Dayton commission adopts emergency framework for citywide New Community Authority after lengthy debate

The Dayton City Commission on July 1 unanimously adopted emergency resolutions creating a citywide New Community Authority (NCA), a voluntary financing tool intended to generate development revenue from participating property owners and reinvest it in public infrastructure and corridor improvements. The votes were 5-0 on both Emergency Resolution No. 6942-26 (petition sufficiency and public hearing) and Emergency Resolution No. 6943-26 (parcel consents).

The NCA framework was presented to the Commission by Joe Tuss of JT Development Consulting and staff, who recommended a pilot approach beginning downtown and a corridor trial on East Third Street, with a Mayor-supported expansion to West Third Street. City Manager Shelley Dickstein said the authority is designed to allow revenues generated downtown to be reinvested there so equivalent General Fund dollars can be redirected to neighborhood priorities such as demolition and housing during the 2027 budget process.

Debate focused on process and timing. Commissioner Fairchild said the Commission was seeing “half a meal,” questioning why more business commitments and feasibility detail were not in hand before emergency legislation. He urged more time for stakeholder conversations. Dickstein and outside counsel Tyler Bridge of Bricker Graydon said the petition meets the preliminary statutory requirements under Ohio Revised Code Section 349.03 and that delaying action could jeopardize bond financing timelines for a proposed convention center headquarters hotel. Bridge said the petition provides a citywide framework and that each participating project would later return with detailed supplemental declarations for Commission approval.

Supporters said the NCA is voluntary and intended to complement existing tools such as TIFs and CRAs. Cole Hetman and presenters stressed that participation would be negotiated with willing property owners and that revenues would be reinvested into the corridor that generated them. Commissioner Shaw, who co-led the advisory committee, described downtown as the city's principal economic driver and argued that enabling downtown to self-fund improvements could free General Fund resources for neighborhoods.

Public commenters reflected the split in public opinion. Ebony Hastings urged removing the emergency resolutions, saying the NCA lacked transparency and would favor developers; the Mayor responded that the emergency designation creates no direct City cost and is needed to support financing timelines. Other residents urged robust resident and business engagement to ensure equitable investments.

Next steps: the Commission scheduled the required public hearing process on the petition and authorized publication of notice. Staff and outside counsel said subsequent project-specific decisions — including negotiated community development charges and any corridor additions — will return to the Commission for approval with supplemental declarations and public hearings.