City Council
Regular MeetingOcala, FL · April 1, 2025
Minutes
110 SE Watula Avenue
Ocala Ocala, FL 34471
City Council www.ocalafl.gov
Synopsis
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 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
2a. New Employees
- Rachel Herman, Information Technology
- David Ilimaleota, Public Works
3. Public Notice
Public Notice for the April 1, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on March 14, 2025
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. Presentation of the Water Conservation Month Proclamation to Ocala Water Resources
Assistant Director Rusella Bowes-Johnson, Government Affairs Regional Manager,
Southwest Florida Water Management District Carrieann Adkins, and to
Intergovernmental Coordinator, St. Johns River Water Management District William
White
4b. Presentation of the Fair Housing Month Proclamation to James Haynes, Director of
Community Development Services and staff, Community Legal Services, Marion County
Community Services, Ocala Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County,
Housing Finance Authority of Marion County, Ocala/Marion Association of Realtors,
and City of Ocala’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
5. Presentations
5a. The Annual Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) presentation by Jaye Baillie, Executive
Director of the MCA at Brick City Center for the Arts
Page 1 of 8
City Council Synopsis April 1, 2025
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: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
6a. Approve Task Work Order No. 1 under the City’s continuing professional engineering
services agreement with McKim & Creed, Inc., for the provision of engineering services
related to the Collection System Action Plan and Power Outage Contingency Plan in the
amount of $57,570
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
6b. Approve Florida Department of Environmental Protection Petroleum Cleanup
Participation Program Agreement for Art Park and West Lake Tuscawilla with a City
copayment of $25,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
6c. Approve the purchase of a retractable file system for the Ocala Police Department’s
Records Division utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in the
amount of $69,995
Presentation By: Michael Balken
6d. Approve the purchase of a 200kW generator from Cummins, Inc. utilizing a Sourcewell
Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in the amount of $67,515
Presentation By: John King
6e. Approve award of contracts to Stejack Construction, LLC, and Central Florida Equity
Builders, LLC, for residential rehabilitation services for the Brown residence located on
NW 11th Avenue with a total project cost not to exceed $54,385
Presentation By: James Haynes
6f. Approve one-year contract renewal of the agreement with Cellebrite, Inc., for forensic
software with an estimated expenditure of $86,380
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso
6g. Approve an electric easement to Duke Energy on City owned parcel No. 37517-000-00
Presentation By: Tracy Taylor
6h. Approve appointment of Angie Clifton to a four-year term ending March 1, 2029, and
Wendy Kebrdle to an unexpired term ending March 1, 2026, on the North Magnolia
Redevelopment Advisory Committee
Presentation By: Roberto Ellis
Page 2 of 8
City Council Synopsis April 1, 2025
6i. Approve minutes from March 18, 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.
Page 3 of 8
City Council Synopsis April 1, 2025
8. Introduction and First Readings of Ordinances
(Second and Final Reading - April 15, 2025)
8a. Introduce Ordinance 2025- 22 to rezone two parcels of land containing approximately
1.34 acres, located at 1533 and 1541 NE 14th Street (Parcel 26486-000-00 and
26486-001-00) from RO, Residential Office, to R-3, Multi-Family Residential (Case
ZON25-0003) (Quasi-Judicial)
Introduced By: Jay A. Musleh
9. Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances
10. General Business
10a. Approve the continued use of the State of Florida Alternative Source Agreement for the
purchase of bulletproof vests from Federal Eastern International in an amount not to
exceed $198,215
Presentation By: Michael Balken
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10b. Approve the utilization of the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award
Schedule for the purchase of a Lenco BearCat armored vehicle in the amount of
$378,165
Presentation By: Michael Balken
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10c. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-141 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to
appropriate funds from the Infrastructure Sales Surtax Reserve for Fund Balance account
to purchase a Lenco BearCat armored vehicle in the amount of $378,165
Presentation By: Michael Balken
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 April 1, 2025
10d. Approve one-year renewal of contract with American Pipe & Tank, Inc., for the
provision of wastewater services with an aggregate expenditure not to exceed $100,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10e. Approve award of contract with All Webbs Enterprises, Inc., for the construction of two
Upper Floridan Aquifer Wells at Water Treatment Plant No. 2 with a bid of $1,117,700
plus a 10 percent contingency of $111,770 and the cost of nine alternate bid items
equaling $250,000 for a total expenditure of $1,479,470
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Barry Mansfield
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10f. Approve additional expenditures and associated task work orders under the City's
continuing professional engineering services agreement with Black & Veatch
Corporation increasing the aggregate threshold from $500,000 to $1,000,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10g. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-142 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to
appropriate funds from the Stormwater Reserve for Contingencies account for continuing
professional engineering services in the amount of $500,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 5 of 8
City Council Synopsis April 1, 2025
10h. Approve the First Amendment and the additional expenditures under the piggyback
agreement with Utility Metering Solutions, LLC, for the installation and integration of a
fixed network metering system for the Water Resources Department in the estimated
amount of $700,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10i. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. LPA0709 between the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Ocala for the Lower Floridan
Aquifer Conversion (Phase V) Project to appropriate additional funding in the amount of
$250,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10j. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-143 appropriating additional funds from the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection for the Lower Floridan Aquifer Conversion
(Phase V) Project in the amount of $250,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10k. Approve award of a three-year contract to Southern Lawn Care Mid Florida, Inc., for the
provision of stormwater grounds maintenance services for the City’s northwest section in
the amount of $193,158
Presentation By: Darren Park
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 6 of 8
City Council Synopsis April 1, 2025
10l. Approve a two-year multi-award contract for mowing and lot clearing contract to Native
Tree of Central Florida, Inc., and Pure Cuts Lawn and Maintenance, LLC, with an
aggregate value not to exceed $400,000
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10m. Approve the purchase of Microsoft 365 cloud subscription and server and desktop
licenses from SHI International utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing
Agreement in the amount of $303,545
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
Strategic Planning Session scheduled for April 10, 2025
13. Ocala Police Department Report
Overview of Crime and Traffic Stops
14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report
Unit Responses
Service calls update
Department Highlights
15. City Attorney's Report
16. Public Comments
Page 7 of 8
City Council Synopsis April 1, 2025
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 12:00pm and 5:30pm - Parking Garage No. 2 Public Information
Sessions - IHMC
- Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 8:30am to 2:00pm - City Council Annual Strategic Planning
Session - Reilly Arts Center
- Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop Re: Water Rate Study - Council
Chambers
- Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - 3:30pm - Audit Committee meeting- Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop Re: Solid Waste/Sanitation -
Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO Meeting - Marion County Commission Auditorium
17a. Informational Update: Dearmin Substation Transformer Purchase and Cost Escalation
17b. Power Cost Adjustment Report - February 2025
17c. Monthly budget to actual report and Capital Improvement Project status report as of
February 28, 2025
17d. Executed Contracts Under $50,000
18. Comments by Mayor
Step Challenge update
School Fitness Challenge
Farming to promote healthy lifestyles
Recognition of City Council Member Hilty
19. Comments by City Council Members
20. Adjournment
Adjourned at 4:55 pm
Page 8 of 8
Agenda
Ocala City Council Agenda - Final
Tuesday, April 1, 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
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 April 1, 2025
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
2a. New Employees
- Rachel Herman, Information Technology
- Demetrius Franklin, Public Works
- David Ilimaleota, Public Works
3. Public Notice
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. Presentation of the Water Conservation Month Proclamation to Ocala
Water Resources Assistant Director Rusella Bowes-Johnson,
Government Affairs Regional Manager, Southwest Florida Water
Management District Carrieann Adkins, and to Intergovernmental
Coordinator, St. Johns River Water Management District William
White
4b. Presentation of the Fair Housing Month Proclamation to James
Haynes, Director of Community Development Services and staff,
Community Legal Services, Marion County Community Services,
Ocala Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County,
Housing Finance Authority of Marion County, Ocala/Marion
Association of Realtors, and City of Ocala’s Affordable Housing
Advisory Committee
5. Presentations
5a. The Annual Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) presentation by Jaye
Baillie, Executive Director of the MCA at Brick City Center for the
Arts
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 Task Work Order No. 1 under the City’s continuing
professional engineering services agreement with McKim & Creed,
Inc., for the provision of engineering services related to the Collection
System Action Plan and Power Outage Contingency Plan in the
amount of $57,570
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
Page 1 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final April 1, 2025
6b. Approve Florida Department of Environmental Protection Petroleum
Cleanup Participation Program Agreement for Art Park and West Lake
Tuscawilla with a City copayment of $25,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
6c. Approve the purchase of a retractable file system for the Ocala Police
Department’s Records Division utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative
Purchasing Agreement in the amount of $69,995
Presentation By: Michael Balken
6d. Approve the purchase of a 200kW generator from Cummins, Inc.
utilizing a Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in the
amount of $67,515
Presentation By: John King
6e. Approve award of contracts to Stejack Construction, LLC, and Central
Florida Equity Builders, LLC, for residential rehabilitation services for
the Brown residence located on NW 11th Avenue with a total project
cost not to exceed $54,385
Presentation By: James Haynes
6f. Approve one-year contract renewal of the agreement with Cellebrite,
Inc., for forensic software with an estimated expenditure of $86,380
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso
6g. Approve an electric easement to Duke Energy on City owned parcel
No. 37517-000-00
Presentation By: Tracy Taylor
6h. Approve appointment of Angie Clifton to a four-year term ending
March 1, 2029, and Wendy Kebrdle to an unexpired term ending
March 1, 2026, on the North Magnolia Redevelopment Advisory
Committee
Presentation By: Roberto Ellis
6i. Approve minutes from March 18, 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.
Page 2 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final April 1, 2025
8. Introduction and First Readings of Ordinances
(Second and Final Reading - April 15, 2025)
8a. Introduce Ordinance 2025- 22 to rezone two parcels of land containing ORD-2025-22
approximately 1.34 acres, located at 1533 and 1541 NE 14th Street
(Parcel 26486-000-00 and 26486-001-00) from RO, Residential
Office, to R-3, Multi-Family Residential (Case ZON25-0003)
(Quasi-Judicial)
9. Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances
10. General Business
10a. Approve the continued use of the State of Florida Alternative Source
Agreement for the purchase of bulletproof vests from Federal Eastern
International in an amount not to exceed $198,215
Presentation By: Michael Balken
10b. Approve the utilization of the General Services Administration’s
Multiple Award Schedule for the purchase of a Lenco BearCat
armored vehicle in the amount of $378,165
Presentation By: Michael Balken
10c. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-141 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-141
budget to appropriate funds from the Infrastructure Sales Surtax
Reserve for Fund Balance account to purchase a Lenco BearCat
armored vehicle in the amount of $378,165
Presentation By: Michael Balken
10d. Approve one-year renewal of contract with American Pipe & Tank,
Inc., for the provision of wastewater services with an aggregate
expenditure not to exceed $100,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10e. Approve award of contract with All Webbs Enterprises, Inc., for the
construction of two Upper Floridan Aquifer Wells at Water Treatment
Plant No. 2 with a bid of $1,117,700 plus a 10 percent contingency of
$111,770 and the cost of nine alternate bid items equaling $250,000
for a total expenditure of $1,479,470
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10f. Approve additional expenditures and associated task work orders
under the City's continuing professional engineering services
agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation increasing the aggregate
threshold from $500,000 to $1,000,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
Page 3 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final April 1, 2025
10g. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-142 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-142
budget to appropriate funds from the Stormwater Reserve for
Contingencies account for continuing professional engineering
services in the amount of $500,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10h. Approve the First Amendment and the additional expenditures under
the piggyback agreement with Utility Metering Solutions, LLC, for the
installation and integration of a fixed network metering system for the
Water Resources Department in the estimated amount of $700,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10i. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. LPA0709 between the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Ocala
for the Lower Floridan Aquifer Conversion (Phase V) Project to
appropriate additional funding in the amount of $250,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10j. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-143 appropriating additional funds BR-2025-143
from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the
Lower Floridan Aquifer Conversion (Phase V) Project in the amount
of $250,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10k. Approve award of a three-year contract to Southern Lawn Care Mid
Florida, Inc., for the provision of stormwater grounds maintenance
services for the City’s northwest section in the amount of $193,158
Presentation By: Darren Park
10l. Approve a two-year multi-award contract for mowing and lot clearing
contract to Native Tree of Central Florida, Inc., and Pure Cuts Lawn
and Maintenance, LLC, with an aggregate value not to exceed
$400,000
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum
10m. Approve the purchase of Microsoft 365 cloud subscription and server
and desktop licenses from SHI International utilizing a Sourcewell
Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in the amount of $303,545
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
13. Ocala Police Department Report
Page 4 of 5
City Council Agenda - Final April 1, 2025
14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report
15. City Attorney's Report
16. Public Comments
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 12:00pm and 5:30pm - Parking Garage No. 2 Public Information
Sessions - IHMC
- Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 8:30am to 2:00pm - City Council Annual Strategic Planning
Session - Reilly Arts Center
- Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, April 29, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop Re: Water Rate Study - Council
Chambers
- Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - 3:30pm - Audit Committee meeting- Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 6, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop Re: Solid Waste/Sanitation -
Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 20, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO Meeting - Marion County Commission Auditorium
17a. Informational Update: Dearmin Substation Transformer Purchase and
Cost Escalation
17b. Power Cost Adjustment Report - February 2025
17c. Monthly budget to actual report and Capital Improvement Project
status report as of February 28, 2025
17d. 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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