City Commission

On Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., the Dayton City Commission met in regular session in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Mims called the meeting to order. INVOCATION Commissioner Turner-Sloss asked for a moment of silence to commemorate the passing of Mr. Dave Johnson and Ms. Peggy Johnson. Commissioner Joseph gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Mims led the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken, and Mayor Mims, Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, and Turner-Sloss were present. The Clerk of Commission, Ms. Regina Blackshear, and the City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein, were also present. Commissioner Joseph made a motion to excuse Commissioner Fairchild from this week’s commission meeting. Commissioner Shaw seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Joseph made a motion to approve the minutes from the July 10, 2024, City Commission meetings. Commissioner Shaw seconded the motion. The previous meeting minutes were unanimously approved. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS Communication #21900 State of Ohio, Department of Liquor Control – Permit Application No. 26312785470 – NEW – C2 – Family Dollar Stores of Ohio, LLC dba Family Dollar Store #23687 3295 W Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton OH 45406. The Clerk of Commission reported receipt of Permit Application No. Permit Application No. 26312785470 – NEW – C2 – Family Dollar Stores of Ohio, LLC dba Family Dollar Store #23687 3295 W Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton OH 45406. The application was referred through the city for investigation. Communication #21901 State of Ohio, Department of Liquor Control – Permit Application No. 91667690115 – NEW – D1– University of Dayton dba University of Dayton, 29 E Creative Way, Dayton OH 45469. The Clerk of Commission reported receipt of Permit Application No. 91667690115 – NEW – D1– University of Dayton dba University of Dayton, 29 E Creative Way, Dayton OH 45469. The application was referred through the city for investigation. Communication #21902 State of Ohio, Department of Liquor Control – Permit Application No. 8935424 – TRFO – D1-D2 – Time 4 Thai Limited Liability Company, 4622 Brandt Pike, Dayton OH 45424. The Clerk of Commission reported receipt of Permit Application No. 8935424 – TRFO – D1- D2 – Time 4 Thai Limited Liability Company, 4622 Brandt Pike, Dayton OH 45424. The application was referred through the city for investigation. Communication #21903 State of Ohio, Department of Liquor Control – Permit Application No. 8910301 – STK – D1-D2-D3-D3A – 3 Men & A Bar LLC dba Argos Tavern & Patio, 301 Mabel Ave 45403. The Clerk of Commission reported receipt of Permit Application No. 8910301 – STK – D1- D2-D3-D3A – 3 Men & A Bar LLC dba Argos Tavern & Patio, 301 Mabel Ave 45403. The application was referred through the city for investigation. SPECIAL AWARDS/PRESENTATIONS There were no special awards or presentations. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE CALENDAR There were no additions or deletions to the calendar. DISCUSSION OF CALENDAR ITEMS Calendar Item No. 4. John R. Jurgensen Co. – Award of Contract The City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein, said the contract will address 14 neighborhoods with repaving. Resolution No. 6809-24- Authorizing the City Manager to Accept a USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant from the USDA, Forest Service in an amount of Two Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($2,000,000.00) The City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein, said this is first-time funding. She said the work has not been done since the 1980s and will plant trees in the public right-of-way. She said an RFP will be submitted later this year for work to begin in 2025. . REPORTS 1. Purchase Orders, Agreements and Contracts: (All contracts are valid until delivery is complete or through December 31st of the current year). MANAGEMENT & BUDGET A1. USI Midwest LLC dba The Cincinnati Insurance Company (ambulance errors and omissions liability insurance through 07/13/25) $107,045.00 WATER B1. Allied Builders, Inc. (fencing products, services, and related items as needed through 12/31/24) $60,000.00 B2. Truck Country of Indiana, Inc. dba Stoops Freightliner (Conventional truck chassis with hydraulic knuckle boom crane, flatbed body and accessories) 265,823.00 -Depts. Management and Budget and Water. TOTAL $432,868.00  Service Agreements 2. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. – Contract Modification – first amendment to continue a Small Government Term Enterprise License Agreement (SGELA) - Department of Water/Water Information Management Systems. $409,987.50 (Thru 07/31/27) B. Construction Contracts: 3. John R. Jurgensen Co. – Award of Contract – for the Germantown Street Bike Lanes Rebid (6% DBE Participation Goal/14.04% DBE Participation Achieved) (Federal Construction Funds) – Department of Public Works/Civil Engineering. $446,949.45 (Thru 11/01/26) 4. John R. Jurgensen Co. – Award of Contract – for the 2024 Residential Asphalt Resurfacing II and Airport Terminal Drive (10% SBE Participation Goal/10% SBE Participation Achieved (5% MBE Participation Goal/5% MBE Participation Achieved (5% WBE Participation Goal/5% WBE Participation Achieved) – Department of Public Works/Civil Engineering. $5,799,351.00 (Thru 09/27/26) 5. Peterson Construction Co. – Award of Contract - for the Mad River Well Field Inlet Sluice Gate Installation (Open Market) – Department of Water/Water Supply and Treatment. $59,400.00 (Thru 12/31/25) E. Other – Contributions, etc.: 6. Ohio Task Force One – Other – for the City of Dayton, Ohio Task Force One and FEMA Joint Training Area Agreement – Department of Fire/Fire Strategic Programs & Safety. $0.00 (Thru 06/30/34) CITIZENS’ COMMENTS ON CALENDAR ITEMS Citizen’s comments on calendar items were received from the following: 1. Mr. John Aliston, 6736 Stoll Lane – spoke in favor of Resolution No. 6808-24- Honorarily Naming Cowrt Ave as “Joe Madison Way”. APPROVAL OF CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS Commissioner Shaw made the motion to approve the City Manager’s Reports. Commissioner Turner-Sloss seconded the motion. The City Manager’s Reports were approved with a 4-0 vote. Voting in the affirmative were Mayor Mims, Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, and Turner-Sloss. LEGISLATION RESOLUTIONS – FIRST READING Resolution No. 6808-24- Honorarily Naming Cowart Avenue as “Joe Madison Way” for a Two-Year Period. Resolution No. 6809-24- Authorizing the City Manager to Accept a USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant from the USDA, Forest Service in an amount of Two Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($2,000,000.00). CITIZENS’ COMMENTS Citizen’s comments were received from the following: 1. Ms. Tosha Rountree, 4609 St. James Ave. – spoke about the Wolf Creek Neighborhood and the homeless encampment. 2. Ms. Veridis Green, 3925 E. Third St. – spoke about housing issues. 3. Mr. Darrell Siler, P.O. Box 24 – spoke about his lease agreement and housing issues. COMMENTS BY THE CITY MANAGER The City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein, said that regarding Ms. Roundtree's statement, staff is researching to find the property owner because the City of Dayton does not own the property. She said outreach personnel are also reaching out to the displaced residents and will connect them to services and try to relocate them to shelters. Ms. Dickstein said she would provide an update to the City Commission in Friday’s packet. Ms. Dickstein said that Mr. Dave Johnson, Supervisor for the IT Department was an amazing employee who touched the whole organization. She said he was instrumental and innovative in his work. Ms. Dickstein said it’s a tragic loss for the City of Dayton both personally and professionally. COMMENTS BY THE CLERK OF THE COMMISSION The Clerk of Commission, Ms. Regina Blackshear, said the Work Session regarding the University of Dayton’s Fitz Center will begin after the City Commission meeting. COMMENTS BY THE CITY COMMISSION Commissioner Turner-Sloss Commissioner Turner-Sloss thanked citizens and community leaders for their comments at the meeting. Commissioner Turner-Sloss asked that once the information is received in the packet, they find a way to educate the public on the process. Commissioner Turner-Sloss highlighted her attendance at the Declare Dayton Prayer vigil. Commissioner Shaw Commissioner Shaw thanked Declare Dayton for their prayer vigil. He said he was out of town when the violence happened, and he thanked the City Commission for their work. He also thanked the Boys and Girls Club for providing a safe place for youth to talk about these events and providing mental health services. Mayor Mims Mayor Mims highlighted the new Boys and Girls Club being built and thanked state representatives for their monetary support. Mayor Mims highlighted his attendance at the Declare Dayton prayer vigil. Ms. Verletta Jackson, Chief of Staff for the Commission Office, passed out service pins for her department. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 a.m. ___________________________________ Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr. Mayor Attest: _____________________________ Clerk of Commission WORK SESSION A copy of the prepared material has been recorded as Communication and Petition Number 21904 dated July 10, 2024. The Dayton City Commission met in a Work Session on July 10, at 9:20 a.m., after the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting. Mayor Mims and Commissioners Shaw, Joseph, and Turner-Sloss were present. Ms. Verletta A. Jackson, Chief of Staff, City Commission Office, and Ms. Regina D. Blackshear, Clerk of Commission were also in attendance along with Ms. Shelley Dickstein, City Manager, Ms. LaShea Lofton, Deputy City Manager and Mr. Joe Parlette, Deputy City Manager. Commissioner Fairchild was absent. Presenters for this work session were Nancy McHugh, Executive Director of Fitz Center, Amy Jomantas, Director of Urban Research Initiative, Sharon Hawkins, Director of Health Equity Activation Think Tank (HEATT), Samantha Kennedy, Dayton Civic Scholars and Ashley Wright, Director, of Educational Equity Program. Ms. McHugh said the vision of the Fritz Center is partnering to advance the common good. She stated the mission of the Center addresses community-identified challenges by cultivating, reciprocal, collaborative, and inclusive partnerships and learning environments to catalyze a more healthy, just, and equitable future for the Dayton region. Ms. McHugh stated the values of the Center include community-engaged learning and scholarship, critical reflection, respect for human dignity, integrity, equity, preference for marginalized people, social justice, student-centered, and work for the common ground. Ms. McHugh stated the Center’s practice principles consist of community assets, social capital, constructive public conversations, adaptive capacity, and a widely shared vision. Ms. McHugh said the programs of the Center included the Urban Research Initiative, Health Equity Activation Think Tank, Dayton Civic Scholars, Education Equity Programs, Ethics and Leadership Initiative, Faculty Fellows, Health Equity Fellows, Public Humanities and Arts and the River Stewards/Rivers Institute. Ms. Amy Jomantas provided an overview of the Urban Research Initiative. She stated the initiative is a donor-funded partnership with the City of Dayton and the initiative supports special projects for the City Manager in addition to training and technical assistance for neighborhood associations and nonprofits. Ms. Jomantas stated that to date more than $380,000 in funds has been raised along with training for three hundred plus persons. She stated the products include videos, manuals and websites. Ms. Sharon Hawkins gave an overview of the Health Equity Activation Think Tank. She stated the program's goals are to increase black infant and maternal vitality in Dayton and Montgomery County through innovative partnerships and strategies that center black women’s experiences and knowledge at the heart of the work. Ms. Hawkins said HEATT is a collaborative made up of residents from the most impacted zip codes, doulas, lactation specialists, and 16 government hospital and nonprofit partners. She stated the key priorities for 2024-24 include: neighborhood-level data: understanding, analyzing, and utilizing data, including at the neighborhood level, and the Doula Initiative: increasing the impact of doulas. Ms. Samantha Kennedy gave an overview of the Dayton Civic Scholars Program. She stated the program is a three-year cohort program where students prepare to become civic professionals and citizen leaders through sustained interdisciplinary civic engagement and scholarship with a focus on the City of Dayton. She said the program works with community, nonprofit, and governmental partners with interactive weekly mini-courses, civil engagement hours, civic engagement internships, senior capstone projects, and leadership and building communities’ courses. Ms. Kennedy noted the program is in its twentieth year and Commissioner Dean Lovelace was the first Director. Ms. Ashley Wright provided an overview of the Educational Equity Programs. She said the community impact consists of continued support for leaders who service children and families through neighborhood school centers hubs, and local nonprofits; mentoring of youth in partnership with organizations like Brunner Literacy Center, Girls Scouts of Western Ohio, and Dayton Dream Center; addressing the literacy gap exacerbated by the pandemic through high-dosage tutoring in Dayton Public and Trotwood-Madison elementary schools and partnership and service through Montgomery Country Two Generation Collaborative, sub-committees, and community partner work-groups. Ms. Ashley Wright discussed the Education Equity Programs. She stated the student experience is a paid cohort, student employment, and internship opportunities for UD students looking to impact education within local schools and nonprofits. The student works four hours per week of place-based work as a tutor, volunteer, or mentor within a community school, nonprofit organization, or government agency and continued mentorship and professional development from education and nonprofit leaders. Ms. Wright discussed the educational component of the program stating that it is a year long mini-course and training that include outcomes related to professional learning goals, critical self-reflection, and rules of community engagement. She said students experience community-engaged learning through site visits, guest speakers, and work shadowing along with community project co-creation and development. Ms. McHugh provided an overview of the Ethics and Leadership Initiative. She stated the program's goal is to create a community of thinkers and doers through values-driven leadership formation. She said curricular and co-curricular programming combine to cultivate ethical discernment, a passion for the common good, and the courage an integrity to lead according to those values. She said the certificate program is open to all majors and courses can be obtained through CAP courses where students take a mini course and complete a capstone project that develops their skills in ethics and leadership. Ms. McHugh the program is co-curricular with funded summer internships with regional organizations, ethics club, and ethics bowl team. Ms. McHugh provided an overview of the Health Equity Fellows which is a new three-year cohort program with students primarily recruited from Dayton and Montgomery County and from underrepresented groups where students develop skills as health equity practitioners and prepare for their future through co-curricular academic enrichment, professional development, and community internships, and financial support. Ms. McHugh explained the Fitz Center Faculty Fellows. She said the Fitz Center Faculty Fellows develop transformative community engagement projects based on goals identified by our community partners. She stated the Fellow are committed to developing reciprocal relationships with community partners and ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes. She said the 2022-24 cohort of Fellows worked on projects primarily in Northwest Dayton and the 2024-26 cohort of Fellows have projects primarily in East Dayton, with some cross-over projects in northwest Dayton. Ms. McHugh highlighted the Public Humanities and Arts program that is working with diverse communities and public-facing organizations to engage, strengthen, and support the humanities and arts for the common good. She said the 2024-2025 project includes: (1) leading a national endowment for the arts Big Read community program in partnership with Dayton Metro Library, among others. She said the program events will include creative writing workshops, art exhibitions, a poetry contest, a public reading poetry showcase, and public lectures. She stated the program will be hosting “on the Shoulders of Ancestors: Ceremony and Ritual”, a Willis Bing Davis art exhibition, from September 6 through December 6, 2024. Ms. McHugh stated the Rivers Institute and River Stewards is a three-year cohort program dedicated to the Great Miami Valley watershed. She said the river stewards collaborate with community members, faculty and partner organizations to protect, promote, and preserve our rivers and water resources. She stated currently, the river stewards are focused on education outreach through their exhibit at Boonshoot Museum of Discovery and the soon-to-be children’s storybook trail that will be installed along our riverfront campus. She noted the Rivers Institute is a collaboration of students, faculty and community partners focused on engaging the community around our rivers to foster stewardship, through a variety of educational and outreach initiatives. The Work Session concluded at 10:24 am.