Submitted By: Aubrey Hale
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Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
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Resolution 2026-39 to allow public use on certain municipally owned properties to accommodate the recycling drop-off program
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Ocala will transition from curbside recycling collection on July 6, 2026, to a citywide drop-off recycling program. The transition follows City Council approval on February 3, 2026, as part of the City’s broader effort to manage increasing operational expenses and reduce the financial impact of sanitation rate adjustments on residents. The City Council held a workshop on May 12, 2026, to receive an update on the recycling program.
The City of Ocala’s Land Development Regulations allow any lawful government or related us in the G-U Zoning Districts, provided that they are compatible with surrounding uses. Six of the proposed recycling drop-off locations are on property zoned G-U and are therefore compliant with this requirement.
Additionally, Council may permit the location of public buildings or uses in any zoning district following compliance with the notice and public hearing requirements of Section 122-259, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala.
Two of the proposed recycling drop-off locations are on property zoned other than G-U and therefore may be approved by Council following compliance with the notice and public hearing requirements of Section 122-259.
• Parcel 3030-004-005 is located at the intersection of SE 31st Street and SE Fifth Terrace with R-3, Multi-family zoning. The City acquired the property in August 2010, and no use has been made of it since. This location will serve the southeast Ocala area.
• Parcel 26359-000-00 is located at the intersection of NE Eighth Avenue and NE 14th Street with B-1, Neighborhood Business zoning. This property was previously used as a recycling location, but ceased when the City began providing single-stream recycling services. This location will serve the City’s central core and portions of northeast Ocala.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
To allow this use on the parcels, public notice and a public hearing before the Planning & Zoning Commission, with a recommendation to the City Council, are required to comply with the City’s land development regulations. The City has issued a public notice as part of the posting of the Planning & Zoning Commission agenda. It will present the Commission's recommendation to the City Council.
The transition to a drop-off recycling model allows the City to continue offering residents a recycling option while balancing service delivery with long-term fiscal responsibility. Transitioning from curbside recycling collection offsets costs that would otherwise add approximately $4.96 per month to residential sanitation rates. Single-stream curbside recycling has faced ongoing contamination challenges due to non-recyclable materials placed in recycling carts. Contaminated recycling increases processing costs, reduces operational efficiency, and makes the curbside program increasingly difficult to sustain cost-effectively.
Residents will be able to continue recycling at the following City drop-off locations:
• Mary Sue Rich Community Center
• Croskey Center / Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Complex
• Ocala Regional Sportsplex
• Polly Palmer Park
• West of Fire Station No. 5 off of NE 24th Street
• NE Eighth Avenue and NE 14th Street
• Jervey Gantt Park
• SE 31st Street and SE Fifth Terrace
Residents currently participating in curbside recycling will not need to take any immediate action. Existing recycling carts will automatically convert to garbage carts on July 6 unless a resident requests removal of the cart.
City code allows up to two garbage carts per household. Residents who currently have two garbage carts plus a recycling cart will have their recycling cart removed automatically; no action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
This resolution will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
RESOLUTION 2026-39
TO ALLOW PUBLIC USE ON CERTAIN MUNICIPALLY OWNED PROPERTIES TO ACCOMMODATE THE RECYCLING DROP-OFF PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of Ocala will transition from curbside recycling collection on July 6, 2026, to a citywide drop-off recycling program;
WHEREAS, the transition follows City Council approval on Feb. 3, 2026, as part of the City’s broader effort to manage increasing operational expenses and reduce the financial impact of sanitation rate adjustments on residents;
WHEREAS, the City Council held a workshop on May 12, 2026, to receive an update on the recycling program;
WHEREAS, City Council authorized the development of eight recycling drop-off sites throughout the City of Ocala, Florida; and
WHEREAS, two of said eight recycling drop-off sites are located on parcels of real property which are not currently zoned Governmental Use (G-U); and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the requirements of Section 122-259, Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, following public notice and a public hearing held before the Planning and Zoning Commission, at which the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval with a five to zero vote, City Council now desires to approve the location of solid waste collection sites (public buildings and/or uses) on the two aforementioned parcels of real property not currently zoned Governmental Use (G-U) and further identified by Marion County Property Appraiser Parcel Identification Numbers 3030-004-005 and 26359-000-00.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, in regular session duly assembled as follows:
1. The City of Ocala does hereby allow the public use in zoning districts other than G-U, Governmental Use zoning for properties located in Ocala, Marion County, Florida, as described and depicted in Exhibit A and the following:
Parcel 3030-004-005
LOT 5, BLOCK D, SOUTHWOOD VILLAS, AS PER PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK W, PAGE 23, PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA.
LESS AND EXCEPT THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY:
COMMENCING AT THE NORTHEASTERLY CORNER OF LOT 5 BLOCK "D" OF SAID SOUTHWOOD VILLAS SUBDIVISION; THENCE S.38°20'18"E. ALONG THE NORTHEASTERLY BOUNDARY OF SAID LOT 5 AND THE SOUTHWESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF SE 5th TERRACE A DISTANCE OF 42.12 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED; THENCE CONTINUE S.38°20'18"E. A DISTANCE OF 36.53 FEET TO THE POINT OF CURVATURE OF A CIRCULAR CURVE CONCAVE NORTHWESTERLY HAVING FOR IT'S ELEMENTS A RADIUS OF 25.00 FEET AND A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 85° 16'46"; THENCE SOUTHWESTERLY ALONG THE ARC OF SAID CURVE A DISTANCE OF 37.21 FEET, SUBTENDED BY A CHORD BEARING S.04°18'05"W. AND A CHORD DISTANCE OF 33.87 FEET TO THE POINT OF TANGENCY; THENCE S.46°56'28"W. A DISTANCE OF 116.92 FEET; THENCE N.38°28'13"W. A DISTANCE OF 45.08 FEET; THENCE N.46°57'56"E. A DISTANCE OF
24.59 FEET TO THE POINT OF CURVATURE OF A CIRCULAR CURVE CONCAVE SOUTHEASTERLY HAYING FOR ITS ELEMENTS A RADIUS OF 475.00 FEET AND A CENTRAL ANGLE OF 10°34'14"; THENCE NORTHEASTERLY ALONG THE ARC OF SAID CURVE A DISTANCE OF 87.63 FEET, SUBTENDED BY A CHORD BEARING N.52°15'03"E. AND A CHORD DISTANCE OF 87.51 FEET; THENCE DEPARTING SAID CURVE N.09°35'56"E. A DISTANCE OF 37.12 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 6,028 SQUARE FEET MORE OR LESS.
Parent Parcel: 3030-000-000
Parcel 26359-000-00
LOTS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 AND 18 AND AN UNNUMBERED LOT LYING NORTH OF SAID LOT 12 AND WEST OF SAID LOT 13 AND SOUTHEAST OF THE SEABOARD AIR LINE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY, ALL IN W. W. CLYATT’ S SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER (NE 1/4) OF SOUTHWEST QUARTER (SW 1/4) OF SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 15 SOUTH, RANGE 22 EAST, AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK “A”, PAGE 145, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
2. A certified copy of the Resolution shall be recorded by the Clerk of the City of Ocala in the public records of Marion County, Florida. This Resolution dated and adopted this --___ day of ____ 2026.
This resolution adopted this ______ day of ______________________, 2026.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Ire J. Bethea Sr.
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney