Submitted By: Danielle Phillips
presenter
Presentation By: Darren Park
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Department: Public Works
FORMAL TITLE:
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Budget Resolution 2026-130 to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget to transfer funds from the Stormwater Reserve for Contingency account to purchase parcel 25502-000-00 in the amount of $550,000
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
Parcel No. 25502-000-00 consists of approximately 6.65 acres (289,674+ square feet) of vacant land located east of NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, with easement access from the terminus of NW 18th Street, currently owned by Stavola Investments LLC (Stavola). Please refer to the attached Aerial and Case Maps.
Adjacent uses include vacant land to the north and west, city-owned property (William James Walking Trail) to the south, and the Railyard One property to the east. NW 18th Street extends east from NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue as a two-lane paved interior street and then continues north and east as an unpaved dirt road towards the subject site. Although an aerial map provided by the Marion County Property Appraiser's Office indicates the right-of-way for SW 18th Street (50-feet wide) extends in an east/west direction from NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, the roadway physically begins within a City-owned property (Parcel No. 25489-000-00) adjacent south of the aforementioned right-of-way. It then turns north to the right-of-way and continues east to another City-owned parcel (Parcel No. 25491-001-00) that provides easement access to the northwest corner of the subject property. NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue is a connector that extends from NW 35th Street to SW 17th Street (SR 464).
Stavola used the property to reduce tree debris and storage.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Using the Sales Comparison Approach and analyzing six comparable land sales and four listings, the appraiser concluded a market value of:
• $80,000 per acre
• $530,000 as of January 29, 2026
The property’s zoning and surrounding industrial development support its highest and best use for industrial purposes.
• The Seller, Stavola Investments LLC, is prepared to accept a purchase price of $550,000. The independent MAI appraisal concluded a market value of $530,000 as of January 29, 2026. The appraisal considered multiple comparable land sales and concluded a value between statistical indicators, accounting for the subject’s smaller size (economies of scale), more intensive industrial zoning classification, and somewhat inferior accessibility.
• The City intends to utilize this vacant property as a temporary Disaster Debris Management Site (DDMS) for storm debris, a storage area for materials, and a potential future stormwater site.
• Acquisition of this site enhances the City’s emergency preparedness debris staging capacity, provides geographic flexibility for debris management operations following major storm events or natural disasters, provides operational flexibility, and future stormwater capacity.
• The City of Ocala owns the adjacent parcels to the east (Parcel No. 25502-002-00) and west (Parcel No. 25491-001-00). The site is surrounded by compatible industrial and city-owned uses and benefits from existing access through City-controlled parcels.
Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Stormwater Reserve for Contingencies will be used to purchase this parcel. The account has a balance of $9,950,973, and the purchase of this parcel for a temporary disaster debris site is an appropriate use of the project funding.
Source:
158-099-999-538-81-99800 Stormwater reserve for Contingencies ($550,000)
Use:
158-023-430-538-61-61010 Land $550,000
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
BUDGET RESOLUTION 2026-130
A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 BUDGET TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM THE STORMWATER RESERVE FOR CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT TO PURCHASE PARCEL 25502-000-00 IN THE AMOUNT OF $550,000
WHEREAS, the City of Ocala has identified the need to acquire approximately 6.65 acres of vacant land located east of NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, further identified as Parcel ID 25502‑000‑00; and
WHEREAS, the property owner, Stavola Investments LLC, has agreed to sell the parcel to the City for a purchase price not to exceed $550,000; and
WHEREAS, an independent MAI appraisal concluded a market value of $530,000 as of January 29, 2026, supporting the reasonableness of the negotiated purchase price; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to utilize the property as a temporary Disaster Debris Management Site to enhance emergency preparedness and operational flexibility following major storm events or natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, the Stormwater Reserve for Contingencies account has sufficient funds available, with a current balance of $9,950,973, and the purchase of this parcel is an appropriate use of said funds.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, duly assembled in regular session, that the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget be amended as outlined below.
SOURCE:
158-099-999-538-81-99800 Stormwater Reserve for Contingencies ($550,000)
USE:
158-023-430-538-61-61010 Land $550,000
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
Reviewed for accounting accuracy & completeness:
By: _________________________________
Peter A. Lee
City Manager