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City to City - Dayton Ohio Patricia Dumas Dayton, Ohio is the focus city of this report in TUI's series on how citizens can improve the quality of urban living. Dayton has a system of Priority Boards which function as the respected and official mechanism for citizen involvement. It is a system that enables representatives from each of the city's diverse neighborhoods to effectively participate in municipal planning and decision-making. Operating successfully for more than two decades, the Priority Boards system is nationally recognized as a model for citizen action. A Dayton city publication explains that effective community involvement requires "resources, information, communication, and empowerment." That combination helps cities stabilize neighborhoods and establish environments that attract new residents. The Priority Boards are elected annually through a process administered by the city's Division of Citizen Participation. Candidates for election must be registered voters and have a petition signed by registered voters in the area they seek to represent. The boundaries for each area ensure a broad diversity of socioeconomic groups. The administering division encourages candidates from all segments of the city's population and makes a special effort to encourage candidates from low-income areas. Regulations are in place to rule out disqualified candidates. Working closely with neighborhood groups, the Priority Boards make recommendations to the city administration on such matters as appointments to city agencies, ordinance changes, policies, budget expenditures, liquor license renewals, environmental issues, and zoning. Major items of citizen concern are dealt with speedily because chairpersons of the Priority Boards meet monthly with the City Manager to press for follow-up action. In Dayton, citizens are viewed as "the senior partner in achieving neighborhood vitality according to the city involvement strategy statement. In line with that commitment, the citizens work with local realtors on marketing their neighborhoods and with lenders to make loans available for home purchases and rehabilitation. Neighborhood watch groups sponsor public safety programs, volunteers help with recycling programs, and business representatives provide technical assistance for promoting cultural events. Dayton also has a leadership development program which provides a constant resource for identifying and training new grassroots leaders. Anyone interested in more detailed information on this please call Janette Kaddo Marino @ 271-1276. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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