Submitted By: Matthew Grow
Presentation By: Matthew Grow
end
Department: Aviation
FORMAL TITLE:
title
Ordinance 2026-11 to amend the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, Chapter 18, Article II, Section 18-31 to reduce the required quorum for meetings of the Airport Advisory Board from four to three of five members
end
OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
body
BACKGROUND:
Sections 18-31 and 18-32 of the City’s Code of Ordinances establish an airport advisory board of no more than five members and define the powers and duties of the board. The airport advisory board was created to assist the city council on issues affecting the Ocala International Airport. The existing Code of Ordinances identifies a quorum of the Airport Advisory Board to be four of five members.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Amending the code to accept three of five members as a quorum increases meeting efficiency and allows business to be conducted even with multiple absences.
• The proposed amendment increases operational efficiency.
• The Airport Advisory Board supports the amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
This ordinance has been reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
ORDINANCE 2026-11
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 18, ARTICLE II, SECTION 18-31, CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA; TO REDUCE THE REQUIED QUORUM FOR MEETINGS OF THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD FROM FOUR OF FIVE MEMBERS TO THREE OF FIVE MEMBERS; PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF; PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE CODIFIER; REPEALING INCONSISTENT AND/OR CONFLICTING PROVISONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY OF ORDINANCE PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR MODIFICATIONS ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION AT A PUBLIC HEARING; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida created an Airport Advisory Board to assist Council in matters affecting the Ocala International Airport; and
WHEREAS, the structure, organization and operation of said Airport Advisory Board are more particularly outlined in Section 18-31, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, and include, among other things that the (1) Board shall be composed of not more than five members; and (2) presence of four or more members shall constitute a quorum of the Board; and
WHEREAS, the requirement that four of the five members of the Airport Advisory Board be present so as to constitute a quorum for the conduct of business has become an operational impediment for the Board and has limited the Board’s ability to effectively assist Council; and
WHEREAS, reducing the quorum required to conduct business to three members would allow for more efficient board meetings; and
WHEREAS, based upon the above and foregoing, the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida desires to amend Section 18-31, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, so as to reduce the required number of members present for the Airport Advisory Board from four to three; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida finds and determines that this ordinance and the amendment to Section 18-31, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, contained herein serves a public purpose and furthers the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Ocala, Florida; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida further finds and determines that this ordinance and the amendment to Sections 18-31, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, contained herein are in the best interest of the City of Ocala, Florida and its citizens; and
NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained, by the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida as follows:
Section 1. Ratification, Adoption and Incorporation of Recitals.
The City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida ratifies the above-outlined recitals as true and correct; adopts and incorporates them herein as part and parcel of this ordinance.
Section 2. Purpose and Authority for Ordinance.
This ordinance is adopted for the purpose of amending and revising Section 18-31, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida to allow the airport advisory board to meet and conduct business in the presence of three members instead of four of the five members of the board.
Section 3. Amendment of Section 18-31, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida.
Section 18-31(b) of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida a is hereby amended by removing the stricken through text and inserting the underlined text as follows:
Section 18-31. Establishment; membership criteria, terms, size and quorum.
(b) The members of the board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman, who shall be voting members from among the members of the board, and who shall each serve terms of one year, but may be re-elected. The presence of three or more members shall constitute a quorum of the board. If at any meeting or hearing the chairman and vice-president do not appear, the members present shall select one of their number to serve as acting chairman for the purposes of that meeting or hearing. Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for such travel, mileage and per diem expenses as may be authorized by the local governing body, or as otherwise provided by law.
Section 4. Direction to Staff.
The City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida directs staff to take any and all other steps necessary to effectuate the adoption and implementation of this ordinance; and all other matters as provided for above and herein as well as to ensure the orderly and effective administration and implementation of the intent of this ordinance and the specific matters outlined herein.
Section 5. Direction to the Codifier.
It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida that (1) this ordinance shall become and be made a part of the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, (2) the sections and paragraphs of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered in order to accomplish said intention; (3) terms or headings not affecting the intent of this ordinance may be changed to further accomplish said intention; and (4) any scrivener’s error(s) contained herein which do not affect the intent of this ordinance be corrected with the authorization of the City Manager or their designee and without the need for additional public hearings or consideration by the City Council.
Section 6. Repealing Inconsistent and/or Conflicting Provisions.
The City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida hereby specifically repeals, to the extent of any such conflict, any and all ordinances, resolutions, policies, procedures and/or other articles which are conflicting and/or inconsistent with this ordinance and the intent and direction provided by the City Council herein.
Section 7. Severability of Ordinance Provisions.
If any section, phrase, sentence or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, it is the intent of the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida that (1) such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision; (2) such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof; and (3) this ordinance be adopted as though any such provision was not included herein.
Section 8. Modifications Arising from Consideration at a Public Hearing.
It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida that (1) the provisions of this ordinance may be modified as a result of its consideration by the City Council of matters that may arise during the public hearing(s) at which this ordinance is considered; and (2) any such modifications shall be incorporated into the final version of this ordinance.
Section 9. Effective Date of Ordinance.
This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon approval by the Mayor or becoming law without such approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED, in a regular session with a quorum present and voting, by the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida this ____ day of April 2026.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Ire J. Bethea Sr.
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved/Denied by me as Mayor of the City of Ocala, Florida, on __________________, 2026.
By: __________________________________
Ben Marciano
Mayor
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney
Ordinance No: 2026-XX
Introduced: Click or tap to enter a date.
Adopted: Click or tap to enter a date.
Legal Ad No: Click or tap here to enter text.