City Council
Regular MeetingOcala, FL · May 20, 2025
Minutes
110 SE Watula Avenue
Ocala Ocala, FL 34471
City Council www.ocalafl.gov
Synopsis
Tuesday, May 20, 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
a. New Employees
- Melissa Walls, Electric
- Samson Ngetich, Electric
- Andrew Whichello, Engineering
- George Wright, Public Works
- Tucker Chenette, Water Resources
- Thomas Zerquera, Water Resources
3. Public Notice
Public Notice for the May 20, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on April 15, 2025
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. Presentation of the Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award to Joshua Musikantow
4b. Presentation of the American Wetlands Month Proclamation to Water Resources
Director Sean Lanier and to Water Resources Operation Manager Robyn Preston
4c. Presentation of the National Public Works Week to Public Works Director Darren Park
4d. Service Award - Lafayetta Hodges - Ocala Police Department - 20 Years of Service
4e. Service Award - Detective Michael Bowman - Ocala Police Department - 25 Years of
Service
4f. Service Award - Battalion Chief Robert Altman - Ocala Fire Rescue - 35 Years of
Service
5. Presentations
Page 1 of 7
City Council Synopsis May 20, 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.
There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.
RESULT: APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA
MOVER: Barry Mansfield
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
6a. Approve award of contract to BWC Services USA, LLC, for grounds maintenance
services at Ocala Wetlands Recharge Park in an amount not to exceed $58,500
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
6b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-153 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept
and appropriate additional grant funds from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
for online sting operations in the amount of $2,838
Presentation By: Michael Balken
6c. Approve a task work order with McFarland Johnson, Inc. to provide design services for
the T-Hangar Taxilane Rehabilitation project in the amount of $83,536
Presentation By: Matthew Grow
RESULT: PULLED
6f. Approve City Council Work Session minutes from April 29, 2025
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs
RESULT: PULLED
6g. Approve City Council meeting minutes from May 6, 2025
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 7
City Council Synopsis May 20, 2025
9a. Approve the sale of beer and wine for on-premise consumption for Graffiti Seafood &
More Management, LLC., dba, Graffiti Seafood & More located at 1532 S Pine Ave
(Parcel 28575-010-09) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
9b. Adopt Ordinance 2025-23 amending sections 2-195 and 2-196, Code of Ordinances,
City of Ocala, Florida; providing for the administration of preemployment fingerprinting
and background checks
Presentation By: William E. Sexton
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
9c. Adopt Ordinance 2025-24 to rezone approximately 1.00 acre of property located at 3640
SW Seventh Place from INST, Institutional, to M-2, Medium Industrial (Case
ZON25-0004) (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
10. General Business
10a. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-155 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget for the
carry forward of prior fiscal year grant funds totaling $42,633,188
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 3 of 7
City Council Synopsis May 20, 2025
10b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-156 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to provide
a supplemental appropriation to reconcile cash balance forward accounts and for the
continuation of projects not completed in Fiscal Year 2023-24 in the amount of
$175,431,800
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10c. Approve the award of a one-year contract for implementation and licenses to Spatial
Business Systems for Automated Utility Design software at an estimated cost of
$113,500
Presentation By: Chad Lynch
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10d. Approve a substantial amendment to the City of Ocala’s HUD 2019-2023 Five-Year
Consolidated Plan and 2019-2020 Annual Plan to allow $200,000 to be used for rental
assistance in the City of Ocala
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10e. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-154 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept
and appropriate 2024-25 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program grant funding in
the amount of $175,728
Presentation By: James Haynes
RESULT: ADOPTED
MOVER: Barry Mansfield
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
Page 4 of 7
City Council Synopsis May 20, 2025
10f. Approve the award of a contract to Traffic Control Devices, LLC, for construction
services related to the signalization project of SW 43rd Court at SW 40th Street for the
bid amount of $532,532, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a total expenditure not to
exceed $585,785
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10g. Approve award of the agreement for recoating services for Water Tower #2 to
Southeastern Tank & Tower, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $246,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10h. Approve award of agreement to Ardurra Group, Inc., for professional services associated
with planning studies for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant in the amount of
$129,986
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
10i. Approve the purchase of new portable radios for Ocala Police Department, Ocala Fire
Rescue, and Ocala Electric Utility utilizing State of Florida’s alternative source
agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $5,952,904
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
11. Internal Auditor's Report
12. City Manager's Report
Marion County public hearings for EMS impact fees/transportation impact fees scheduled for
Friday, May 23, 2025, at 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm
Page 5 of 7
City Council Synopsis May 20, 2025
Ordinance for removal of fluoride from City water supply to be introduced next meeting in
accordance with new State law to be enacted on July 1, 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
15a. Approval of and entry into a proposed Settlement Agreement in the matter of Art Rojas
& Lucinda Hale v. City of Ocala, currently pending on appeal before the United States
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
RESULT: APPROVED
MOVER: Jay A. Musleh
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer
16. Public Comments
Doug Oswald, 4304 SE 5th Street, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Sandra Slayton, 745 SW 79th Loop, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
David Boston, 155 NE 52nd Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Maryann Lambert, 13010 NW 90th Avenue, Reddick, FL, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Elizabeth Dollinger, 8500 NW 162nd Court, Morrison, FL, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Louine Ek, 5907 SW 59th Street, requested the Mayor and City Council declare June as Faith
and Family Month
Fernando Fernandez, 5725 Eco Road, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Craig Baggs, 401 SE 49th Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Quinn Cooper, 328 Marion Oaks Drive, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Cathy Bailey, 3030 SE 13th Street, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Brooke Bennett, 305 SE 58th Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Gabbi Gallario, 1999 150th Avenue NW, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Page 6 of 7
City Council Synopsis May 20, 2025
Kent Guinn, 320 NW 3rd Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
Diane Irwin, 4490 SW 44th Street, commented on item 10(i)
Sandra Fernandez, 3270 NE 42nd Place, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Monday, May 26, 2025 - Memorial Day Holiday - City Offices closed
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Commission Auditorium
- Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Thursday, June 19, 2025 - Juneteenth Day Holiday - City Offices closed
- Monday, June 23, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Public Library
17a. Inform Council of renewed agreement between the Florida Department of Corrections
and the Ocala Police Department
17b. Inform Council that the Ocala Police Department has entered into a Memorandum of
Agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a task force
18. Comments by Mayor
Fallen Officer Memorial
Workout with the Mayor event
City employee recognition
SR200 State Road update
19. Comments by City Council Members
Council Member Hilty recognized the Director of Community Development Services, James
Haynes, for hosting a successful affordable housing event
20. Adjournment
Adjourned at 6:00 pm
Page 7 of 7
Agenda
Ocala City Council Agenda - Revised
Tuesday, May 20, 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 - Revised May 20, 2025
Revised 5/16: Moved Budget Resolution 2025-154 to General Business and
re-numbered 10e through 10i.
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
a. New Employees
- Melissa Walls, Electric
- Samson Ngetich, Electric
- Andrew Whichello, Engineering
- George Wright, Public Works
- Tucker Chenette, Water Resources
- Thomas Zerquera, Water Resources
3. Public Notice
4. Proclamations and Awards
4a. Presentation of the Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award to Joshua
Musikantow
4b. Presentation of the American Wetlands Month Proclamation to Water
Resources Director Sean Lanier and to Water Resources Operation
Manager Robyn Preston
4c. Presentation of the National Public Works Week to Public Works
Director Darren Park
4d. Service Award - Lafayetta Hodges - Ocala Police Department - 20
Years of Service
4e. Service Award - Detective Michael Bowman - Ocala Police
Department - 25 Years of Service
4f. Service Award - Battalion Chief Robert Altman - Ocala Fire Rescue -
35 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 award of contract to BWC Services USA, LLC, for grounds
maintenance services at Ocala Wetlands Recharge Park in an amount
not to exceed $58,500
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
Page 1 of 4
City Council Agenda - Revised May 20, 2025
6b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-153 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-153
budget to accept and appropriate additional grant funds from the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement for online sting operations in
the amount of $2,838
Presentation By: Michael Balken
6c. Approve a task work order with McFarland Johnson, Inc. to provide
design services for the T-Hangar Taxilane Rehabilitation project in the
amount of $83,536
Presentation By: Matthew Grow
6f. Approve City Council Work Session minutes from April 29, 2025
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs
6g. Approve City Council meeting minutes from May 6, 2025
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. Approve the sale of beer and wine for on-premise consumption for
Graffiti Seafood & More Management, LLC., dba, Graffiti Seafood &
More located at 1532 S Pine Ave (Parcel 28575-010-09)
(Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum
9b. Adopt Ordinance 2025-23 amending sections 2-195 and 2-196, Code
of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida; providing for the administration
of preemployment fingerprinting and background checks
Presentation By: William E. Sexton
Introduced by: Jay A. Musleh
9c. Adopt Ordinance 2025-24 to rezone approximately 1.00 acre of
property located at 3640 SW Seventh Place from INST, Institutional,
to M-2, Medium Industrial (Case ZON25-0004) (Quasi-Judicial)
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren
Introduced by: Ire J. Bethea Sr
Page 2 of 4
City Council Agenda - Revised May 20, 2025
10. General Business
10a. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-155 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-155
budget for the carry forward of prior fiscal year grant funds totaling
$42,633,188
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
10b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-156 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-156
budget to provide a supplemental appropriation to reconcile cash
balance forward accounts and for the continuation of projects not
completed in Fiscal Year 2023-24 in the amount of $175,431,800
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam
10c. Approve the award of a one-year contract for implementation and
licenses to Spatial Business Systems for Automated Utility Design
software at an estimated cost of $113,500
Presentation By: Chad Lynch
10d. Approve a substantial amendment to the City of Ocala’s HUD
2019-2023 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and 2019-2020 Annual Plan
to allow $200,000 to be used for rental assistance in the City of Ocala
Presentation By: James Haynes
10e. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-154 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 BR-2025-154
budget to accept and appropriate 2024-25 State Housing Initiatives
Partnership Program grant funding in the amount of $175,728
Presentation By: James Haynes
10f. Approve the award of a contract to Traffic Control Devices, LLC, for
construction services related to the signalization project of SW 43rd
Court at SW 40th Street for the bid amount of $532,532, plus a 10
percent contingency, for a total expenditure not to exceed $585,785
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10g. Approve award of the agreement for recoating services for Water
Tower #2 to Southeastern Tank & Tower, Inc., in an amount not to
exceed $246,000
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
10h. Approve award of agreement to Ardurra Group, Inc., for professional
services associated with planning studies for the Safe Streets and
Roads for All grant in the amount of $129,986
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
Page 3 of 4
City Council Agenda - Revised May 20, 2025
10i. Approve the purchase of new portable radios for Ocala Police
Department, Ocala Fire Rescue, and Ocala Electric Utility utilizing
State of Florida’s alternative source agreement with Motorola
Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $5,952,904
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso
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
15a. Approval of and entry into a proposed Settlement Agreement in the
matter of Art Rojas & Lucinda Hale v. City of Ocala, currently
pending on appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the
Eleventh Circuit
16. Public Comments
17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items
- Monday, May 26, 2025 - Memorial Day Holiday - City Offices closed
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Commission Auditorium
- Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers
- Thursday, June 19, 2025 - Juneteenth Day Holiday - City Offices closed
- Monday, June 23, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Public Library
17a. Inform Council of renewed agreement between the Florida Department
of Corrections and the Ocala Police Department
17b. Inform Council that the Ocala Police Department has entered into a
Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement as part of a task force
18. Comments by Mayor
19. Comments by City Council Members
20. Adjournment
Page 4 of 4
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