City Commission - Regular Meeting

[music] The Dayton City Commission meeting will now come to order. Would you please rise for the invocation and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance this morning? The invocation will be given by Commissioner Fairchild.

Oh gracious one, in this season season of fasting and preparation, ready our spirits to receive you. Draw us closer to you. pull your spirit upon us. Help us um anticipate your will and guide us. Teach us to know what it means to wait upon the Lord. And may we do so readily. We ask these things so that we may create a city that has prosperity for all and uh well-being for all. Amen.

Amen. I pledge 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 McClendon, may we please have a roll call this morning? [clears throat] Mayor Turner Sloth. I. Commissioners Joseph, I. Shaw, I. Bearchild, I. Beckham. I May I have a motion to approve the minutes for the February the 18, 2026 meeting, please? So move, your honor. Second the motion, your honor.

It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the minutes of February the 18th, 2026. All in favor say I. I. Oppose say no. Miss McClendon, are there any communications or petitions this morning? There are none, your honor.

All right. Thank you, Miss McClendon. This morning we have a monthly demolition update. I'll call to the podium Mr. Steve Gondo, please. [clears throat] Good morning, mayor, commission, commissioner, city manager, clerk. Um Steve Gondell, director for the department of planning, neighborhoods, and development with your uh first update of 2026 uh for the Dayton recovery plan demolition strategy. Today we're going to talk about the January efforts uh undertaken by our team. Um so in January [clears throat] we had 13 demolitions. All of them were ARPA. And I kind of want to point out that when I was looking at it, I was like, "Well, it's not bad. It's not great." But I realized how much snow we had and how much time we lost. and the fact they still got 13 demolitions done even probably losing half of the month to the snow effort uh to the snow incident. So, um pretty pretty good progress to start off the year. Um and again, all of those are through the ARPA funded uh demolitions. Our piles, um we did not uh we ended the month, we [clears throat] ended 2025 with 22. We also had kind of wrapped up all of our previously approved pile contracts. And so what we're doing now um is as we're focusing on getting the ARPA demolitions uh completed uh by June, we're actually uh writing new pile contracts that will come before the city manager and and you all for your approval. So obviously we have more to do and staff is going to be working on um getting those properties onto a new contract for 2026. So um no piles removed but none were added in January which was good.

[snorts]

And on that note, here is typically our emergency demolition map and we had none for the [clears throat] month of January. Uh here are our 13 demolitions again in those ARPA focused areas that we have been working in uh probably for the good portion or at least the latter portion of 2025 remaining up in off of that uh north bane corridor um and then also to the uh kind of west and northwest portions of Dayton. In January, we added 18 properties to the structural nuisance list. 16 of those were houses. Two of those were commercial properties. 10 of those were due to blight. Two of those or I'm sorry, eight of those were due to fire damage. So, uh structure had some kind of incident, did not elevate to have them be an emergency demo, but we have eight properties now that um to some degree have were affected structurally by a fire. our pipeline. Um, we [clears throat] excuse me, similar to probably last January, we typically get everything kind of ramped up the end of the year. January starts off slow and then we start ramping up [clears throat] going into kind of the first quarter. So, I was looking back and um, this was not uncommon. We had a lot of stuff already kind of pushed through at the end of the year and then already looking kind of ahead at the February numbers, we have stuff coming back in, especially on the asbestous surveys and remediation. So, um not too concerned, uh for the fact that we did not process anything in January. Uh some before and afters uh for January. 48 West Hudson, uh 241 Delaware in the Santa Clara neighborhood. Moving down to southern Dayton View, 432 Oxford, 521 Oxford, jumping back up to Santa Clara, 205

Santa Clara. Um, and then going to Roosevelt 116 South Mat. And again, just always not just removing the properties, but all the brush, you know, and uh any trees up to six inches in diameter. Uh, this next one is very typical January. Um, I assure you if a property that you see out there does not have, you know, straw or whatever, they'll be going back. Uh, there was a point to where, um, a number of the demolitions, we told them just to wait till we got through this, you know, the snow and all that. So, um, the snow did a good job of covering stuff up, but, uh, if there is a demolition property where it looks like we haven't done our traditional seating and and straw, it's because we're going to get through this, uh, first month or two of of 26 and then we'll go back out there for the uh, applicant. Here you have um 825 St. Agnes, 837 St. Agnes, and there's actually another property in St. Agnes. So, being really busy in that immediate area there. And la and [clears throat] lastly, just kind of uh recapping what we left off the last presentation where we're looking at in 26 is where we think we're falling roughly is 120 ARPA funded demos, roughly 70 75 ODOD funded demos, uh 60 to 80 CDBG funded demos. So, that is where we are. things always change hopefully for the better with additional funding either through ODOD or other means. So, um that is kind of our our guide point. Um and again, especially around the date and recovery plan, we actually have 11 months remaining uh assuming January has passed. So, um feeling really confident. Um I know there's a few little gaps, but all in all, I'm I'm pretty pleased with where we stand, where we have left to go for the remainder of the year. Fact that we got 13 done in January despite all that snow, I'm pretty happy with the effort. So, with that, I will stop talking and open up any questions you all might have.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Commissioner Beckham, do you have any questions, comments this morning? Uh, thank you, your honor. Um, no questions. Just want to thank you, Mr. Gondo, for the uh monthly update. Definitely encouraged to see we stayed on track despite the snow. So, um, just looking forward to uh getting moving this year. So, appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Bejo.

Yeah. No, thank you for the update. It's always helpful. I missed the slide that had the total number over the multipleyear project. Oh, so well one thing I don't have these are the routine ones. The last update was the whole year-end update. So one of the things that kind of summarizing just because of space uh I the last update I had all of the completed demolitions and then where that delta where we left it was like roughly if we were starting with a goal of of 1,168 we had about 334 and then if you go to the end of the presentation you know we had a little bit of a gap there which is why I said

I'm optimistic that we can probably move some funding find some funding to get close to that but I've added that this year to start the year is just a reminder that that was our delta that was our balance left from the start of this back in 2022 was we have 334 is our target to meet that 1168 goal. Great. Thank you. And I will keep that up there moving forward throughout the year. So that as you see that number for the total demolitions rise, you'll see how close we're getting to meeting that. Great. Um I was so excited that we didn't have any fire piles.

Yeah. But then I then you shared that we had aid added because of fire to the structural nuisance because I in my mind I thought wow we made it through January without people being in homes starting unnecessary fires but apparently we still had some of that and it's you know and those I would say again not always dire. I mean, if your house has a fire, you might have insurance. You know, we have properties that have insurance that they get remedi. It's just we still have to put them on that list, but there is a, you know, they're not all typically where they're vacant where they could be remedied. And so, and luckily, we don't, it didn't, [clears throat] it wasn't to the extent where we had to demolish it. So, there's hope that on some of those the homeowners or property owners will uh correct the fire damage. Okay.

We still have to record that. And I had one last question. Um, do we seed this with grass and then do those lots get added to the lots that we need to mow? Uh, yeah. So, we we we seed it at grass and then we take that list over to vacant land uh where then that goes in. We typically will again continue to notify the owner. We have to go through a due diligence, but then the then drops into that vacant land if there's no response from the owner. And commissioner, many of those lots were already mowing, right? They're vacant already. mess makes it easier and quicker for our crews to go in when there's not a house and trees and things to work around.

Yeah, I know that's really helpful because it anticipates my question, which is, have we explored any alternative ground cover that we could put in there so that we would be able to remove them from having to be mowed so frequently?

So, we have a a few years ago, we actually started with a Dutch white clover mix. Uh it is a uh good ground cover, native pollinator, but it is uh slower growing and more natural and it redu it the goal is putting that into the mix. Uh our long-term plan with public works is to reduce the number of mowings because it doesn't clover doesn't need really to be mowed. And so we can't fully do it because of our winters. It would kill it all off and then you'd have mud again. But by mixing it in, it does kind of mitigate a little bit. I mean, we might eventually get the save of one mowing, but we looked at other cities uh and that was one of the best practices was that mixing in the clover was a way and cities in this in this climate zone was one way to mitigate how many mowings because the clover did a great job and was a natural pollinator.

Sure. Great. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Shaw, I'm good. Uh just thank you for the report. Appreciate that. Thank you, Commissioner Joseph. Uh just thank you. And I think that may be a record for most demolitions in January. I don't recall any more than 13. I have to look back. That really is very good. So congratulations to you. I'll give them a per capita in terms of how many days we're actually able to operate or crews were able to be out and I mean it's pretty it's pretty impressive. Yeah, it is very good. So thank you very much. Thank you, Commissioner. Um as mentioned, I just want to echo my colleagues their comments and uplifting the work that you and your staff are are doing. Um know that this is in fact a priority. So I appreciate the monthly updates. A couple questions for you though.

Um the brush and vegetation, do you have an update? I know there was some strategic efforts that were deployed in Westwood. Where are we on that um that contract? From my understanding, it is should be complete, but just would like to see the update on that and if we have made a dent in terms of the overgrown vegetation, some tree and stump removal. I would like to see the the fruits of our labor. I will um work with the city manager and Tommy [clears throat] uh director Richie with public works who led that contract. We worked with them identifying. So um I will we'll work collectively to get an update on on that contract and um for the last year.

Okay. Thank you. And then in the recent demolition efforts on Oxford, there were a number of demolition efforts. So with that, are we working in concert with public works for recent demolitions? because when we're going into some of those areas, there is a lot of overgrown vegetation, trees, again, um same emphasis for for Oxford. So, if you can work in in partnership with public works to see that those areas are addressed, um again, there is a number of of trees and overgrown vegetation that we need to attend to.

Okay. And the other reason too is what we've seen in the past is that those areas are breded for dumping grounds and so we want to try to avoid that as much as possible before the weather breaks. Um an update on Miami Valley Boulevard. Um there were there was there is rather excuse me a fire pal. I know that I mentioned that in the past couple weeks months ago. So, if you could provide us with an update on that. There was some efforts there, but then I don't know if they ceased or

there was another removal which I thought was a removal [clears throat] you were asking about, but it was another that one closest to when you're kind of leaving uh Ketaring Dayton and get up. That was one that happened after we had closed out all the we had create all the contracts. So, that's clearly one that we'd have to look at as we create new contracts to get that um that property addressed.

Okay. Thank you. And then in regards to our boarding contracts, um again throughout the the winter months, we've seen a number of the boards remove from the vacant structures. If you can provide us with an update on that, and I've also asked, I know this is something that you are continuously investigating, trying to find other means and ways that are cost-effective as well as efficient to secure a number of the vacant structures. But if you can provide us with an update on that and the reason being is because they incur costs and then the removal of the boards, but then there's also a lot of great um attention if you will or a removal of the boards in North Riverdale area. And so my hope is that we can start um complimenting the work especially within regards to the global cure violence initiative. we can start cleaning up the corridor as well as addressing some of those vacant structures in the North Riverdale Santa Clair 5 Oaks area. Um, and I know you receive a number of complaints and emails from Miss Leman as well as Miss McNeel um just most recently. So, if we can have some attention to those areas as well.

Yeah. Now, we still work in partnership with [clears throat] our contractor to do sometimes the initial, but then we have staff at the ready every day that can go out and reboard. Uh, occasionally they board themselves uh depending on on timing with our contractor, but I definitely can provide an update, okay, on that. And that's all I have. Again, thank you for all of your efforts and your leadership. Appreciate it. Thank you all. [snorts] Miss McClendon, are there any additions, deletions, or comments to the calendar this morning? There are none, your honor. Thank you. Miss Dixon, are there any additions, deletions, or comments to the calendar this morning?

Your honor, I have no additions or deletions to the calendar this morning. I do have a few items I would like to highlight. The first item is a service agreement. Item number three, which is the Saint Vincent Health, Wellness, and uh Preventative Care Institute. This is um $85,000 uh to administer our wellness fitness program for the department of fire. We have been doing this uh for since about 2014 or so. Um it supports um health and u quality of life for our firefighters and emergency responders. Um, and it is a program that was that follows the guidelines of um the National IIAFF, the um IAFC and the National Fire Protection Association. So, we're pleased to bring this forward as a way to um continue to support the health of our um first responders. Item number five is um Outdoor Enterprise LLC award of contract. This is our Miami Wellfield expansion phase two. This is a uh results in the construction of four infiltration ponds. Those are our lagoons that we um utilize in our water um treatment um process. Um the estimated cost uh for the base and uh for this project was 6.9. So we were able to do our base bid plus alternates 1 through 4 for the 5.6 6 million and um so there were three bids for this and uh outdoor enterprise was selected as lowest and best and this is funding that is coming from the OEPA and and the loan structure that we have had before you numerous times. Item number seven is an emergency resolution number 6919-26

which authorizes city manager to accept a lead hazard reduction grant from the US department of um housing urban development. First I want to give a shout out. This is a $7.7 million grant that our staff this is the second grant that our staff have gotten for lead abatement. And so Sarah G and her team um doing great work in lining us up to use OPMs. You know, I love other people's money, so I'm always giving shout outs to staff for um finding opportunities. This money will be dispersed as a the first priority will be the units with active lead orders. So house households that have been identified um and we will we will work in partnership with public health. So as they get charges then we'll have funding to get to them to abate the lead situation in the house as required by the grant. The funding will target families with children under the age of six especially those again that have been diagnosed with those elevated blood level uh lead levels um from their pediatrician or doctor. Uh and then household eligibility will be determined through our partnerships with Public Health, Dayne Energy Collaborative, Home Repair Network, and Dayton's CH and Dayton Children's. So, we anticipate this program being live towards the end of summer um because we do not have development grants um executed yet uh for this and um we are waiting that information from HUD. Um but we're excited about that. There will be more information um regarding additional application processes and stuff towards the end of the summer. Okay. Um as we have that program live and activated. And then finally um item number 32178-26

authorizes the purchase of real estate. Uh, and this is the former um children's hos uh children's site which was formerly the PNR warehouse um uh site and um excited about this because this is an opportunity for this purchase provides long-term stability and expansion capacity cost control for our Dayton offsite clinic. In 2014, we put in I'm sorry, 2016, we established, and I believe it was Ohio's first Dayton offsite clinic um for a municipality um for our employees and their families to come to um and receive um basic medical services. Since then, we've expanded to include mental health, workers comp, physical therapy, we'll be adding. Um, so we're very excited about this. This is a $2.5 million uh investment. 2 million um 50,000 for the acquisition, 500,000 for renovations. Um and it is being funded through our claims administration fund reserves associated with Bureau Workers Comp. This is not a general fund expenditure. Um, and I'm really excited about this because the overall it has saved significant um, for the city of Dayton through either direct savings or cost avoidance. You we have the doc's total operating cost from 2016 to 2024 was $9.76 million and we have an estimated savings or avoided cost of 36.4 4 million. So we have a net of $27 million we have saved or avoided in

costs. Um this has truly tr proven to be a great um asset for our employees and we have over 60% of our employees who are engaging in the dock um for um their um primary you mel mel uh medical services. So, we're very excited about this and um are really pleased to bring this forward uh to you all today. And that is all I have. Thank you, Miss McClendon. Are there any citizens who are registered to speak this morning on calendar items? Your honor, there are no citizens registered to speak on calendar items this morning.

Thank you, Miss McClendon. Commissioners, are there any comments on city managers recommendations? Commissioner Beckham.

Uh briefly. Thank you, your honor. Um just want to thank the city manager for bringing forward the um item [clears throat] number seven. Um definitely um encouraged uh by this grant. I want to thank staff for their hard work. Um it is also very encouraging to know that uh there's such collaborative partnerships around how this how this funding will be executed. Uh making sure it gets to the households and the families that most in need. So thank you for that. Also uh congratulations on the expansion of the dock. uh definitely an amazing asset for the organization and um very excited to see uh you know this this uh new acquisition because it will of course make services even easier for employees. So thank you for that. Those are all my comments.

Thank you Commissioner Fairchild. Yeah. No, thank you. Thank you, Commissioner uh Sher Congratulations to our team for the grant and as well as um thank you for sharing how important the doc is impacting our employees. And that's all I'll say on that item because I want to uh recognize that I have a conflict there and we'll recuse myself on that item. Thank you, Commissioner. Yep. Commissioner Shaw. No, I'm good. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner Joseph. Uh I just want to join Commissioner Beckham, Commissioner Fairchild and thanking uh city manager and staff for their focus on lead abatement. Uh this is uh this is something that we have had actually on this commission to focus on. I know the mayor and I have had numerous conversations about this. Uh taking care of those kids is important to us. It's definitely a priority and I appreciate like you say using other people's money is a bonus here. So thank you very much. Thank you and your staff. Thank you mayor. Thank you commissioner. May I have a motion to approve the city manager's recommendations? I'll move to approve the man manager's recommendations. I second the motion, your honor. It has been properly moved and seconded to approve the city manager's recommendations. All in favor say I. I.

All oppose say no. [snorts] Miss McClendon, legislation, please. First reading emergency resolution number 6919-26 authorizing the city manager to accept a lead hazard reduction and healthy homes grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD for a total amount of $7,750,000 on behalf of the city of Dayton and declaring an emergency. Uh resolution number 16919-26 being declared an emergency. I move for its immediate passage. Second the motion, your honor.

It has been properly moved and second to declare emergency resol resolution, excuse me, 6919-26 as an emergency. All in favor say I. I. All oppose say no. Second reading, emergency resolution number 6919-26, authorizing the city manager to accept a lead hazard reduction and healthy homes grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, for a total amount of $7,750,000 on behalf of the city of Dayton. Mayor Turner Sloths I. Commissioners Joseph I Shaw I Bearchild I

Beckham I first reading emergency ordinance number 32178-26 authorizing the purchase of real estate in parcels R72-00806-00001 R72-00806-00002 R72-0000806-00003 and R72-0000806-00009 and declaring an emergency.

It has been properly moved and second to declare an emergency ordinance number 32. Let me read it. Uh yes, your honor, I move for the the passage of of Let's start that again. Ordinance number 32178-26B declaring an emergency. I move for its immediate passage. Thank you. Second. Thank you, Commissioner. It has been properly moved and second to declare emergency ordinance number 32178-26 as an emergency. All oppose say all in favor say I. I. All oppose say no. And one extension. Miss McClendon, if you wouldn't mind wouldn't mind recording that vote, please. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. So repeat it back if you wouldn't mind the vote.

Commissioner, you have four. Yes, ma'am. Okay, go ahead. So, you want to hear the the votes? Yes. Okay, got you. So, four four yes. No, four yeses and one absention. Thank you. Thank you, Miss McLendon. All right. [snorts] Second reading, ordinance number 32177-26, appropriating funds for the year 2026 to provide for the operating and capital expenses of various offices, departments, and divisions of the government of the city of Dayton. Mayor Turner Sloths. Hi, Commissioners Joseph. Hi, Shaw. [snorts]

Hi, Verchild. Hi, Beckham. I second reading resolution number 6917-26 declaring the intention of the commission to vacate the alley south of Zena Avenue from Filillmore Street to Still Avenue and the alley east of Filillmore Street from the alley south of Zena Avenue to the vacated No Court. Mayor Turner Sloths. Hi. Commissioners Joseph I Shaw I Fairchild I Beckham I

second reading resolution number 6918-26 declaring the intention of the commission to vacate the Vixsburg street from Maywood Avenue to Maywood Avenue. Mayor Turner Sloths I Commissioners Joseph I Shaw I Fairchild I Beckham I that concludes legislation your honor. Thank you Miss McClendon. Are there any citizens who are registered to speak this [clears throat] morning?

Your honor, there are two citizens registered to speak. I would like to state there is a 3minut 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 conversation that would prevent the city commission from hearing the speaker's comments. I call to the podium Rose Lounsbury.

Thank you. Good morning, commissioners. Good morning, mayor. Good morning, city manager. Um, my name is Rose Lounsberry. I live at 222 Wonderly Avenue, Oakwood, Ohio. And I'm here this morning to introduce myself to you as a candidate for state representative in Ohio's 36th district. Uh, 36 includes where we are standing today, downtown Dayton, as well as East Dayton, Oakwood, Ketering, and Riverside. And I'm running um again because I ran in 2024. I'm running again because the issues that motivated me to run the first time are still here. In fact, many of them have only gotten worse and I remain committed to creating a state that our young people are going to want to live in. Um, my campaign is focused on building strong communities and there are two um aspects of that that I would like to share with you this morning. The first is building strong schools. I'm a former public school teacher. I am the daughter of two retired public school teachers and I'm a mom of three kids in public schools. So protecting our public schools is absolutely at the top of my agenda. The greatest threat that I see in Ohio to our public education system is Ohio's universal ed choice voucher program which is currently siphoning about a billion dollars a year from our public schools and sending it to private schools mostly as a tuition subsidy for families that could already afford that tuition. So eliminating the universal ed choice voucher program and reestablishing fair funding to the fair school funding plan is my top priority because our communities deserve that. And the second aspect of strong communities that's important to me and I believe to you are strong cities. And one of the things that I have seen as I have observed the state house over the last several years is a slow but steady reduction in support for the things that you all are doing each and every single day. From things like reducing the local government fund to eliminating the estate tax to handicapping your ability to exercise home rule, from things like preventing cities from passing legislation for safe storage laws of

handguns to interfering with your taxing authority. These are ways that the state house has shown that they do not support you and they're actually intent on making your job of making Dayton a wonderful city more difficult. and I recognize the hard work that you are doing and I believe that you deserve an ally in the state house. You deserve an advocate and I believe that I am that person. So I would like to invite you to meet with me, sit down, have coffee, share with me the priorities that you have for the city. I know that I have had um the benefit of meeting and talking with all of you at some point in time, but I would love a chance to have more conversation as I go through this campaign. So, I'm going to give my contact information to Miss Dixine so that you have that if you would like to reach out. Thank you for your service to this community. Thank you for what you do and I look forward to representing you next year in the Ohio State House. Thank you.

Thank you, Miss Lansbury. You actually may want to give it to Miss McClendon. Thank you. I call to the podium Peggy Deoce. Good morning. S um mayor and commissioners and everybody else intend in attendance. My name is Peggy Deoce and I reside at 1310 Oh, yep. Go ahead. Sorry. Go ahead. Continue.

Um I reside at 1310 Willowdale Avenue in Ketarine, Ohio. And um I'm here today just to um um for community integration about my business and what I do here in our community. [clears throat] Um so I represent helping lives here in Dayton in the Dayton area. Thank you for allowing me a few moments um to share our program that is helping adults with developmental dis disabilities become more connected, independent, and engaged in our community. Today I'm here to introduce the tech lab. We live in a world where technology connects us to health care, education, employment opportunities, and even daily communication. But many adults with developmental disabilities are being left behind in this digital shift. Not because they lack ability, but because they lack access and structured learning opportunities. Traditional day programs often focus on supervision. Our goal is different. The tech lab is a small digital inclusion program where participants learn real technology skills in a supative environment. They learn how to use computers and smartphones confidently, practice online safety, commun communicate digitally and express creativity through tools like Canva and YouTube. What we see is powerful. Confidence grows, communication improves, and individuals bring participating more fully in modern life rather than feeling disconnected from it. The impact extends um extends beyond participants. Families gain meaningful daytime support. Local jobs are created through trained support staff and Medicaid funded services stay [clears throat] invested within our local economy. We currently serve a small group and are expanding to reach more Dayton residents who are looking for skill-based community focused

services. We are not simply asking for funding. We are seeking partnership alignment with the city's goals around inclusion, accessibility, and digital equity. We welcome opportunities to collaborate, connect with community initiatives, and continue building programs that ensure every resident has the opportunity to participate participate in today's digital world because technology should not divide communities. It should include them. So, I thank you today for your time and I appreciate the opportunity to share our vision. Thank you, Mr. Bose. And I would like to leave some information if that's okay. Yes, please. Thank you. Thank you. That is all, your honor.

Thank you, Miss McClendon. Miss Dixon, do you have any closing comments, Mr. I have none, your honor. Right. Thank you. Miss McClendon, do you have any closing comments? Yes, your honor. There is a work session immediately following today's commission meeting, which will take place in the city manager's large conference room. That is all, your honor. Thank you. Uh, Commissioner Beckham, closing comments.

Thank you, your honor. Just a few. Uh, I want to thank the, uh, citizens that came up to speak this morning. Good to see you, Miss Lounsberry, Miss Devoce. Uh thank you for coming to present your organizations uh and introducing you all or introducing uh your organization to us. I definitely look forward to learning more. Um also just want to highlight a few brief uh events as we uh move towards the conclusion of Black History Month. Want to lift up and highlight a program over the weekend that I participated in. It was a a youth program at Residents Park Church of Christ. I want to just thank uh the young people that uh were there that presented uh that MCED that event. I was happy to keynote it. Um so uh thank you to everyone who attended. Uh I definitely enjoyed my myself there. Um secondly uh the panel that I spoke about last week uh why leadership in local politics matters that was hosted by uh UD's fit center. um want to thank the University of Dayton for that panel and definitely was inspired to see so many students attend um and really find ways that they can better engage with our local government. So, uh those are all for me, your honor. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Commissioner Fairchild.

Yeah, thank you, Commissioner, for your comments. Thank you to Miss Deoce and Mr. Lensbury and look forward to working with you to make our city better. Um likewise, I have some um opportunities for citizens. Uh the city of Dayton planning division is asking for community input on revising the Dayton zoning code. The project is called Adapt Dayton and looks to update the city code for the modern day. You can take the survey by visiting our website and um looking for adapt Dayton. And uh the libraries continue to celebrate Black History Month. And on this Saturday, they will be celebrating black athletes and their accomplishments by competing in games and trivia. And that event is um from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28th. And that is at the Southeast Library Branch. Um, also want to remind people that the um African-American Community Fund is still uh accepting applications for three scholarships. Um, scholarships in the amount of 700 or $750, $1,000 and $5,000. That application is due on March 6 at 4 p.m. And you can find more information at the Dayton Foundation. Uh Dayton Contemporary Dance Company has their winter um concert this Saturday and Sunday, black by popular demand and those uh 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 400 p.m. on Sunday. Um I owe an apology to my colleague, Commissioner Darius Beckham. Two weeks ago, he was recognized as one of the top 10 African-American uh males uh honore by Parody, Inc. And uh I don't think we anyone on the day has mentioned that. So our apologies and we want to uh recognize you for that accomplishment.

Thank you.

And I look out and I see Miss Mary Sue Miner in the audience who will be recognized by the League of Women Voters. So I'm anticipating this recognition as a dangerous dame. And so I mean I think that's like the coolest honor recognition you could have be called a dangerous dame. So congratulation Miss Miner. And then uh lastly I just want to say you know uh last night the president gave the state of the union address and so I've been thinking about the state of the union. Um around my birthday I was in a very reflective mood and I was thinking about the nature of our society particularly democracy. Um and I shared with my friends a challenge. Can you put into words um how you are feeling about our society in 272 words? 272 words because that was the length of the Gettysburg address. And so I offered up my um 272 words. I encouraged others. I'm really curious what the voice of the people say about the state of our union. So, I'm going to post that back up that my 272 words and I encourage you to think about your 272 words because I think together the people have something to say. And uh just to give you a glimpse of my words, one of the things that I recognize is that we really are a government uh by the people of the people for the people and our voice is important. One of the things that we say in our founding documents is government only exists by the consent of the people. And so the question I have for us is what things do we give consent to and where and what point do we withdraw our consent.

Thank you. All right, Commissioner.

Thank you for those comments. Appreciate that. I [clears throat] just have a couple of announcements really. Uh the west branch of the Dayton Metro Library at 30 300 Abbey Avenue just opened the their entrepreneurs corner for aspiring business owners to visit during regular hours and they provide carefully curated books, specialized programming, free databases and a wide network of resources. And this is it's a great uh resources for people who want to open a business uh but uh don't really know where to start. So I I just think that's uh something that folks should take advantage of. Uh now is your last chance to apply for the Better Business Bureau Spark Awards. The Spark Awards recognize new business owners who demonstrate high character, generate a good culture, and connect with uh their community. The deadline is Monday, March 2nd. And for more information and the application, go to bbb.org/local/322sparkawward.

That's a lot. bbb.org/ org/local/322/sparkawward.

Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner. I just have a couple of comments. First and foremost, would like to thank the staff. Thank you, Mr. Gondo and team for the the great work that you all are doing. And also kudos to Sarah Giston team. Um that is a huge huge investment. And so again, we want to uplift the work of our um planning and community development department. uh as well as under the leadership of um Miss Sarah Gis and team for the $7.7 billion lead abatement grant. Um look forward to more information coming before us as you mentioned this summer so that we can help spread the word. Um thank you to Miss Lansberry. Thank you for coming out this morning. Congratulations. No easy feat. I know you're up for the challenge and I look forward to meeting with you to discussing those various different areas that you um you laid out this morning. So, uh, congratulations on your run for office and again, um, look forward to having the conversation with you, Miss Dol. It's very, uh, good to see you this morning. All the best to you. Um, Miss Dixine, do we still have the digital equity day? I know that is something that our IT department worked in partnership with Spectrum and a number of other community partners. So perhaps that's some information that we can pass on to you, Miss Deoce. um in terms of to your point right making sure that we are extending the opportunities across the board and when it comes to digital equity. So more information to come on that and I'll be sure to work with you and we have some staff members to get that information over to you as well. And then Miss uh I want to mention too um thank you commissioner for highlighting that commissioners Beckham's um nomination and congratulations of the award. Congratulations again to you. we're extremely proud of you. I know that you're going to do great things. Um and then as well as Miss G minor, congratulations to you as well. That is a interesting uh title to uphold, but I know that you will wear it well and and

carry it forward. So, thank you very much for all the work that you do for our Dayton communities. And also, there is a black history program I'm very excited to see. Um if anyone's schedule permits, uh they have two shows. Roosevelt Elementary, the Black History Program. Again, it's Roosevelt Elementary School. And that is Thursday. That's this Thursday. That will be what? The what's what's that date? The 20 26. The 26th of February. There's two shows, one at 1:00 p.m. and one at 6:00 p.m. at Roosevelt Elementary School. And then in addition, thank you, Miss Reed, for providing um the the highlights. The West Branch uh Dayton Metro Library is hosting Heroes of Black History this Thursday as well, 5:30 to 6:30. Participants will learn about the contributions of African-Americans through storytelling and hands-on art activities, including instrument creation, mask making, and textured art projects. And then last, but certainly not least, the great work of our recreation department. They have uh opening reg registration for spring swim lessons at the Northwest Recreation Center. Multiple sessions will be offered throughout the spring running from March through May for additional information and registration details. Please visit the city's website or call 93733322. Again, that's 333322. And with no further business to come before the commission this morning, this meeting is now ajour. Thank you.