City Council
Regular MeetingOcala, FL · January 21, 2025
Minutes
110 SE Watula Avenue
Ocala Ocala, FL 34471
City Council www.ocalafl.gov
Synopsis
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 3:15 PM
1. Call to Order
NOTE: Following the Call to Order, the City Council will participate in a private, attorney-client
meeting for approximately thirty minutes. At the end of that meeting (approximately 3:45 PM), City
Council will return to reopen the regular meeting, announce the conclusion of the private,
attorney-client meeting and to address the remainder of the agenda items.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Ben Marciano
Pro Tem Ire J. Bethea Sr
Council Member James P. Hilty Sr
Council Member Jay A. Musleh
Council President Kristen M. Dreyer
Excused: Council Member Barry Mansfield
3. Public Notice
Public Notice for the January 21, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on January 8,
2025
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. Presentation of the Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award to Sandra Seibert
4b. Service Award - Lieutenant Charles Hunt IV - Ocala Police Department - 15 Years of
Service
4c. Service Award - Matthew Grow - Ocala International Airport - 20 Years of Service
5. Presentations
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: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
EXCUSED: Mansfield
Page 1 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
6a. Approve the donation of two surplus vehicles to the Estella Byrd Whitman Community
Health Center with an estimated residual auction value of $3,573
Presentation By: John King
6b. Approve award of a two-year contract to SG Power Pros, LLC for load-bank testing for
emergency power generators with an estimated aggregate expenditure of $86,270
Presentation By: John King
6c. Approve the donation of two surplus vehicles to Wear Gloves, Inc. with an estimated
residual auction value of $18,362
Presentation By: John King
6d. Approve the purchase of a Siemens UC150 charger from Siemens Industry, Inc., utilizing
a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in the amount of $61,485
Presentation By: John King
6e. Approve a contract for the rehabilitation of the Clarke residence located at 2612 NE 22nd
Ave. to Stejack, LLC for a total project cost not to exceed $66,048
Presentation By: James Haynes
6f. Approve a request from Team Delva Properties Inc. for reimbursement of fees associated
with the production of an affordable housing unit in the amount of $8,188
Presentation By: James Haynes
6g. Approve a request from Habitat for Humanity of Marion County for reimbursement of
fees associated with the production of an affordable housing unit in the amount of $3,285
Presentation By: James Haynes
6h. Approve additional expenditures for the purchase of firefighter bunker gear and supplies
from Municipal Equipment Co., LLC in the amount of $50,000
Presentation By: Clint Welborn
6i. Approve minutes from January 7, 2025 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
Page 2 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
9a. 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: ADOPTED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, and Musleh
NAY: Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
9b. Adopt Ordinance 2025-15 to rezone 1.14 acres from R-2, Two-Family Residential, to
R-3, Multi-Family Residential, for property located in the 700 block of SW Third Street
(Parcel 2848-002-001) (Case: ZON24-0003) (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, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
9c. Adopt Resolution 2025-10 to abrogate approximately 0.06 acres of the eastern 164 feet
of the alley between SW Second Avenue and SW Third Avenue (Parcel 2854-025-010)
(Case: ABR23-45350) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
Page 3 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
9d. Adopt Resolution 2025-11 vacating Parcel # 22817-000-00 located in Blocks 557-559
(Saving Mercy Corporation) from the West End Ocala Plat (PLV24-0001)
(Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Tye Chighizola
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10. General Business
10a. Termination for Convenience of the Agreement between the City of Ocala and Sky
Elements
Presentation By: Christopher Watt
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10b. Approve award of a three-year contract to Dragonfly Pond Works, LLC for stormwater
ground maintenance services for the City’s southeast section in the amount of $343,980
Presentation By: Darren Park
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10c. Authorize the City Engineer to issue a change order to the Construction Services
Agreement with Commercial Industrial Corp. to facilitate the construction of a
roundabout on SW 44th Avenue and increase the contract value by $1,025,808
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
Page 4 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
10d. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-125 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to
appropriate funds from the Infrastructure Surtax Reserve to support the construction of a
roundabout on SW 44th Avenue in the amount of $1,025,808
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10e. Approve expenditures for utility services provided by Duke Energy, Inc. for Fiscal Year
2024-25 with an estimated expenditure of $130,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10f. Approve the purchase of five vehicles for various City departments in the amount of
$278,602
Presentation By: John King
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10g. Approve Marion County’s standard professional services agreement for Emergency
Solutions Grant Program funding for outreach services in the amount of $100,000
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
Page 5 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
10h. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-126 to approve and appropriate the City of Ocala’s
Emergency Solutions Grant program funding for outreach services in the amount of
$100,000
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10i. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-127 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept
and appropriate funding for the City of Ocala’s Home Investment Partnership Program in
the amount of $256,344
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10j. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-128 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept
and appropriate 2024-25 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program grant funding in
the amount of $125,519
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10k. Adopt Resolution 2025-12 to accept a Federally Funded Subaward and Grant Agreement
for Hurricane Helene, DR-4828, Agreement Number Z4947 and approve the delegation
of authority to City Manager, Peter Lee, to execute funding agreements with any
amendments as the authorized agent and sign compliance documents
Presentation By: Peter Brill
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
Page 6 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
10l. Adopt Resolution 2025-13 to accept a Federally Funded Subaward and Grant Agreement
for Hurricane Milton, DR-4834, Agreement Number Z4977 and approve the delegation
of authority to City Manager, Peter Lee, to execute funding agreements with any
amendments as authorized agent and sign compliance documents
Presentation By: Peter Brill
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10m. Approve one-year renewals of the contracts with PFM Asset Management, LLC,
Sawgrass Asset Management, LLC, and Seix Investment Advisors, LLC for the
provision of investment manager services for the City's treasury funds with an estimated
aggregate expenditure of $180,000
Presentation By: Peter Brill
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
10n. Approve expenditures under contract with CenturyLink/Lumen Technologies for internet
bandwidth/metropolitan area network circuits for the City and its customers in the
amount of $293,063
Presentation By: Mel Poole
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer
ABSENT: Mansfield
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
Parking Garage No. 2 public meetings scheduled for January 30, 2025, at 12:00 pm and 5:30 pm
Solid Waste Industry meeting scheduled for February 5, 2025, and solid waste workshop
scheduled for February 13, 2025
Winter weather advisory update
Page 7 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
13. Ocala Police Department Report
Overview of Crime and Traffic Stops
Department Highlights
14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report
Unit Responses
Call Type Spotlights
Department Highlights
15. City Attorney's Report
16. Public Comments
Natalie Caban, 1208 SE 18th Street, proposed an initiative to address transportation barriers for
low-income single mothers
Kent Guinn, 320 NW 3rd Avenue, commented on Art Rojas v. City of Ocala case
Robert Reed, 5851 SW 63rd Street, commented on a vehicle accident
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO Meeting - Marion County Commissioners
Auditorium
- Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
- Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop: Sanitation - Council
Chambers
- Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
17a. Monthly budget to actual report and Capital Improvement Project status report as of
November 30, 2024
17b. Executed Contracts Under $50,000
18. Comments by Mayor
Step Challenge Update
Planning Department recognition
19. Comments by City Council Members
Council Member Bethea commented on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events
Council President Dreyer thanked Assistant City Manager Ken Whitehead for replacing the
American flag in the City Council Chambers
Page 8 of 9
City Council Synopsis January 21, 2025
20. Adjournment
Adjourned at 6:12 pm
Page 9 of 9
Agenda
Ocala City Council Agenda - Final
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
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
3:15 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 January 21, 2025
1. Call to Order
NOTE: Following the Call to Order, the City Council will participate in a private, attorney-client
meeting for approximately thirty minutes. At the end of that meeting (approximately 3:45 PM), City
Council will return to reopen the regular meeting, announce the conclusion of the private,
attorney-client meeting and to address the remainder of the agenda items.
2. Roll Call
3. Public Notice
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. Presentation of the Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award to Sandra
Seibert
4b. Service Award - Lieutenant Charles Hunt IV - Ocala Police
Department - 15 Years of Service
4c. Service Award - Matthew Grow - Ocala International Airport - 20
Years of Service
5. Presentations
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 donation of two surplus vehicles to the Estella Byrd
Whitman Community Health Center with an estimated residual auction
value of $3,573
Presentation By: John King
6b. Approve award of a two-year contract to SG Power Pros, LLC for
load-bank testing for emergency power generators with an estimated
aggregate expenditure of $86,270
Presentation By: John King
6c. Approve the donation of two surplus vehicles to Wear Gloves, Inc.
with an estimated residual auction value of $18,362
Presentation By: John King
6d. Approve the purchase of a Siemens UC150 charger from Siemens
Industry, Inc., utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing
Agreement in the amount of $61,485
Presentation By: John King
Page 1 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final January 21, 2025
6e. Approve a contract for the rehabilitation of the Clarke residence
located at 2612 NE 22nd Ave. to Stejack, LLC for a total project cost
not to exceed $66,048
Presentation By: James Haynes
6f. Approve a request from Team Delva Properties Inc. for reimbursement
of fees associated with the production of an affordable housing unit in
the amount of $8,188
Presentation By: James Haynes
6g. Approve a request from Habitat for Humanity of Marion County for
reimbursement of fees associated with the production of an affordable
housing unit in the amount of $3,285
Presentation By: James Haynes
6h. Approve additional expenditures for the purchase of firefighter bunker
gear and supplies from Municipal Equipment Co., LLC in the amount
of $50,000
Presentation By: Clint Welborn
6i. Approve minutes from January 7, 2025 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. 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 January 21, 2025
9b. Adopt Ordinance 2025-15 to rezone 1.14 acres from R-2, Two-Family
Residential, to R-3, Multi-Family Residential, for property located in
the 700 block of SW Third Street (Parcel 2848-002-001) (Case:
ZON24-0003) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced by: Jay A. Musleh
9c. Adopt Resolution 2025-10 to abrogate approximately 0.06 acres of the RES-2025-10
eastern 164 feet of the alley between SW Second Avenue and SW
Third Avenue (Parcel 2854-025-010) (Case: ABR23-45350)
(Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
9d. Adopt Resolution 2025-11 vacating Parcel # 22817-000-00 located in RES-2025-11
Blocks 557-559 (Saving Mercy Corporation) from the West End Ocala
Plat (PLV24-0001) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Tye Chighizola
10. General Business
10a. Termination for Convenience of the Agreement between the City of
Ocala and Sky Elements
Presentation By: Christopher Watt
10b. Approve award of a three-year contract to Dragonfly Pond Works,
LLC for stormwater ground maintenance services for the City’s
southeast section in the amount of $343,980
Presentation By: Darren Park
10c. Authorize the City Engineer to issue a change order to the
Construction Services Agreement with Commercial Industrial Corp. to
facilitate the construction of a roundabout on SW 44th Avenue and
increase the contract value by $1,025,808
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10d. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-125 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-125
budget to appropriate funds from the Infrastructure Surtax Reserve to
support the construction of a roundabout on SW 44th Avenue in the
amount of $1,025,808
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
Page 3 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final January 21, 2025
10e. Approve expenditures for utility services provided by Duke Energy,
Inc. for Fiscal Year 2024-25 with an estimated expenditure of
$130,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10f. Approve the purchase of five vehicles for various City departments in
the amount of $278,602
Presentation By: John King
10g. Approve Marion County’s standard professional services agreement
for Emergency Solutions Grant Program funding for outreach services
in the amount of $100,000
Presentation By: James Haynes
10h. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-126 to approve and appropriate the BR-2025-126
City of Ocala’s Emergency Solutions Grant program funding for
outreach services in the amount of $100,000
Presentation By: James Haynes
10i. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-127 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-127
budget to accept and appropriate funding for the City of Ocala’s Home
Investment Partnership Program in the amount of $256,344
Presentation By: James Haynes
10j. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-128 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-128
budget to accept and appropriate 2024-25 State Housing Initiatives
Partnership Program grant funding in the amount of $125,519
Presentation By: James Haynes
10k. Adopt Resolution 2025-12 to accept a Federally Funded Subaward and RES-2025-12
Grant Agreement for Hurricane Helene, DR-4828, Agreement Number
Z4947 and approve the delegation of authority to City Manager, Peter
Lee, to execute funding agreements with any amendments as the
authorized agent and sign compliance documents
Presentation By: Peter Brill
10l. Adopt Resolution 2025-13 to accept a Federally Funded Subaward and RES-2025-13
Grant Agreement for Hurricane Milton, DR-4834, Agreement Number
Z4977 and approve the delegation of authority to City Manager, Peter
Lee, to execute funding agreements with any amendments as
authorized agent and sign compliance documents
Presentation By: Peter Brill
Page 4 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final January 21, 2025
10m. Approve one-year renewals of the contracts with PFM Asset
Management, LLC, Sawgrass Asset Management, LLC, and Seix
Investment Advisors, LLC for the provision of investment manager
services for the City's treasury funds with an estimated aggregate
expenditure of $180,000
Presentation By: Peter Brill
10n. Approve expenditures under contract with CenturyLink/Lumen
Technologies for internet bandwidth/metropolitan area network
circuits for the City and its customers in the amount of $293,063
Presentation By: Mel Poole
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
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, January 28, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO Meeting - Marion County Commissioners
Auditorium
- Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
- Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop: Sanitation - Council
Chambers
- Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, February 18, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council Meeting - Council Chambers
17a. Monthly budget to actual report and Capital Improvement Project
status report as of November 30, 2024
17b. Executed Contracts Under $50,000
18. Comments by Mayor
19. Comments by City Council Members
20. Adjournment
Page 5 of 5
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