Dayton City Commission Work Session 3-11-26

The Dayton City Commission held a work session on March 11, 2026, focused on introducing and discussing the city's first Citizens Assembly initiative. The meeting featured presentations from city staff and external partners about the assembly's purpose, process, and goals, emphasizing civic engagement and community-driven policy recommendations. The discussion centered on selecting a topic for the assembly, with three main issues considered: neighborhood blight, youth programming, and the public hospital. The advisory board recommended the public hospital as the most suitable topic due to its complexity, urgency, and potential for meaningful citizen input. The assembly is planned to run from May to June 2026, followed by a deliberative town hall in September to validate recommendations. The session also addressed concerns about maintaining an arm's-length relationship between the city and the assembly to ensure legitimacy and trust, as well as the importance of transparent education for participants. No specific procurement, contracting, or budget decisions were made during this meeting, but the initiative involves coordination with multiple partners and funding sources to support the assembly process.