City Council

110 SE Watula Avenue Ocala Ocala, FL 34471 City Council www.ocalafl.gov Minutes Tuesday, August 5, 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 Jay A. Musleh Council President Kristen M. Dreyer Excused: Council Member Barry Mansfield 2a. New Employees - Ryon Lee, Electric - Scott Minos, Electric - Johnny Salcedo, Electric - Melissa Lamb, Finance - Kevin Brantley Public Works - Coke Crawford, Public Works 3. Public Notice - Public Notice for the August 5, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on June 26, 2025 4. Proclamations and Awards 4a. Presentation of the National Purple Heart Day Proclamation to Stephen Petty, U.S. Army, Captain; John Webb, U.S. Army, Captain; F.L. Brown, U.S. Army, Sergeant; Henry Bolding, U.S.M.C., Lance Corporal; Reginald Nealy, U.S.M.C., Corporal and Vito Giammanco, U.S. Army, Specialist Mayor Marciano presented a proclamation for National Purple Heart Day. The City proclaims August 7, 2025, as National Purple Heart Day. 4b. Presentation of a lifesaving award to Orange Theory members Rafael Rosa, Mike Crimi, Tom Culpepper, and Katie Freeman, by Ocala Fire Chief Clint Welborn Fire Chief Clint Welborn presented Lifesaving Awards to Orange Theory Members, for providing lifesaving actions to a citizen of Ocala. 5. Presentations 6. Consent Agenda Page 1 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 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 6a. Approve the award of a two-year contract to Ayopa, Inc., for the provision of grounds maintenance services at the City Complex with a maximum expenditure of $57,999 Presentation By: Darren Park 6b. Approve the purchase of industrial products and services for tile and hard floor restoration from Saniglaze International, LLC, utilizing the General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule with an aggregate expenditure of $85,000 Presentation By: John King 6c. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-167 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept and appropriate a North Florida Institute of Police Technology and Management grant from the State of Florida in the amount of $47,099 Presentation By: Michael Balken 6d. Approve a one-year renewal of the contract for continuing professional general aviation engineering services with McFarland Johnson, Inc Presentation By: Michael Baker 6e. Approve a one-year renewal of the contract for continuing professional general aviation engineering services with Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering, PLLC Presentation By: Michael Baker 6f. Approve Fiscal Year 2024-2025 renewal of GrayKey forensic software in the amount of $69,520 Presentation By: Joshua Sasso 6g. Approve minutes from July 15, 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 (Second and Final Reading - August 19, 2025) 8a. Introduce Ordinance 2025-34, amending Sec. 90-20, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, providing for limitations on enclosures under elevated buildings located in flood hazard areas Page 2 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 Introduced By: James P. Hilty Sr 9. Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances 10. General Business 10a. Approve award of the contract for construction services for Phase 3 of the SW 44th/46th Avenue Four-Lane Expansion Project to Commercial Industrial Corp. in the amount of $3,433,678, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a total expenditure not to exceed $3,777,046 Presentation By: Sean Lanier Mayor Marciano questioned if the lanes would be open by the end of the year. City Engineer & Director of Water Resources Sean Lanier responded in the affirmative and stated the outside lanes will remain open during construction. Council Member Musleh asked if there were nay other phases to the project. Mr. Lanier confirmed this would be the last phase. There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10b. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-168 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to transfer funds from the Infrastructure Sales Surtax reserve for contingencies account for Phase 3 of the SW 44th/46th Avenues Four-Lane Expansion project in the amount of $3,777,046 Presentation By: Sean Lanier There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Jay A. Musleh SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10c. Approve Task Work Order No. 10 with Black & Veatch Corporation for Professional Engineering Services to prepare the City’s revised Federal Emergency Management Agency Floodplain Zone AE model, letter of map revisions package, and corresponding request for additional information responses in the amount of $186,243 Presentation By: Sean Lanier There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr Page 3 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10d. Approve Grant Agreement 25PLN17 with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for the completion of an Adaptation Plan consistent with the Florida Adaptation Planning Guidebook in the amount of $300,000 Presentation By: Sean Lanier There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10e. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-169 appropriating funds from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to complete an Adaptation Plan consistent with the Florida Adaptation Planning Guidebook in the amount of $300,000 Presentation By: Sean Lanier There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10f. Approve Task Work Order No. 51 with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. for the provision of professional engineering services related to the creation and implementation of a Stormwater Master Plan for the City of Ocala in the amount of $462,170 Presentation By: Sean Lanier There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Jay A. Musleh SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10g. Approve one-year renewal of the contract with Odyssey Manufacturing Company for liquid sodium hypochlorite supply and delivery services at Water Treatment Plant No. 1, Water Reclamation Facility No. 2, and Water Reclamation Facility No. 3 with an estimated aggregate expenditure of $625,000 Presentation By: Sean Lanier Page 4 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10h. Approve the purchase of Hendrix cable system from Marmon Utility, LLC, with an estimated expenditure of $168,534 Presentation By: Doug Peebles There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10i. Approve a sixteen-month multi-award contract for emergency standby tree trimming and line clearing to The Davey Tree Expert Co. and Burford’s Tree, Inc. with an aggregate expenditure not to exceed $220,000 Presentation By: Doug Peebles There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10j. Approve one-year renewal of the Agreement for Fuel Supply and Transfer Services with Petroleum Traders Corporation in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000 Presentation By: John King Council Member Bethea requested clarification on the partnership with the school board on the contract. Director of Facilities & Fleet Management John King explained the City partnered with the School Board to meet the million-dollar tier requirement. Council President Dreyer questioned if the fuel gets dropped off to the school board’s facility. Mr. King responded in the affirmative and stated the School District will be invoiced separately for the fuel delivery fee. There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED Page 5 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 MOVER: Jay A. Musleh SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10k. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-170 to amend the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to transfer funds from the General Fund Reserve for Contingencies account to cover a projected deficit in the Fleet Management account in the amount of $395,000 Presentation By: John King Council Member Bethea questioned if the vehicle parts were received from places outside the USA. Director of Facilities & Fleet Management John King confirmed the City sources automotive parts globally. There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10l. Approve a one-year renewal of the contract with Wear Gloves, Inc. for annual litter control and drain and inlet surface cleaning services in the amount of $433,472 Presentation By: Darren Park Mayor Marciano commented the contract with Wear Gloves is a great program . Director of Public Works Darren Park confirmed the City’s need for services from Wear Gloves, Inc., has expanded with Mayor Marciano. He explained how funding impacts the ability of the program to expand services. Mayor Marciano and Council Member Hilty spoke in support of the vendors’ community support efforts. There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10m. Approve the re-award of contract for stormwater grounds maintenance services for the City’s southeast section to Southern Charm Mowing & Landscaping, LLC in the amount of $367,780 Presentation By: Darren Park There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. Page 6 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10n. Approve a one-year renewal of the agreement for elevator and lift preventative maintenance and repair services in the amount of $225,000 Presentation By: Gary Crews There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: Ire J. Bethea Sr SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10o. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-171 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to recognize a General Fund transfer into the Bank Loan Series 2022 debt fund in the amount of $4,226,252 Presentation By: Tammi Haslam There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10p. Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-172 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept and appropriate funding from the Federal Transit Administration in support of the Ocala Marion County public transit system, SunTran, in the amount of $3,938,144 Presentation By: Tom Duncan There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: ADOPTED MOVER: Jay A. Musleh SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 10q. Approve the Fiscal Year 2025-26 property, casualty, liability, and workers' compensation insurance premiums and authorize the Human Resources/Risk Management Director to execute the corresponding insurance policy applications with a projected expenditure of $2,642,504 Page 7 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 Presentation By: Todd Swanson There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote. RESULT: APPROVED MOVER: James P. Hilty Sr SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer EXCUSED: Mansfield 11. Internal Auditor's Report 11a. Internal Audit Report Issued – Unannounced Cash Counts Audit Internal Auditor Randall Bridgeman presented the annual unannounced cash counts audit report. He stated the objective of the audits was to verify the security and accuracy of the fund balances. There are 25 funds in 8 different departments. No issues were found during the audit, and the report will be available on the City’s website. 12. City Manager's Report - Budget workshop update City Manager Pete Lee reported the budget workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The City will present the proposed budget to City Council. - Notification letter and permit application for private fiber vendors City Manager Pete Lee reported the City is prohibited from imposing the following regulations for private fiber vendors: limiting the permit to thirty days, split project geography, and requiring notification before the project starts. The City has decided to install signs to notify the residents of the upcoming fiber installation projects. Council Member Hilty spoke on resident challenges regarding the lack of completed fiber installation projects. City Attorney Sexton confirmed the Florida Statutes prohibit local government from regulating permits. Mr. Lee spoke on the City’s plan to partner with DOT to remedy the matter. Staff monitors issued permits to ensure the vendor is incompliance with City regulations. Mr. Sexton encouraged the public to speak with their state legislature to advocate for increased regulation of private fiber vendors. 13. Ocala Police Department Report - Overview of Crime and Traffic Stops Police Chief Mike Balken reported on the Police Departments efforts for a two-week period, July 21, 2025 to August 3, 2025: 32 significant crimes, 151 arrests, and 981 Page 8 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 traffic stops. - Department Highlights Police Chief Mike Balken reported Police Officer Parker Morley was awarded the Sky Valor Award, and department staff received several Life-Saving Awards from the HCA Hospital. He encouraged the public to attend tonight’s National Night Out event. 14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report - Unit Responses Fire Chief Clint Welborn reported on unit responses for a two-week period, July 15, 2025 to July August 4, 2025. The two busiest units: Fire Rescue Four (260-unit responses) and Fire Engine Four (194-unit responses). - Service calls update Fire Chief Clint Welborn reported on call type spotlights for a three-week period, July 15, 2025 to August 4, 2025: motor vehicle accidents 131, structure fires 5, and community paramedicine/core 93, and calls for service 1,575 (14,941 calls-to-date). - Department Highlights Fire Chief Clint Welborn reported the department welcomed four new employees. The department conducted several successful training courses and hosted a successful Mayor/Chief for the Day event. The department responded to a train derailment incident. He advised City Council that the toxic substance being hauled did not leak during the derailment incident. Council Member Musleh expressed concern regarding the lack of regulation for the established train line running through the City of Ocala. 15. City Attorney's Report 16. Public Comments - John Barber, 101 SE Silver Springs Boulevard, #206, commented on the CSX rail line John Barber, 101 SE Silver Springs Boulevard, #206, requested City Council contact CSX to remove the hazardous rail line running through Downtown. He anticipates the removal of the rail line will have a positive impact, such as spurring economic development, increased property values, and improving the quality of life for residents. City Council unanimously agreed to direct the City Manager to contact CSX. City Manager Pete Lee stated the City will schedule a meeting with CSX to discuss the matter. Council Members Bethea and Hilty spoke in support of removing the rail line to support public safety efforts. Council Member Musleh suggested creating a Citizen’s Advisory Committee. Page 9 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 Mr. Lee confirmed the removal of the rail line is part of the 2050 Vision. - Charles Calhoun, 9735 SW 92nd Court, spoke on the veteran community Charles Calhoun, 9735 SW 92nd Court, thanked the Mayor and City Council for honoring the veteran community. He requested on behalf of Veteran’s Helping Veteran’s financial assistance from City Council with transportation needs. 17. Informational Items and Calendaring Items - Tuesday, August 12, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop Re: FY 2025-26 Budget - Council Chambers - Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers - Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers - Tuesday, August 26, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO Meeting - Marion County BOCC Auditorium - Monday, September 1, 2025 - Labor Day Holiday - City offices closed - Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers - Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers - Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 5:00pm - City Council Special Meeting re: Fire Assessment - Council Chambers - Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers - Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers - Tuesday, September 23, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO Meeting - Marion County BOCC Auditorium 17a. Executed Contracts Under $50,000 17b. Power Cost Adjustment Report - June 2025 17c. Monthly budget to actual report and Capital Improvement Project status report as of June 30, 2025 18. Comments by Mayor - Sheriff's Office special operations Mayor Marciano recognized the Sheriff’s Office special operations for apprehending thirty-eight child predators. The City will be launching an awareness campaign to encourage parents to monitor social media accounts, as predators are utilizing social media platforms to target children. - Splash pad update City Manager Pete Lee confirmed the splash pad improvements will be completed by Spring 2026. - Public Works Department recognition Mayor Marciano shared his wonderful shadow experience with the Public Works Department and recognized the department for their community support efforts. 19. Comments by City Council Members - Council Member Hilty commented on the FMEA conference and recognized the Ocala Electric Department Council Member Hilty shared his wonderful experience attending the FMEA conference. Page 10 of 11 City Council Minutes August 5, 2025 The conference recognized the Ocala Electric Department for increasing reliability by over ten percent. He noted, seventy-five percent of Florida’s electricity is derived from natural gas. - Council Member Musleh thanked the community for their support - Council President Dreyer requested the City install a ramp in the Council Chambers before the next meeting 20. Adjournment Adjourned at 5:11 pm Minutes _______________________________ ________________________________ Kristen M. Dreyer Angel B. Jacobs Council President City Clerk Page 11 of 11