City Commission

2077 CITY COMMISSION ReEcuLaR MEETING marcu 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 CITY COMMISSION MEETING On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at 6:02 p.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 Fairchild 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, Fairchild, and Tumner-Sloss were present. The Clerk of the Commission, Ms. Regina Blackshear, and the City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein, were also present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Shaw made a motion to approve the minutes from the February 25, 2025, meeting. Commissioner Fairchild seconded the motion. The previous meeting minutes were unanimously approved. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS There were none. PRESENTATION AND SPECIAL AWARDS Independent Accountability Audit Presentation The Independent Accountability Audit (IAA) Presentation was by Law Director Barb Doseck and Jasmine Jones, the new IAA representative. Ms. Doseck provided background on the IAA, explaining that it was established through an ordinance based on recommendations from the Oversight Reform Group. The IAA was put out for a Request for Proposal (RFP) in late 2022, and after a selection process, work began in late 2023 into early 2024. The first appointed IAA, Brer Moore, had previously presented reports to the Commission, but in November 2023, he was elected to the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Hamilton County and took his judicial seat in February 2024. Instead of viewing this transition as a setback, the city saw an opportunity to enhance the IAA’s structure. Feedback was gathered from Commissioners Joseph and Fairchild, the Human Relations Council (HRC), and the Dayton Police Department (DPD), leading to the selection of a three-person team from Frost Brown Todd to increase capacity, efficiency, and diversity in perspective. The new team has been in place for just over 30 days, during which they have attended Community Appeals Board (CAB) meetings, met with HRC staff and DPD officials, gained access to all police systems, and scheduled meetings with DPD leadership and mediation staff to strengthen their oversight capabilities. Ms. Jones then presented the first semiannual report for 2025, which covers activities and data from 2024, largely under Mr. Moore’s tenure. She outlined the [AA’s core responsibilities, which include reviewing police misconduct complaints, auditing the complaint and disciplinary process, recommending policy changes, and producing reports. In 2024, 92 originating events led to 185 specific complaints, as incidents often involve multiple allegations or multiple officers. A significant trend observed from 2021 2078 CITY COMMISSION REcuLar MEETING marcu 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 to 2024 was a 43.25% decrease in citizen-generated complaints. Notably, complaint receipts (cases resolved quickly without full investigations) have declined, while citizen complaints (which require a full investigation) increased between 2021 and 2023 before dropping again in 2024. The decrease in complaint receipts may be attributed to DPD’s decision to classify more complaints as "Citizen Complaints" to allow for more thorough investigations. The new IAA team plans to audit all 2024 complaint receipts to ensure proper classification. Examining complaint outcomes in 2024, the data showed that 67% of cases were unfounded, 22% were exonerated, 4% were not sustained, and 7% (six complaints) were sustained. These six sustained complaints stemmed from four separate incidents, involving six different officers, with allegations including policy violations, lack of service, and discourtesy. The IAA reviewed these cases and found that all investigations met the 90-day completion standard. In terms of discipline, most sustained complaints resulted in training memos, while one case led to an oral reprimand. The IAA is now operating under a three-person team, with Miss Baggley and Miss Berget handling investigations, Miss Baggley and Miss Jones overseeing audits, and Miss Jones leading reporting, analysis, and CAB involvement. Moving forward, their 2025 goals include expanding audits to cover all steps of the complaint process, increasing oversight in police investigations, auditing 2024 complaint receipts for accuracy, and improving data analysis and reporting. Despite being in place for only one month, the new team has already strengthened accountability, transparency, and oversight in Dayton’s police misconduct review process. Future reports will include more in-depth analysis, greater scrutiny of complaint classifications, and recommendations for improvement. Commissioner Turner-Sloss welcomed Ms. Jones and inquired about the status of recommendations from the previous IAA, Mr. Moore, particularly those aimed at improving the accessibility of the police complaint process. She requested an update on their implementation. Ms. Jones shared that after attending her first Community Appeals Board meeting, she observed similar issues and began exploring solutions. She noted that structuring complaints effectively was a challenge and suggested creating a template to assist citizens. She plans to gather input before finalizing any changes. Commissioner Turner-Sloss requested a follow-up and thanked Ms. Jones for her report. Commissioner Fairchild praised Ms. Jones' report and stressed the need to revisit Mr. Moore’s recommendation on accessibility. He questioned whether efforts to publicize the complaint process were still effective given the drop in complaints. He looked forward to working with her on the 2025 plans. Commissioner Shaw thanked Ms. Jones for the update and welcomed her aboard. Commissioner Joseph welcomed Ms. Jones and praised her focus on key goals. He noted the decline in complaints and emphasized ensuring the mediation process remains accessible. He suggested reallocating time toward auditing, investigations, and complainant engagement to align with the original oversight goals. Mayor Mims thanked Ms. Jones for her presentation.  2079 CITY COMMISSION 1 REGULAR MEETING marcy 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE CALENDAR The City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein introduced several items for the evening's agenda. She added item 3A, a $99,450 contract with Greybar Electric for Main Street lighting upgrades, aiming for completion before the NATO event in May. DISCUSSION OF CALENDAR ITEMS The City Manager, Ms. Shelley Dickstein highlighted a $8.3 million contract with Brumbaugh Construction for the new West Dayton police station. Additionally, she mentioned a $373,500 contract with LJ DeWeese for Wayne Avenue improvements, including decorative lighting and curb extensions. Lastly, she introduced a service agreement with IGS Energy to convert brownfield property into a revenue-generating asset for the water department, continuing efforts to lower operational costs for ratepayers. Solar Array Project Ms. Meg Maloney, the Sustainability Manager, shared details of the city's first solar array project, which will be installed at the Miami Water Treatment Facility. The project traces its origins to the 1987 Sherwin-Williams fire, one of the worst fires in Dayton's history, which occurred near the facility. The fire was too hazardous to fight with water due to concerns it could contaminate the city's wellfield. In response, the city established a source water protection program that is still considered a model for other cities today. The vacant land that remained after the fire sat unused for decades. In recent years, city officials, motivated by conversations about saving money and reducing environmental impact, decided to transform the space into a solar energy hub. The sustainability office launched a rigorous four-year process to bring this vision to life, beginning in 2020. They hired a third-party consultant to determine the correct size of the solar array that would both reduce carbon emissions and deliver financial savings. After analyzing various options, the team selected a 5-megawatt array, which is estimated to cover about 20-30 acres. This array was chosen because it would maximize savings, with an expected savings of $35,000 to $230,000 annually. Over the project's lifetime, the savings are projected to be around $4 million. The solar array will offset 30% of the Miami Water Treatment Facility’s energy load and reduce emissions by 30%. The city estimates the project will break even within 3-5 years. The solar array will also increase the facility's resiliency, ensuring that it can continue to operate during power outages or natural disasters, something highlighted by the previous year’s tornadoes. In addition to this solar project, Meg Maloney mentioned that there are other solar initiatives underway. The city is also planning to install solar panels on the police department building, marking another significant step toward expanding solar energy usage. Additionally, a feasibility study for installing solar at Dayton's airport has been completed, and the city is exploring options to maximize energy savings and reduce emissions at the airport as well. Commissioner Turner-Sloss congratulated Meg Maloney and the team on the solar array project, expressing excitement to see it come to fruition and approval that evening. Commissioner Fairchild asked about the lifespan of the solar panels, and Meg Maloney answered that the contract is for 30 years, but the panels can last anywhere from 35 to 40 years. 2080 CITY COMMISSION _ REGULAR MEETING Marcu 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 Commissioner Shaw thanked Meg for the work on revenue-generating and expense- minimizing opportunities. He mentioned wanting to understand how a smaller footprint can contribute to savings. Meg explained that not all bids, like one for the Kittyhawk Golf Course, would save money. She offered to have Matthew, the sustainability specialist, discuss the details with him. Commissioner Joseph expressed excitement about the project moving forward, thanking colleagues and staff for their support and excellent work. He highlighted the balance between doing the right thing for the environment and saving money for citizens, which he found to be an amazing achievement. He also thanked the partners and his colleagues for their ongoing support and excitement about continuing to move in the right direction. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS ON CALENDAR ITEMS Commissioner Turner-Sloss thanked Ms. Dickstein's team for providing additional context regarding items number four and for addressing concerns related to Wayne Avenue. Commissioner Fairchild asked if more work is being done beyond lighting in the private Fair area, given the substantial cost. Ms. Shelley Dickstein explained that the cost also includes lighting upgrades in the plaza and on Main Monument, creating a gateway experience. The flyover lighting upgrade, including articulating lighting to mimic airflight motion, is also a significant cost. She noted that the private Fair costs are around $700,000. Commissioner Fairchild requested an accounting of the total budget for the downtown upgrades in anticipation of NATO, which Ms. Dickstein agreed to provide later. Commissioner Shaw expressed interest in understanding the state investment and the opportunity to host the NATO parliamentary session. He requested more details about the process and the funding sources for the project at some point. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS ON CALENDAR ITEMS There were no citizen comments. REPORTS A.Purchase Orders, Agreements, and Contracts: (All contracts are valid until delivery is complete or through December 31* of the current year). 1. Purchase Orders: FIRE A1. Fire Service, Inc. (one 2025 Fouts FB-94 top mount pumper engine) $761,585.40 1. (cont’d): PUBLIC WORKS Bl. Key Chrysler Jeep & Dodge, Inc. (one 2025 Dodge Ram 2500) $50,829.00 B2. Ingevity Corporation dba Ozark Materials LLC (roadway paint as needed through 12/31/26) $108,878.60  2081 CITY COMMISSION REcuULAaR MEETING marcu 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 B3. Best Equipment Company, Inc. (one Petersen TL3 Lightening Loader with an International MV607 chassis) $232,438.89 WATER C1. Metropolitan Environmental Services, Inc. (industrial tank and pipe cleaning services as needed through 12/31/25) $1,000,000.00 C2. Alfa Laval, Inc. (Alfa Laval G2-100 Centrifuge rotating assembly complete repair and rehab) $160,000.00 -Department of Fire, Public Works and Water. TOTAL: $2,313,731.89 APPROVAL OF CITY MANAGER’S REPORTS Commissioner Shaw made the motion to approve the City Manager’s Reports. Commissioner Fairchild seconded the motion. The City Manager’s Reports were approved with a 5-0 vote. Voting in the affirmative were Mayor Mims, Commissioners Joseph, Shaw, Fairchild, and Turner-Sloss. LEGISLATION Ordinances- First Reading No. 32141-25 - To Vacate Hickory Street from the Western Terminus to Alberta Street. Resolution- First Reading No. 6851-25 - Authorizing the Acceptance of an Aggregate Grant Award from the United States Department of Justice in the Amount of One Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($165,675.00) on Behalf of the City of Dayton. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS There were no citizens registered to speak. COMMENTS BY THE CITY COMMISSION Commissioner Turner-Sloss Commissioner Turner-Sloss shared several important announcements during the meeting. First, she highlighted an event hosted by the City of Dayton’s Human Relations Council tomorrow, March 6th, at 5:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church. This event will focus on housing challenges, including disability access and ADA accommodations, and is designed to educate renters, buyers, and landlords. She also reminded everyone that nominations for the Miami Valley Urban League Pillars Awards are open until March 10th. The awards honor individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and service in uplifting the Miami Valley community. Lastly, she shared her experience reading to second graders at Roosevelt Elementary School, alongside the mayor. The students were engaged and eager to learn, and she expressed gratitude to the teachers—Miss Johnson, Miss Lewis, Miss Taylor, and Dr. Toof—for the warm invitation. 2082 CITY COMMISSION _ REGULAR MEETING MarcH 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 Commissioner Fairchild Commissioner Fairchild shared reflections on the seasons of Lent and Ramadan, wishing those observing fasting during these times a meaningful and reflective experience. He acknowledged the start of both Lent on Ash Wednesday and Ramadan over the weekend. Commissioner Fairchild also mentioned that he had the opportunity to visit Kemp Elementary, where he was welcomed by Principal Amy Ernst and allowed to read to three classes of enthusiastic kindergarteners in celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday. He expressed gratitude to the staff and particularly the kindergartners for making the experience enjoyable and memorable. Commissioner Shaw Commissioner Shaw highlighted the upcoming Kids Entrepreneurship Expo, hosted by the Department of Recreation and Youth Services, on Saturday, March 15th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Northwest Rec Center. He expressed excitement about supporting young entrepreneurs and their efforts to start businesses. He also shared the news that Dayton has been ranked number one among tier 2 metros for development on site selections, according to Site Selector magazine. Commissioner Shaw praised this achievement, emphasizing the city’s growth, strong business climate, and collaboration within the community, which contribute to its success. He thanked the Mayor, City Manager, and staff for their efforts in making this possible. Commissioner Joseph Commissioner Joseph shared two announcements. First, he invited everyone to the International Women's Day celebration this Saturday at the Dayton Metro Library from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., where there will be music, dance, art, cultural displays, and inspiring stories. He encouraged attendance, mentioning the event features great food and amazing dancing. Secondly, he mentioned the Walnut Hills neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, March 15th, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Highland Park. He noted that Carol High School student- athletes will be volunteering to help with the cleanup and that supplies and donuts will be provided. He encouraged participation and emphasized wearing old clothes for the event. Mayor Mims Mayor Mims addressed a couple of important items. He clarified a miscommunication about a meeting for the Interrupting Violence program, which was scheduled for tomorrow, March 6th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest Recreation Center, not March Sth as previously mentioned. He also encouraged participation in the Dayton co-ed soccer program, with registration ending on March 15th, for ages 3 to 15, available online or at any recreation center. Additionally, he reminded people about ongoing job postings with the city of Dayton, urging young people and others in their prime to apply.  2083 CITY COMMISSION _ REGULAR MEETING marcy 5 2025 COD REPRO 333-4043 The Mayor took a moment of silence for Virginia Gehres, the mother of Marty Gehres and wife of George Gehres, who passed away recently. Lastly, he shared that the Peace Committee met the previous day, and experts from the Cure Violence Global organization were in town, touring with the police department and working on strategies for creating a more peaceful city. The Mayor concluded with a message of love and peace, stating, "Love and peace for all, hatred for none.” ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m. LIK WV itt F 7 Attest: mY Rh Wolo of Commission