reminds us that moral strength lies in justice, restraint, and compassion, as well as reflection on what we're going through. We invite all the people including you, the people of goodwill to stand together against hatred in in every form. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Paul Kurrigan.

Good evening. Good evening.

Paul Carrian, 1525 Persing Boulevard. I'm here on good note, happy moment. Yesterday, two traffic indicators were put on Persing Boulevard, the hail section. I'm gleeful, so happy right now about all that. It seems to be making an immediate effect. So, I'm going to read some things and kind of go through it real quick. I don't want to forget people. Um, it seems that the traffic has slowed down a great deal, just, you know, less than 48 hours. uh the move on the city's part shows has given us that neighborhood back to some degree. You have no idea how bad the speed Well actually you do cuz you saw the blackbox data and it looks like it's having an immediate impact. The the engineers deserve a pat on the back where they place the two the indicators. Perfect location. I would recommend those locations. They asked me where to put them. That's where I would put them. Uh, one of the colleagues down the street who spoke here a few weeks ago, Ed, had told me he'd noticed several people coming up, blasting up the street, regular people that use it that way, and slowed down his reaction to seeing that thing. I don't know what they thought. Maybe they were going to get a ticket in the mail, whatever. I hope that's what they think. But, um, the traffic again, this is too early to tell. And the other issue on that street besides the speeding was the volume of traffic. And it looks like that's having those signs are having an impact on that as well. So, I'm going to start with my thank you tour. I want to thank all of you. The former mayor of Mims and his aid right here, Cameron, who apparently has a new job I don't know about. That's okay. Um, uh, the city engineers, city managers, you all had a part in this. The police officers put up the black box that got the data for us that made this go forward. Uh, the engineers, whoever's responsible for putting them up because they were out there today fiddling with the one at the top of the hill because it what it was put up yesterday. All it said was hi hi. So like you were speeding really high or something. So I don't know or maybe you're under the influence or something.

I wasn't sure. But they were out there early this morning 8:00 fixing that. So because I got to see it and and it's sitting in a spot where as soon as you come if you're top top of the hill at at crossroad and it's where you look into the sky when you're coming when you hit that first thing you come over that hill and head down it's boom. It's right there in your face. You cannot miss it. It's just absolutely gorgeous. I'm smiling. I'm so gleeful. So happy to be here and give you good news because I've been chewing on you guys for months now. So, thank you so much. That's what I want to have to say. Congratulations. Thank you, Mr. Carrian. Kathleen G.

Kathleen G, 5066 Safeway Drive, Dayton. Um, good evening to all.

Good evening. I want to give another thanks to the voters of Dayton for getting issue nine, the public hospital issue over the goalpost. I also want to encourage anybody who's unfamiliar with the issue of a, you know, trying to grow the support for a public hospital uh and about the closing of Good Samaritan. I would say go Google. They have tons of articles about the issue and the Dayton Daily News. But bringing up to date on um January 14, 26, city attorney Muso explained very clearly where the hospital issue goes from here. It was an incredible presentation. I thought um there was an exchange at that time between Commissioner Shaw and Attorney Must about economic leverage. And then attorney Muso said quote he responded he said obviously if there are other other funding sources that want to contribute to this hospital that's not a problem. The state statute considers the possibility of receiving funds from other sources towards this hospital. So it's not limited to just these funds. vote. So, I I would ask uh Attorney Must to clarify because I've been asked by several people how to donate to those funds. So, I would ask attorney Must to clarify how a person goes about that. I also want to encourage the incredibly funny, wealthy, kind, generous, extremely funny person Dave Chappelle, who has done other things for the city of Dayton to the be the first person to walk up to the plate and donate to this effort, uh, you know, through funding through whatever Attorney Must sets up. I'm going to tell you my little Chappelle story. about 15 20 years ago. I'm in Yellow Springs riding bikes with my nieces and nephews and my then now deceased mother along the path. We go

down to we're going back to our cars. My nephew runs bolts up to the cars saying Dave Chappelle Dave Chappelle. I go, "Who the hell's Dave Chappelle?" He goes, "Get the camera. Get the cameras." I go back to Haha Pizza. There's my mother at that point, a little older than me at this point with her with Chappelle's arm standing there with Chappelle's got his arm around her and all the nieces and nephews who all know who Chappelle is. I don't. And I'm taking clicking away pictures and my mother looks up at Chappelle and goes, "By the way, who are you?" And because she had gone up to him and said, "Would you take a picture with my nieces and nephews?" He graciously did so. But he looks at my mother and he answers her and he goes, "I'm really funny and I'm really rich." And then he hands us two tickets to Wley's to the club. So Dave, step up to the plate. Give the hospital issue some money. Talk to attorney Must. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Miss Gold. Logan Martinez.

Kevin Keller. It's Kevin Keller, 3922 East Third Street, Dayton, Ohio, 4543. Thank you, mayor, commissioners, and everybody else that's in this room and the folks on watching it on camera. We see you. First of all, I'd like to mention the fact that um we don't have any trash cans on East Third Street. Starting up the hill, first trash can that I saw was somewhere around uh uh the um the the general store. The pizza the pizza and chicken mart.

That was the last trash can I saw. It was so so nice to have a trash can and a bench at in front of my house because it's a major stop on number one route of the RTA. I don't have any context there. I really appreciate somebody mentioning that to whoever they make business with because also when people don't have a place to put their trash immediately. I've noticed there's a large number of folks that just, you know, I don't have anywhere to put it so I just throw it on the ground. We frequency with trash cans. I think be under much better, you know, it would just look nicer. Also, uh, Jen, my gem sculpture that I'm hoping to do here someday. I'd like to do it during the month of the the year 2006 is because, uh, that happens to be the 20 200th anniversary 230th anniversary of the city of Dayton being incorporated. Actually, not 19, it became a city in 19 17 um, 69, I think it was. So on with that um I'm looking for some funding and some more interest. Um we belong to that uh we have a heart a heart an art committee that meets once a week and we're working on that as an opportunity plowing of streets. It would be so nice during the when we have snow do these do these streets best we can how we did it in New York when I was a kid. One snow plot would be up right up front. The other screw plot would be on the side bringing it toward and then they scoop it up and throw it away or into the big pile and where they can put it. But that just seems so effective because our cars got snowed in for about 4 days. We really had a hard time getting what do we need to get. So, um I'd like to uh everybody to think about what we witnessed as a city and as a group of people that um the International Peace Museum sponsored the uh 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace

Awards and that was pretty awesome. And I was there a few times and turns out I have a sculpture that that pretty much uh illustrates the uh the idea of peace from violence. And it's going to be on display when they start with their next exhibit. Also, lastly, I' like to say that um lastly, I'd like to say that I have nothing else to say. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Keller. That concludes the speakers, your honor. Thank you, Miss Blackshere. Uh, turn to my commissioners then for closing comments. Commissioner Beckham.

Thank you, your honor. Uh, just want to thank all of the citizens and residents that came out to speak tonight. Um, specifically Mr. Carrian. We are all happy uh that you're happy. So, this this is wonderful. Um, just want to highlight a few uh events. Um, first, uh, UD's Fitz Center is going to be hosting a panel, uh, that I have the pleasure of sitting on this Friday. Uh, it's called Why Leadership and Local Politics Matters. Uh, it's going to be, uh, myself, uh, Miss Destiny Thomas, who's an assistant prosecuting attorney, uh, for our county prosecutor, uh, and Brian Stewart, uh, who we all know used to be employed by the city. Uh he's currently director of strategic initiatives at the digital digital transformation center. Uh it'll be February 20th, which is this Friday again, 3:30, uh at the Fitz Center on UD's campus. Uh it'll be moderated by Jacob Berdick, who also used to intern here in the mayor's office. So I'm very excited for this panel. We're mainly going to be discussing uh why we just need more young adults to participate in local government, uh which is very critical. Um secondly, um Keep Montgomery County Beautiful recently announced their 2026 beautifification grant. Uh so if you are an organization or have an initiative, uh that is based upon cleanup or graffiti abatement or community gardens or anything of that nature, uh they're offering up to $1,000 uh uh beautifification uh grants uh to applicants. So uh that link and application can be found online. The deadline to apply is March 6. Uh so if you have a beautifification project, I certainly recommend applying uh for that up to $1,000 grant. Uh lastly, um I just want to take a moment to uh recognize a civil rights icon that this country lost uh this week, uh Mr. Jesse Jackson, um

who obviously um accomplished so much for um civil rights and and moving our country forward. So, just want to take a brief moment of silence uh for Mr. Jesse Jackson. Thank you. That's all your honor. Thank you, Commissioner Beckham. Commissioner Fairchild, I have a smile on my face thinking about Jesse Jackson. He was on Saturday Night Live and he read um the Green Eggs in Hand.

Oh, yeah. It is an incredible reading and it brings joy. I mean, there's many things that Jesse Jackson did that are commemorable and uh that we can learn from, but that's a real gift of joy. As well as there's a a clip on him talking with kids on Sesame Street. So, um you all are somebody. All right. You are somebody. So, um let's see. got me all off my on my talking points. Uh, Greg West, yes, he just left. We will definitely buy some tickets and I encourage we can have a little challenge up here to make sure we get some tickets for you for the baseball game and and the young people in our community. Mr. Carrian, yes, we are we are glad that you're glad and uh thank you for your persistence uh in your advocacy for your neighborhood. Kathleen G may uh may Dave from your lips to Dave Chappelle's ears and um Mr. Keller. Um I think we have an opportunity um around the snow removal. And I think one of the things that I realized is it it was a snow declared a snow emergency and I I think we lost the opportunity to mobilize neighbors helping neighbors like we do when there are emergencies. I think about like how this community responded to the tornado and I think before next year we can do some work to prepare because I can imagine there are neighbors who could could use help and there are neighbors who are willing to come out and help and we just have to find a way to put those pieces together. I can imagine neighbors shoveling out people pathways who live with disability. I can imagine us shoveling out some of the key um bus stops and those kind of things, but we got to do

the work ahead of time because you can't figure that out in 24 hours notice. So, uh thank you for encouraging us on that and uh I've already had conversation with the city manager around that and I think there's an opportunity for us um because Dayton is a community Dayton strong. What's that?

Yes. So, thank you. Um, couple of events coming up on Saturday. This Saturday from noon to 4:00 to celebrate Black History Month, the Cozy Bookn Nook located at 1400 East Third Street will host a book signing event featuring local black writers. Uh, local authors will share their stories and sign copies of their books. So, I hope that people can come out for that event. Uh the Dayton Art Institute will be hosting a guided tour of their permanent installations and that is on Saturday as well and that is event from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. is free for members and $15 for general admission for non-members. Um there is scholarship opportunities through let me bring this up. um the African-American Community Fund and the deadline is March 6 at 4 p.m. Um you can get additional information from the Dayton Foundation scholarship web page, but there are three scholarship funds, the Freedom Miller, the Dolores Winslow, and the Jerry Griffith Senior Scholarship. And uh the scholarships are for $750, $1,000, and $5,000. So if you have a student who's looking for scholarship, encourage you to make application by um March 6. Um many of you have known because you've given me well wishes. My 60th birthday was Monday. So thank everyone for the well wishes that you have shared with me. Um and then finally um Yousef Alain, thank you for your comments and um I I think I speak for everyone. we will stand with you against hate and dehumanizing language. Um I think that's a a solid bet with this this commission. But also on this day when Ash Wednesday and

Ramadan start together, it's um it's almost like the calendars are aligning to encourage us to be our better selves. And you know, one of the things I know about both of these seasons of fasting is that it's an opportunity for those who are either m Muslim, you know, doing their practice of Ramadan or Christians in their season of Lent to open themselves to draw closer to God. and our whole community is better when people open themselves to draw closer to God, but also the values um of our our best selves and of humanity. And um I'm mindful giving your comments of um encouraging us to be our better selves when uh back in 2019 when we had people come here who wanted to say hateful things. We had a big banner up in courthouse square that says love lives here. And I believe that that's our aspiration, but the seasons of Ramadan and Lent encourage us to make that more than a slain and rhetoric, but to make it real. And so I hope over this season that um all of us might open ourselves up to making uh love living here real. And I wish everyone who is observing Ramadan and um Lent to have a holy observance and may you draw closer to God.

Thank you, Commissioner Commissioner Shaw. Thank you for that, Commissioner. And happy belated birthday. Turns out I'm not the oldest commissioner on this.

All right. Hope you enjoyed your day. I'll make this this quick. Uh registration for air camp is now open uh in partnership with the Dayton International Airport. Air camp provides uh elementary, middle, and high school students uh with exciting hands-on opportunities to explore STEM fields uh in aviation and aerospace. It's an incredible way for students to discover new interests, build skills, and experience the world of flight up close. Um, uh, camp, uh, camps fill up quickly each year, very quickly. So, be sure to register as soon as possible to secure your spot. And for information or to sign up, visit aircampusa.org or call 937304-5264. That's 937304-5264. Uh, really exciting opportunity and I hope more folks from the inner cities uh, take advantage of this great opportunity. that is just it's phenomenal across this country and we are very blessed to have them right here in Dayton. As we celebrate Black History Month, I would like to recognize William Sumpter Macintosh. WS Macintosh was a civil rights leader here in Dayton who embraced Martin Luther King Jr's philosophy of non-violent resistance. He organized pickets, sitins, and boycots to major Dayton businesses that had refused to hire black people. I thank Mr. Macintosh and those who join him. uh for their efforts to fight racial injustice which was and is uh not exclusive to the south. Uh it was absolutely here and and he did a phenomenal job. So glad to recognize him today.

Thank you.

Thank you commissioner and actually all my commissioners phenomenal comments today. Um I want to start by wishing commissioner belated happy belated birthday. That's great. Uh second I also want to just say that uh I'm encouraged by the coincidence of Ramadan and Lent. uh let's all use this as a chance to be better people. I appreciate commission your comments on that. Third, I'm glad to announce uh some of you probably already heard this, but uh we at the city of Dayton, Office of Sustainability are partnering with the University of Dayton to launch the Climate Resilience Fund. We are offering in a joint effort up to 40,000 annually to support Daytonbased nonprofit and non-governmental organizations in their climate resilience efforts. The fund supports specifically communitydriven projects that address climate challenges and environmental justice needs such as food access, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental education among other things. If you're interested, your organization is interested in those grants, uh, applications are available starting April 30th, so you have a little bit to think about it. And you can go to dayton.gov/sustainability gov/sustainability to find more information. Come April 30th, I'll remind you again, but this is just to get folks started thinking about the the fact that this money is available um for communitydriven projects. So, we'd love to see more of that here. Finally, I want to recognize an excellent staffer in his last meeting. This is Cam Anderson right in front of you. He really did an excellent job over the last couple years. He's the whole package he wanted in a staffer. He's knowledgeable. He's friendly. He's receptive and he gets the job done. So, I don't know if you have anything you want to say. You're welcome to jump to the mic and then say it if you do, but we want to thank you for your work. You've been really excellent staffer for us and a boon to the city.

Here, might as well. There you go, Chief. There you go. I feel special with this microphone. Um, I just want to say thank you all for giving me this opportunity um to work in the city that I grew up in um and continue to work to help the people. That's what I'm all about. Thank you all. Thank you, Kim.

I really appreciate that and wish you the best of luck as as as things move forward for you. I know doors are opening everywhere as they should. All right. Uh well, there being no further business, this uh meeting concludes the date. Oh, now see now I was I did fine all the way through and I missed the final one. With no further business to come before the commission, this meeting is adjourned.