The Dayton City Commission met Jan. 15 and approved several routine motions, heard public comments on winter sheltering and local traffic changes, and conducted a first reading of an ordinance to vacate an alley adjacent to the Dayton Kettering connector.

Why it matters: The commission’s business included both immediate public-safety and quality-of-life matters — cold-weather sheltering and street safety — and ongoing property work such as demolition and asbestos surveys tied to the city’s housing-removal pipeline.

The commission voted to excuse Commissioner Joseph from the evening’s meeting and approved the minutes of the Jan. 8 meeting. Commissioners also approved senior management recommendations on calendar items, which included a consultant services agreement tied to the city’s demolition pipeline (item 3). The commission took no final vote on ordinance 32138-25, a first reading to vacate an alley east of the Dayton Kettering connector.

Public comment at the meeting covered a range of neighborhood concerns: requests to expand sheltering and warming options for unhoused residents during extreme cold, complaints about temporary speed cushions on Gettysburg Avenue and lane changes on North Main Street, concerns about snow removal on residential streets and requests for more youth programming and amenities. Several residents urged changes to shelter availability during very low temperatures; one speaker urged 24/7 access.

Commissioners and city staff provided several operational updates: the city’s cold-weather response plan was active at Tier 1, where rec centers are open as daytime warming centers and shelters reported available capacity; the city is pursuing longer-term traffic calming and street renovation projects and has mobile speed enforcement options; and staff are continuing demolition pipeline work that includes asbestos surveys and post-abatement verification.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to excuse Commissioner Joseph from the Jan. 15 meeting: moved and seconded; outcome: approved (ayes recorded).
- Motion to approve minutes of the Jan. 8, 2025 meeting: moved and seconded; outcome: approved (ayes recorded).
- Motion to approve senior management recommendations (calendar items): moved and seconded; outcome: approved (ayes recorded). This set of recommendations included the consultant services agreement (item 3).
- Ordinance 32138-25 (first reading) — to vacate the alley east of the Dayton Kettering connector: first reading presented; no final vote recorded at this meeting.

Next steps: Several items will return for additional action. The demolition/contract work discussed as calendar item 3 moves forward under the approved management recommendations and will appear on future agendas for formal contract actions if required. The commission and staff said they will continue outreach on shelter availability and street projects and follow up with commenters on specifics such as parking and park rental fees.

(Procedure note: This article summarizes procedural votes and public comments recorded during the Jan. 15, 2025 Dayton City Commission meeting.)