City Council
Regular MeetingOcala, FL · December 17, 2024
Minutes
110 SE Watula Avenue
Ocala Ocala, FL 34471
City Council www.ocalafl.gov
Synopsis
Tuesday, December 17, 2024 4:00 PM
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Ben Marciano
Pro Tem Ire J. Bethea Sr
Council Member James P. Hilty Sr
Council Member Barry Mansfield
Council Member Jay A. Musleh
Council President Kristen M. Dreyer
3. Public Notice
- Public Notice for the December 17, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting was posted
on November 6, 2024
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. The Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award will be presented to Lynelle Fairchild
4b. Service Award - Chad Lynch - Ocala Electric Utility - 25 Years of Service
4c. Service Award - Fire Captain Joshua Phillips - Ocala Fire Rescue Department - 25 Years
of Service
4d. Service Award - Dwain Thomas - Growth Management Department - 25 Years of
Service
5. Presentations
5a. Ocala Municipal Arts Commission Fiscal Year 2023-24 Report
Presentation By: Emily Parkman
6. Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one roll call vote.
There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of Council or the public
request specific items to be removed for separate discussion and action.
RESULT: APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 1 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
6a. Approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 tentative budget calendar
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
6b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-121 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept
and appropriate program income for the City of Ocala’s State Housing Initiative Program
Grant program in the amount of $24,003
Presentation By: James Haynes
6c. Approve a Change Order for Task Order No. 1 with Black & Veatch Corporation to
provide engineering services in response to a request for additional information on SE
Watula Avenue and SE Broadway Street Letter of Map Revision application for an
overall project cost of $54,450
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
6d. Approve a one-year renewal of Connexo NetSense Service Maintenance Agreement with
Honeywell in the amount of $64,862
Presentation By: Doug Peebles
6e. Approve the release of Blanket Easements granted on parcels No. 24228-003-00 and No.
24228-002-00 in exchange for Specific Replacement Easements
Presentation By: Tracy Taylor
6f. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-122 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept
and appropriate grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice to reimburse overtime
and operating expenses related to community policing education and programs up to
$36,531
Presentation By: Michael Balken
6g. Approve minutes from September 11, 2024 City Council Special Meeting
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs
6h. Approve minutes from December 3, 2024 City Council meeting
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs
7. Consent Agenda Items Held for Discussion
Should any items be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion, they will be discussed at
this time.
8. Introduction and First Readings of Ordinances
9. Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances
9a. Affordable Housing Advisory Committee 2024 Annual Report
Presentation By: James Haynes
Page 2 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
9b. Approve the 2024 Community Development Block Grant Consolidated Annual
Performance Evaluation Report
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
9c. Adopt Ordinance 2025-1 to rezone approximately 4.63 acres for property located at 1712
SE Lake Weir Avenue (Parcel 2920-010-008) from INST, Institutional to B-2A, Limited
Community Business (Case ZON24-45752) (Quasi-Judicial) - Previously postponed
from October 15, 2024, November 19, 2024 and December 3, 2024, City Council
meetings.
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
Introduced By: Jay A. Musleh
RESULT: POSTPONED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
9d. Adopt Ordinance 2025-10 to rezone approximately 15.00 acres of property generally
located in the 2000-3000 block of NW 35th Avenue Road, approximately 660 feet
northwest of the intersection of NW 35th Avenue Road and NW 21st Street, (Parcel
21466-000-00) from R-1, Single-Family Residential, to B-2, Community Business (Case
ZON24-45826) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Emily Johnson
Introduced By: James P. Hilty Sr
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
9e. Adopt Ordinance 2025-11 to annex approximately 1.29 acres for property located at
4001 NW Blitchton Road (Parcel 21537-002-00) (Case ANX24-45820) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced By: Jay A. Musleh
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 3 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
9f. Adopt Ordinance 2025-12 to change future land use designation of approximately 1.29
acres for property located at 4001 NW Blitchton Road (Parcel 21537-002-00) from
Commercial (County) to Medium Intensity/Special District (City) (Case LUC24-45821)
(Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced By: Ire J. Bethea Sr
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
9g. Adopt Ordinance 2025-13 to rezone approximately 1.29 acres for property located at
4001 NW Blitchton Road (Parcel 21537-002-00) from B-2, Community Business
(County), to B-2, Community Business (City) (Case ZON24-45822) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced By: Barry Mansfield
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Barry Mansfield
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
9h. Adopt Ordinance 2025-14 to rezone approximately 15.46 acres for property located
approximately 900 feet northwest of the intersection of SW College Road and SW 20th
Court (Parcel 23553-003-00 and Parcel 23561-000-00) from R-1, Single-Family
Residential, to R-3, Multi-Family Residential (Case ZON24-45672) (Quasi-Judicial)
Introduced By: James P. Hilty Sr
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 4 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
10. General Business
10a. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-123 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to
appropriate revenue and expenditures from the renewed Infrastructure Surtax in the
amount of $9,116,456
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10b. Approve the annual agreement for business creation, retention, and attraction services
with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership in the amount of $190,000
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Dreyer
NAY: Musleh
10c. Approve a two-year contract renewal for drone show services for Fourth of July events
with Sky Elements, LLC in the amount of $300,000
Presentation By: Amy Casaletto
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Barry Mansfield
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
NAY: Hilty Sr
10d. Approve award of a contract to Florida Home Contractors, Inc., for rehabilitation
services for the Terrell residence located on SW Fifth Place with a total project cost not
to exceed $114,740
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 5 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
10e. Approve the purchase of electric meters from Wesco Distribution, Inc. with an estimated
expenditure of $2,000,000
Presentation By: Doug Peebles
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10f. Approve a one-year contract renewal with Extreme Enterprises of Marion County, Inc.,
for grounds maintenance services for the City’s south section rights-of-way, medians,
and city-owned lots with an expenditure of $177,239
Presentation By: Darren Park
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10g. Approve a three-year contract award to Sulter Precision Cuts, LLC for stormwater
grounds maintenance services for the City’s northeast section in the amount of $561,120
Presentation By: Darren Park
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10h. Approve the purchase of three Federal Transit Administration Category 3 cutaway style
buses in the amount of $561,168
Presentation By: Tom Duncan
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Barry Mansfield
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10i. Approve the purchase of two acres for $156,000 from Ruth Still in support of the
expansion project of Water Retention Area No. 222
Presentation By: Tracy Taylor
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 6 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
10j. Approve the award of a piggyback agreement to Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC, for
the provision of wastewater odor and corrosion control services with an aggregate
expenditure of $4,000,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
12a. 2025 State Legislative Priorities Draft
- Sanitation workshop rescheduled to February 11, 2024, at 12:00 pm in Council
Chambers
- OFN Strategic Plan Update presented by Janice Mitchel
- City Staff recognition
13. Ocala Police Department Report
- Christmas Parade recap
- Annual Shop with a Cop Event
- Operation: Secret Santa
- Case Highlight
- Patrol Bureau & Traffic Enforcement
- Update to Police Report to Council Format
14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report
Fire Chief Clint Welborn – Public Safety Opioid Response Efforts & Community Paramedicine
- Update to Fire Department Report to Council Format
15. City Attorney's Report
16. Public Comments
- Jason Martin, 4160 SE 58th Avenue, discussed his concerns about business
practices of neighboring business
Page 7 of 8
City Council Synopsis December 17, 2024
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Eve and Day - City Offices
closed
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - New Year's Day - City Offices closed
- Tuesday, January 7, 2025 - City Council meeting - 4:00 pm - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - City Council meeting - 4:00 pm - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - City Council Workshop: Sanitation - 12:00 pm, Council
Chambers
18. Comments by Mayor
- Community Step Challenge
- Healthy Ocala Mental Health Services website
- Christmas Parade
19. Comments by City Council Members
- Council Members wished the public a Merry Christmas
20. Adjournment
Adjourned at 5:52 pm
Page 8 of 8
Agenda
Ocala City Council Agenda - Final
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Meeting Information WELCOME!
Location
Citizens are encouraged to participate in City of Ocala
Ocala City Hall meetings. Speakers wishing to provide public comments to the
110 SE Watula Avenue City Council should complete a written public comment form
Second Floor - Council Chambers and shall submit said form to the City Clerk prior to the meeting
Ocala, Florida being called to order. Unless otherwise permitted, no person
https://www.ocalafl.gov/meetings
shall be permitted to provide public comments to City Council
if they have not completed and submitted a public comment
Time card prior to the meeting being called to order. Speakers will be
4:00 PM limited to 3 (three) minutes. Additional time may be granted by
the Council President. When recognized, state name and
Council Members
Kristen Dreyer, Council President address. Citizen groups are asked to name a spokesperson.
Ire Bethea Sr., Pro Tem
James P. Hilty Sr. The City of Ocala encourages civility in public discourse and
Barry Mansfield requests that speakers limit their comments to specific motions
Jay A. Musleh and direct their comments to the Council. Cell phones should be
Mayor turned off or set to vibrate.
Ben Marciano
The order of agenda items may be changed if deemed
City Manager appropriate by City Council.
Peter Lee
Citizens are encouraged to provide comments in writing to the
City Clerk before meetings for inclusion into the
Mission Statement public record. Citizens may also provide input to council
The City of Ocala provides fiscally members via office visits, phone calls, letters and e-mail that
responsible services consistent with the will become public record. In some instances, i.e., Quasi-
community's current and future Judicial Hearings, these particular contacts may be prohibited.
expectations.
APPEALS
Any person who desires to appeal any decision at this meeting
City Council's will need a record of the proceedings and for this purpose may
Strategic Priorities need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is
made that includes the testimony and evidence upon which the
Priority 1: Economic hub appeal is made.
Priority 2: Fiscally sustainable
Priority 3: Engaged workforce
ADA COMPLIANCE
Priority 4: Operational excellence
Priority 5: Quality of place If reasonable accommodations are needed for you to participate
in this meeting, please call the City Manager’s Office at
352-629-8401 at least 48 hours in advance so arrangements can
be made.
City Council Agenda - Final December 17, 2024
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Public Notice
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. The Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award will be presented to Lynelle
Fairchild
4b. Service Award - Chad Lynch - Ocala Electric Utility - 25 Years of
Service
4c. Service Award - Fire Captain Joshua Phillips - Ocala Fire Rescue
Department - 25 Years of Service
4d. Service Award - Dwain Thomas - Growth Management Department -
25 Years of Service
5. Presentations
5a. Ocala Municipal Arts Commission Fiscal Year 2023-24 Report
Presentation By: Emily Parkman
6. Consent Agenda
Consent Agenda items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one roll call vote.
There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of Council or the public
request specific items to be removed for separate discussion and action.
6a. Approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 tentative budget calendar
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
6b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-121 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-121
budget to accept and appropriate program income for the City of
Ocala’s State Housing Initiative Program Grant program in the amount
of $24,003
Presentation By: James Haynes
6c. Approve a Change Order for Task Order No. 1 with Black & Veatch
Corporation to provide engineering services in response to a request
for additional information on SE Watula Avenue and SE Broadway
Street Letter of Map Revision application for an overall project cost of
$54,450
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
6d. Approve a one-year renewal of Connexo NetSense Service
Maintenance Agreement with Honeywell in the amount of $64,862
Presentation By: Doug Peebles
Page 1 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final December 17, 2024
6e. Approve the release of Blanket Easements granted on parcels No.
24228-003-00 and No. 24228-002-00 in exchange for Specific
Replacement Easements
Presentation By: Tracy Taylor
6f. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-122 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-122
budget to accept and appropriate grant funds from the U.S. Department
of Justice to reimburse overtime and operating expenses related to
community policing education and programs up to $36,531
Presentation By: Michael Balken
6g. Approve minutes from September 11, 2024 City Council Special
Meeting
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs
6h. Approve minutes from December 3, 2024 City Council meeting
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs
7. Consent Agenda Items Held for Discussion
Should any items be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion, they will be discussed at
this time.
8. Introduction and First Readings of Ordinances
9. Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances
9a. Affordable Housing Advisory Committee 2024 Annual Report
Presentation By: James Haynes
9b. Approve the 2024 Community Development Block Grant
Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report
Presentation By: James Haynes
9c. Adopt Ordinance 2025-1 to rezone approximately 4.63 acres for
property located at 1712 SE Lake Weir Avenue (Parcel 2920-010-008)
from INST, Institutional to B-2A, Limited Community Business (Case
ZON24-45752) (Quasi-Judicial) - Previously postponed from October
15, 2024, November 19, 2024 and December 3, 2024, City Council
meetings.
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
Introduced by: Jay A. Musleh
Page 2 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final December 17, 2024
9d. Adopt Ordinance 2025-10 to rezone approximately 15.00 acres of
property generally located in the 2000-3000 block of NW 35th Avenue
Road, approximately 660 feet northwest of the intersection of NW
35th Avenue Road and NW 21st Street, (Parcel 21466-000-00) from
R-1, Single-Family Residential, to B-2, Community Business (Case
ZON24-45826) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Emily Johnson
Introduced by: James P. Hilty Sr
9e. Adopt Ordinance 2025-11 to annex approximately 1.29 acres for
property located at 4001 NW Blitchton Road (Parcel 21537-002-00)
(Case ANX24-45820) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced by: Jay A. Musleh
9f. Adopt Ordinance 2025-12 to change future land use designation of
approximately 1.29 acres for property located at 4001 NW Blitchton
Road (Parcel 21537-002-00) from Commercial (County) to Medium
Intensity/Special District (City) (Case LUC24-45821) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced by: Ire J. Bethea Sr
9g. Adopt Ordinance 2025-13 to rezone approximately 1.29 acres for
property located at 4001 NW Blitchton Road (Parcel 21537-002-00)
from B-2, Community Business (County), to B-2, Community
Business (City) (Case ZON24-45822) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced by: Barry Mansfield
9h. Adopt Ordinance 2025-14 to rezone approximately 15.46 acres for
property located approximately 900 feet northwest of the intersection
of SW College Road and SW 20th Court (Parcel 23553-003-00 and
Parcel 23561-000-00) from R-1, Single-Family Residential, to R-3,
Multi-Family Residential (Case ZON24-45672) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced by: James P. Hilty Sr
Page 3 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final December 17, 2024
10. General Business
10a. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-123 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-123
budget to appropriate revenue and expenditures from the renewed
Infrastructure Surtax in the amount of $9,116,456
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
10b. Approve the annual agreement for business creation, retention, and
attraction services with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic
Partnership in the amount of $190,000
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
10c. Approve a two-year contract renewal for drone show services for
Fourth of July events with Sky Elements, LLC in the amount of
$300,000
Presentation By: Amy Casaletto
10d. Approve award of a contract to Florida Home Contractors, Inc., for
rehabilitation services for the Terrell residence located on SW Fifth
Place with a total project cost not to exceed $114,740
Presentation By: James Haynes
10e. Approve the purchase of electric meters from Wesco Distribution, Inc.
with an estimated expenditure of $2,000,000
Presentation By: Doug Peebles
10f. Approve a one-year contract renewal with Extreme Enterprises of
Marion County, Inc., for grounds maintenance services for the City’s
south section rights-of-way, medians, and city-owned lots with an
expenditure of $177,239
Presentation By: Darren Park
10g. Approve a three-year contract award to Sulter Precision Cuts, LLC for
stormwater grounds maintenance services for the City’s northeast
section in the amount of $561,120
Presentation By: Darren Park
10h. Approve the purchase of three Federal Transit Administration
Category 3 cutaway style buses in the amount of $561,168
Presentation By: Tom Duncan
10i. Approve the purchase of two acres for $156,000 from Ruth Still in
support of the expansion project of Water Retention Area No. 222
Presentation By: Tracy Taylor
Page 4 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final December 17, 2024
10j. Approve the award of a piggyback agreement to Evoqua Water
Technologies, LLC, for the provision of wastewater odor and corrosion
control services with an aggregate expenditure of $4,000,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
12a. 2025 State Legislative Priorities Draft
13. Ocala Police Department Report
14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report
15. City Attorney's Report
16. Public Comments
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Tuesday, December 24 and Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Eve and Day - City Offices
closed
- Wednesday, January 1, 2025 - New Year's Day - City Offices closed
- Tuesday, January 7, 2025 - City Council meeting - 4:00 pm - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - City Council meeting - 4:00 pm - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - City Council Workshop: Sanitation - 12:00, Council Chambers
18. Comments by Mayor
19. Comments by City Council Members
20. Adjournment
Page 5 of 5
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