Written with the help of AI from the Dayton City Commission minutes, August 5, 2026.
What the commission approved
This recap is based on the approved minutes of the Dayton City Commission’s regular meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, which began at 6:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of City Hall and adjourned at 8:21 p.m. Mayor Turner-Sloss and Commissioners Shaw, Fairchild and Beckham were present. Commissioner Joseph’s absence was excused by unanimous vote.
The commission unanimously approved the minutes of its July 22, 2026 meeting and, also unanimously, the City Manager’s Reports.
Emergency Ordinance No. 32199-26 passed 4-0 on a roll call vote. An ordinance is a city law, and an emergency ordinance takes effect right away. This one authorizes the City Manager to sign an easement purchase agreement and grants permanent and temporary right-of-way easements on land at the Dayton International Airport. It was taken up for first and second readings together because the previous week’s meeting was canceled.
City Manager Joe Parlette said the ordinance was submitted as an emergency to meet an early-August deadline from the Ohio Department of Transportation for securing about $20 million in project funding. He said the related easement documents will be completed and presented separately after the purchase agreement is signed. Airport Director Gil Turner said the ordinance supports a roadway widening project by Montgomery County to handle more truck traffic tied to development around the airport, and that the transaction is required for the County to secure the state grant.
Two resolutions, which are formal statements of city policy or authorization, were adopted unanimously on 4-0 roll call votes. Resolution No. 6947-26 approves submitting grant applications to the District 4 (Montgomery County) Public Works Commission Integrating Committee and authorizes accepting State Issue 1 grant awards for public capital infrastructure improvements in an amount not to exceed $3,390,987. Resolution No. 6948-26 approves a grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fiscal year 2023 State and Tribal Assistance Grants program for the Wolf Creek Trunks Sanitary Liner Installation Project and authorizes accepting a grant of $1,255,295.
Demolition update and other presentations
Planning, Neighborhoods and Development Director Steve Gondol gave the monthly demolition update for June 2026. He reported 24 demolitions completed in the month, 20 funded by the Ohio Department of Development and four by ARPA, the federal pandemic-relief money. A total of 121 of the 334 planned demolitions (36%) are done, which he said is slightly behind the mid-year target. Five emergency demolitions were completed in June, and the number of demolition debris piles stands at 33 while the City’s pile removal contract is finalized. So far, 25 of Dayton’s 65 neighborhoods have had demolition work.
Mr. Gondol also reported that 23 structures were added to the structural nuisance list in June, bringing the 2026 total to 89, and that staff completed 68 post-abatement inspections. He said 99% of ARPA funding is spent or committed, with six months left to finish the federally funded work. Before-and-after photos showed demolitions in Walnut Hills, Southern Dayton View, Edgemont and High View Hills.
Commissioner Beckham asked about the five emergency demolitions. Mr. Gondol said that, to the best of his knowledge, all five followed fire damage, and that he would double-check. Commissioner Fairchild asked about a recent structure fire at Grand and Broadway. Mr. Gondol said the building was not City-owned, was demolished on an emergency basis after the fire and remained a debris pile awaiting removal. Fire Chief French said firefighters first tried an interior attack and searched for occupants but pulled out because the building was structurally deteriorated. Once it was confirmed no one was inside, crews used a defensive approach, including a tactical burn that let parts of the roof burn through so water streams from above could reach the fire.
Responding to the Mayor, Mr. Gondol explained that unsafe buildings can be reduced to a pile right away, but state law requires the City to notify owners and give them a chance to respond before the remaining debris is removed. If owners do not act, the City does the cleanup and assesses the cost to the property. Mayor Turner-Sloss suggested future reports include the number of nuisance or planned demolition properties by neighborhood.
Sustainability Manager Meg Maloney described the Dayton Home Repair Network, which uses one application to connect residents with nine partner organizations. She said more than 900 households have applied and current funding will allow improvements to more than 450 homes over the next two years. She also described a new rental home repair pilot for 10 households, funded by philanthropy, that includes protections intended to prevent rent increases after repairs. Interested landlords and tenants can apply through the Dayton Energy Collaborative website.
Water Director Keshia Kinney said the Gonzalez Companies agreement is a professional services contract for engineering and design, not construction. It covers design of a new water transmission main, and the amendment provides added funding after the project scope expanded. She said construction has not begun. The minutes do not record a separate vote on that item.
What residents raised in public comment
Two residents spoke on calendar items. Topics included transparency and accountability for City contracts and demolition policy, preserving repairable homes, the emergency airport easement ordinance, the City’s use of emergency ordinances, Water Department spending, and how the City publicizes work sessions. Ms. Kinney said residents can schedule tours of the water and wastewater treatment facilities through the Water Department’s website. Chief of Staff Verletta Jackson said work session notices appear in the commission agenda and are shared through the media, social media and Nextdoor, and that residents can sign up for email updates on the City’s website.
Fifteen people registered for the general public comment period, and the minutes summarize fourteen speakers. Several spoke about tenant protections, including alleged retaliation against residents of the Park Lane Apartments who organized a tenants’ union, lease nonrenewals, and maintenance problems such as water intrusion, sewage issues and mold. Speakers urged the commission to adopt anti-retaliation protections and update the housing code to address mold.
Other speakers raised concerns about the proposed City-Wide New Community Authority, including the use of emergency legislation, the July 29 public hearing and the financial assumptions behind the proposal, and asked that the hearing be reopened and market studies released before a vote. Others asked about City contracting and board memberships, and one urged the commission to remove the City Manager.
Additional topics included a public discussion on downtown crime and its emphasis compared with neighborhood concerns, Black August and reparative justice, the conflict in Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon and whether the City applies human-rights reviews to funding, thanks to the City for a June 14 North Dayton Patriots Memorial and Flag Day celebration, a request to rename McCabe Park in honor of Dwight Anderson, and concerns about a property on Hopeland Street believed to be used as a group home.
Commissioner responses
Mr. Gondol told Commissioner Beckham that the City’s group home moratorium expired August 4, but the recently adopted zoning rules for group homes remain in effect. He said staff are reviewing the Hopeland Street situation and will update the commission. Mayor Turner-Sloss said the former 115 facility had restrictions requiring the property to keep serving a medical use.
Commissioners Beckham and Fairchild and the Mayor said they want to explore stronger tenant protections. Mayor Turner-Sloss asked that proposed tenant protection and mold legislation be submitted electronically for review by commissioners and the Law Department, and said the City would continue exploring protections for tenants who face retaliation for organizing. She also proposed a resolution to formalize the commission’s commitment of $1 million associated with the New Community Authority and identify the neighborhood development purposes for the funds. No vote on that proposal was recorded. Commissioner Fairchild and the Mayor each noted the City previously passed a ceasefire resolution on Gaza, and Mr. Fairchild said he would review whether it sufficiently addresses civilian protection and humanitarian passage.
Commissioner Fairchild, back after a hospitalization, said some past commission actions have contributed to public mistrust. He said he still has questions about the proposed headquarters hotel and New Community Authority and called for clearer reporting on results of public investments. He described the commission as dysfunctional and said he did not plan to call for a vote to remove the City Manager. He also named the New Community Authority board, possible future funding for a hotel financing gap, an investigation of the City’s use of Flock license plate reader data, and the City Manager search as matters to watch. Commissioner Shaw said he believes disagreements are best worked out through conversations among commissioners, supports the New Community Authority and downtown development, and supports the City Manager. Mayor Turner-Sloss said she also has questions about the New Community Authority, supports an audit of the City’s license plate reader use, and said commissioners generally agree the City Manager search should include public, business and community participation. She said she supports protecting downtown but not at the expense of neighborhoods.
Routine items and announcements
Commissioner Shaw gave the invocation and Mayor Turner-Sloss led the Pledge of Allegiance. The minutes record no communications or petitions.
Mr. Parlette announced that team registration is open for the 2026 Dayton World Soccer Games, organized by Welcome Dayton and the Department of Recreation, at Kettering Field Sports Complex. The event will include youth and adult matches, a Parade of Nations, international food vendors and a community resource fair, and each team is guaranteed two games. Roughly 150 to 200 FIFA-branded soccer balls were donated for participants, with any extras going to future recreation events.
Commissioner Fairchild announced the third annual Nourishing Montgomery County event on Saturday, August 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Second Street Market. Commissioner Shaw announced a free Building a Strong Business workshop at the Dayton Metro Library West Branch on August 13. The Mayor listed a rescheduled Healing Block Party and car show at the Village Hub, a ribbon cutting for the Fudge Foundation Community Center on August 7, and a community peace and love block party on August 8 marking the anniversary of the Dayton mass shooting.
Work session on finances
Before the meeting, the commission held a work session on the quarterly Finance Committee briefing. Director of Management and Budget Abbie Patel-Jones said the General Fund remained stable, with income tax, nearly 71% of General Fund revenue, essentially flat through June compared with 2025. She said staff expect to end 2026 with a balanced budget while using about $5 million to $6 million in cash reserves or one-time funds, well under the $10.6 million originally budgeted. She also reported that $91.1 million of the City’s $102 million Dayton Recovery Plan allocation has been awarded and $79.4 million spent, and that the Dayton area reached a record of about 400,800 jobs.
Ms. Kinney reported that the Water and Sanitary Funds performed as expected and did not rely on cash reserves. Water Fund revenues rose $2.5 million, or 7.4%, over the second quarter of 2025. Asked about reduced water use at the Cargill plant, she estimated an effect of about 10 to 15% on City of Dayton water customers and 6 to 8% on the overall system, and said staff are calculating the revenue impact.
Mr. Turner reported second-quarter airport enplanements, meaning boarding passengers, fell about 5%, while airport revenues rose $150,000 (3.5%). The Department of Aviation ended the quarter with a $15,000 surplus. He noted new Breeze Airways service launching this fall.
Source: Dayton City Commission minutes, Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Meeting video: watch on YouTube.
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