Residents press commission on sister-city ties, DREDA contracts and transparency over international partnerships

Several residents used public comment to question Dayton’s international partnerships and recent city or regional contracts involving Israeli firms.

Lynn Lamance asked the commission to re-evaluate sister-city relationships with Salfit, Palestine and a city in Israel, noting that the sister-cities website says the program exists “to promote peace.” A separate speaker raised concerns about contracts between local economic development entities and Israeli firms, public-records access and whether equipment or supplies were being shipped from the Dayton airport to Israel.

Public commenter Jennifer Alexander said she had been told county partners ended their involvement in a contract with an Israeli business and asked whether city officials were aware; she urged more public-record memos and transparency around contract negotiations. City administration (Ms. Dickstein) later said the Dayton Development Coalition and county and city agreements that employed a business development director concluded in 2024 and that the June 2024 payment completed obligations for that year; she said “there is no funding in 2025 at this point in time directed towards Bridal activities.” The administration also said discussions about a broader international strategy had not advanced far.

Speakers additionally asked for clearer public records and communication when intergovernmental contracts change. The commission directed staff to follow up and to ensure commissioners are included in relevant interagency discussions.

Why it matters: residents raised questions about international partnerships, the transparency of local economic development agreements and whether public funds or local infrastructure are connected to international military or weapons activities. The administration said specific local contracts had ended in 2024 and that no city funding for the referenced contract exists in 2025.