Written with the help of AI from the Dayton City Commission minutes, September 23, 2026.
Bond ordinances move forward
This recap is based on the approved minutes of the Dayton City Commission’s regular meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The meeting opened at 8:31 a.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall, with Mayor Turner-Sloss and Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, Fairchild and Beckham present.
Eight bond ordinances were on the agenda for first reading. An ordinance is a city law, and an emergency declaration lets the commission act on it faster. For each one, the commission voted 5-0 on a roll call to declare it an emergency. The minutes record no further votes on them at this meeting.
The ordinances and their not-to-exceed amounts are: No. 32210-26, $5.8 million for motor vehicles, motorized equipment, fire apparatus and other equipment; No. 32211-26, $8.925 million for public facilities, including HVAC, elevator and roof improvements and parking lot repairs; No. 32212-26, $2.04 million for streets, lighting, curbs, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and related infrastructure; and No. 32213-26, $4.785 million for outdoor public facilities and city functions and services.
Three more refund older bonds at a lower interest cost. No. 32214-26 allows up to $2.44 million to refund Series 2015 bonds related to James M. Cox Dayton International Airport improvements. No. 32215-26 allows up to $6.625 million to refund Series 2016 bonds, and No. 32216-26 allows up to $4.815 million to refund Series 2018 bonds. The last, No. 32217-26, authorizes sewer system revenue bonds of up to $24.365 million for utility improvements, along with a supplemental trust agreement and related documents for the Series 2026 bonds.
Laws and resolutions passed
Ordinance No. 32207-26, authorizing the necessary tax levies and requesting that Montgomery County advance to the city the tax money collected for 2027, passed 5-0 on a roll call.
Ordinance No. 32208-26 creates a new Chapter 121 of city law, the Novelty Gun Lighter Prohibition Act. It bans the retail sale and public display of gun-shaped and other imitation-firearm novelty lighters in Dayton and sets definitions, exemptions and penalties. It passed 5-0 on a roll call.
Resolution No. 6954-26, declaring the city’s intention to appropriate real property interests in Parcel 58 SH for the Smithville Road Reconstruction Project, was adopted 5-0 on a roll call.
Informal Resolution No. 1018-26 endorses H.R. 5356 and urges Congress to establish a National Infrastructure Bank. It was adopted 5-0 on a roll call.
Resolution No. 6955-26 was introduced for first reading. It would authorize the city manager or her designee to apply for, accept and enter into a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Broadway Pump Station and Force Main Condition Assessment. No vote on it is recorded.
The commission also unanimously approved the City Manager’s Reports, on a motion by Commissioner Beckham, seconded by Commissioner Joseph.
Presentations and discussion of calendar items
Finance Director Kena Brown gave an overview of municipal bonds, which let the city pay for long-term capital improvements by borrowing from investors and repaying from identified revenue sources. She said city debt is not used for operating expenses or deficits. Before the proposed 2026 issuance, the city anticipates about $70.9 million in general obligation debt, $91.2 million in revenue bonds for aviation, sewer and water, $12.2 million in non-tax revenue bonds and about $3.4 million in internal borrowing.
For 2026, the city plans about $21.5 million in general obligation debt for capital improvements. Projects named include Fire Headquarters, East Patrol Operations, the Police Academy, Gateway Men’s Shelter and a roof replacement at Lohrey Recreation Center. The issuance would also fund a ladder truck, a fire engine, two heavy-duty waste collection vehicles, continued improvements at Kettering Fields and public infrastructure for the On Main development. The city is also considering up to $13.8 million in refunding bonds, to be issued only if market interest rates offer favorable savings, and about $24.4 million in sanitary sewer debt. Brown said bond proceeds are anticipated in December. In answer to the mayor, she confirmed the recent change in the aviation bond rating was an upgrade.
Water Director Keshia Kinney and Dayton Society of Natural History President and CEO Tracey Tomme presented a proposed interactive exhibit on Dayton’s water system at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, building on the Hydro Hero educational program. Tomme said the exhibit is part of a roughly $10.5 million museum project, that the museum has a $250,000 federal grant and has raised about $8.5 million, and that it asked the city for $350,000. She said the exhibit would stay in place at least 10 years. Major construction is expected to begin the following August, with a temporary closure of about four to six weeks and full completion by January.
City Manager Joe Parlette also commented on two other calendar items. Item A2 is a $103,000 contract with Dayton Energy Collaborative: $100,000 for repairs and $3,000 for staff time and program development, funded through an AES rate case settlement. It would start a pilot that pays for repairs and energy-efficiency work on 10 renter-occupied homes owned by small local landlords, capped at $10,000 per home. Landlords would be barred from raising rents or displacing tenants without mediation and just cause for two years.
Item A6 is an agreement of about $1.4 million with Proficient Information Technologies (PI-Tech) to keep running the Police Department’s EasyCase records management system. It covers hosting, maintenance, database support, monitoring, incident response, security upgrades and technical support. Commissioner Joseph asked whether the system uses a common data dictionary or would otherwise be compatible with the city’s ERP system, so information can be matched across the two. The minutes do not record an answer.
What residents raised
Two residents spoke on calendar items, both about the proposed bond issuance. One raised concerns about the cost of borrowing and relying on debt for public projects, and asked for more transparency on bond costs and more grant and revenue options. The other asked whether there would be enough buyers for the debt and whether the bonds could later be rolled over or reissued.
Thirteen residents registered for general public comment, and the minutes summarize four. One speaker raised transparency and accountability concerns, including the handling of and delay in reporting Flock camera misuse, inconsistencies in Police Department use-of-force data, missing recent Community Appeals Board reports and upcoming vacancies on that board. Another asked the commission to review the city’s relationship with a Dayton-based manufacturer over allegations about its components, and to hold a public work session. A third raised concern about homes and rental properties being bought by LLCs and out-of-town owners, and asked the city for data on how many properties are owned by LLCs versus individuals. A fourth described being a whistleblower in a case involving alleged abuse and misconduct at group homes and raised concerns about whistleblower protections and data security.
In her closing comments, Mayor Turner-Sloss said the city would follow up on the concerns about missing reports and board vacancies, speak further with the speaker who raised the rental-ownership concerns, and continue a conversation on the whistleblower matter, which she said appeared to involve the County. She also said the borrowing would support planned capital improvements.
Routine items and announcements
The commission unanimously approved the minutes of the September 16, 2026, meeting. There were no communications or petitions and no special awards. Commissioner Shaw gave the invocation and the mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Fairchild congratulated Kettering Health Dayton on its 100th anniversary and Belmont neighborhood leaders on Belmont Days. He announced a Dayton Foodbank food distribution at UD Arena from 10 a.m. to noon. The mayor said it would take place September 24.
Commissioner Shaw highlighted two programs at Northwest Recreation Center: a free cake decorating program for ages 13 to 17 beginning November 5, and Wednesday boxing classes for ages 8 to 17, with October registration opening September 30.
Commissioner Joseph encouraged residents to attend a September 29 community workshop at Lohrey Recreation Center on the city’s 2026 Sustainability Plan. He also promoted an October 1 Weather-Ready Dayton meeting at Southeast Metro Library about free help with high utility bills, leaky roofs and basement flooding. Residents seeking home repair help can call Dayton Energy Collaborative at 937-369-0654 for an eligibility intake.
The commission adjourned its regular meeting at 9:56 a.m. and went into executive session, on a motion by Commissioner Beckham, to discuss the appointment, employment, dismissal, promotion or demotion of public personnel. That session adjourned at 10:57 a.m.
Source: Dayton City Commission minutes, Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Meeting video: watch on YouTube.
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