Dayton Commission approves emergency Sierra Nevada funding, PFOA/PFAS sampling loan and spray‑park contract; takes up TIF and airport fee

The Dayton City Commission approved multiple measures during its regular meeting, including emergency resolutions to accept up to $500,000 from the Montgomery County Economic Development Government Equity Program for a Sierra Nevada Corporation project and to enter a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund principal‑forgiveness agreement for PFOA/PFAS sampling at the city's water reclamation facility. The commission also approved the city manager’s recommendations to award a construction contract for spray‑park design and construction management and completed a second reading on a Willow Hills tax‑increment financing ordinance.

The commission voted to declare an emergency and immediately pass Resolution No. 6852‑25, “authorizing the city manager to accept funding from the Montgomery County Economic Development Government Equity Program … in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00” for the Sierra Nevada Corporation project. City Clerk/legislation readings of the resolution appear in the record; the roll call recorded all aye votes on the passage. Miss Blackshear read the resolution text aloud during the meeting.

Commissioners also declared an emergency and moved for immediate passage of Resolution No. 6853‑25, a request to apply for, accept and enter into a WPCLF principal forgiveness agreement on behalf of the city for the water reclamation facility PFOA/PFAS sampling project, designating a dedicated repayment source. The motion for immediate passage was seconded and carried on roll call with recorded ayes.

Separately, the commission approved the city manager’s recommendations earlier in the meeting, which included an award of contract item No. 2 to Brandstetter Carol Inc. for design and construction management work related to spray‑park upgrades and expansions, in the amount of about $320,000. City staff described the procurement history: a July 2024 RFP identified a firm to perform assessment and design and to oversee construction management; Brandstetter Carol Inc. was selected from three proposals.

The commission completed the second reading of Ordinance No. 32142‑25, amending prior ordinances to authorize creation of individual incentive districts for phases of the Willow Hills housing development within the Willow Hills TIF district; the roll call recorded ayes for the reading. The commission also heard a first reading of Resolution No. 6854‑23, to continue a $4.50 passenger facility charge at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport; that item was presented but not acted on beyond the first reading.

Votes at a glance - Resolution No. 6852‑25 (emergency): Authorize city manager to accept up to $500,000 from Montgomery County Economic Development Government Equity Program for the Sierra Nevada Corporation project. Motion for immediate passage carried on roll call (ayes recorded). Mover: (motion recorded verbally during meeting; mover name not specified in the record). Second: (not specified). Outcome: approved. - Resolution No. 6853‑25 (emergency): Apply for/accept WPCLF principal forgiveness loan for PFOA/PFAS sampling project; designate repayment source. Motion for immediate passage carried on roll call (ayes recorded). Mover/Second: not specified in the transcript. Outcome: approved. - Ordinance No. 32142‑25 (second reading): Amend ordinances to create individual incentive districts for Willow Hills TIF phases. Reading recorded with ayes on roll call. Outcome: second reading completed. - Resolution No. 6854‑23 (first reading): Authorize continuation of $4.50 passenger facility charge at James M. Cox Dayton International Airport. Presented; first reading only. - Contract award (agenda item No. 2): Brandstetter Carol Inc., award for approximately $320,000 for spray‑park assessment, design and construction management. City manager recommendations approved earlier in the meeting. Outcome: approved as part of the manager’s recommendations.

What commissioners and staff said City staff summarized the spray‑park procurement: in July 2024 the city issued an RFP to select a firm for assessment and design; the selected firm will also support construction management during the procurement of construction services. Miss Dixing described the contract as a Dayton Recovery Plan investment focused on spray‑park upgrades and expansions and said the selected firm scored highest among three proposals. Miss Blackshear read resolution and ordinance texts for the record during the legislation portion of the meeting.

What the actions mean - The Montgomery County grant acceptance (Resolution No. 6852‑25) authorizes the city to enter a project agreement for the Sierra Nevada Corporation project with county funding up to $500,000; the resolution was declared an emergency and passed immediately. - The WPCLF action (Resolution No. 6853‑25) authorizes the city to seek loan forgiveness funds and design work for PFOA/PFAS sampling; the resolution was declared an emergency and passed immediately. - The Brandstetter Carol Inc. contract funds assessment and design work ahead of a later construction procurement; staff said it is part of a multi‑phase upgrade program.

The commission did not provide additional fiscal detail for the Sierra Nevada project beyond the “not to exceed $500,000” cap in the resolution text, nor did the record include the full terms of the WPCLF repayment designation; those items were not specified in the spoken record.

Commissioners closed the legislative portion of the meeting and moved on to public comment, where residents raised unrelated community concerns and requests.