110 SE Watula Avenue

Ocala, FL 34471

Ocala

City Council

Minutes

www.ocalafl.org

4:00 PM

Tuesday, January 3, 2023

1. Call to Order

Opening Ceremony

Invocation - Chaplain Josh Mader

Pledge of Allegiance

Welcome and Roll Call

Mayor Reuben Kent Guinn

Present:

Pro Tem Barry Mansfield

Council Member Ire J. Bethea Sr

Council Member Kristen M. Dreyer

Council Member Jay A. Musleh

Council President James P. Hilty Sr

Municipal Officers/Others Present: The meeting was also attended by City Manager Peter Lee,

City Attorney William Sexton, Assistant City Manager Ken Whitehead, Deputy City Clerk

Pamela Omichinski, Fire Chief Clint Welborn, Police Chief Michael Balken, Internal Auditor

Randall Bridgeman, Growth Management Director Tye Chighizola, Planning Director Patricia

Hitchcock, Director of Facilities & Fleet Management John King, Sr. Budget Analyst Cindy

Krepps, City Engineer & Director of Water Resources Sean Lanier, Director of Public Works

Darren Park, Director of Electric Utility Doug Peebles, Director of Telecommunications Mel

Poole, Director of Parks & Recreation Preston Pooser, Director of Finance Emory Roberts,

Procurement & Contracting Officer Daphne Robinson, Chief of Staff Chris Watt, Ocala Police

Dept Representative, IT Representative, The Press and other interested parties.

New Employees

- Jason Albright - Water Resources

- Matthew Friehauf - Water Resources

- Danielle Gloege - Water Resources

- Daniel Reaves - Water Resources

Public Notice

Public Notice for the January 3, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on December 8,

2022

Proclamations & Awards

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month Proclamation presented to Ocala Police

Department Victim Advocacy Supervisor, Donna Guinn; OPD Detective Crystal

3a.

Blanton; Victim Advocates, Deborah Tucker, Polly Tyler; and Dawn Westgate Executive

Director at Kimberly's Center for Child Protection

Mayor Guinn presented a proclamation for National Human Trafficking Prevention

Month. The City proclaims January 2023, as National Human Trafficking Prevention

Month.

Department Victim Advocacy Supervisor Donna Guinn discussed the departments

awareness efforts in the community. She invited Council to attend the Awareness event

sponsored by Kimberly's Center, on January 12, 2023.

Marion County’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Day Proclamation will be

presented to Ms. Paula Leahmon Williams, Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative

Commission President

3b.

Mayor Guinn presented a proclamation for Marion County’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Commemoration Day. The City proclaims January 16, 2023, as Marion County’s Dr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Day.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission President Paula Leahmon

Williams thanked the City for the proclamation. The Commission will continue their

support efforts in the community.

Presentations

4a. Ocklawaha River Restoration Presentation - Presentation by Margaret Spontak

Margaret Spontak discussed the Ocklawaha River Restoration Project. She provided a

brief overview of the history of the Great Florida Riverway connection system and

Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam. She discussed proposed steps towards a partial restoration

that would result in river water levels returning to historic levels and restore the historic

river channel. The project contributes to the revitalization of the Silver Springs

Community Redevelopment Area and environmental sustainability, which is expected to

increase visitation and tourism. The project will accomplish a key goal for Silver Springs

recovery as part of Florida Springs Institute’s Silver Springs Restoration Plan.

The plan includes recovering the submerged springs of the Ocklawaha, and the economic

data supports projected visitor increases. To note, Florida TaxWatch supports the

restoration project. She summarized the project's business case for investment and

environmental sustainability. The goal is to create a strong partnership with the counties,

to remedy the water resource issue.

Council President Hilty thanked Ms. Spontak for the presentation.

Public Comments

Brian Creekbaum, 103 NE 31st Terrace, commented on animal control services

Brian Creekbaum, 103 NE 31st Terrace, discussed a conversation he had with the Marion

County Animal Control director relating to City access to the County shelters in the event the

City resumed their own animal control services; the director agreed it was possible. Mr.

Creekbaum reviewed a timeline of animal control discussions and comments from Council

members, City staff, County Commissioners and County staff.

Public Hearings

Second and Final Reading of Ordinances - None

General Business

Approve award of a two-year contract to Miller Pipeline, LLC, for the Water Resources

Improvement Program with an estimated aggregate expenditure of $4,000,000

8a.

Council President Hilty requested more information regarding the selection process. City

Engineer & Director of Water Resources Sean Lanier responded the City evaluated two

local contractors. To note, Miller Pipeline, LLC was the only contractor with a water

resources improvement program contract.

There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Kristen M. Dreyer

SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr

AYE:

Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, Musleh, and Hilty Sr

Approve award of a two-year contract to Charles White Fence, Inc., for the provision of

as-needed fence installation and repair services, citywide, with an estimated aggregate

expenditure of $196,452

8b.

Council President Hilty asked if the City received only one bid. Procurement &

Contracting Officer Daphne Robinson responded yes; the City solicited to 769 vendors.

There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Kristen M. Dreyer

SECONDER: Barry Mansfield

AYE:

Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, Musleh, and Hilty Sr

Approve one-year renewal with Oracle America, Inc. for the NetSuite hosting of

GovSense software in the cloud for $213,052

8c.

There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Ire J. Bethea Sr

SECONDER: Barry Mansfield

AYE:

Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, and Hilty Sr

Musleh

ABSENT:

Approve one-year renewal with GovSense, LLC for software maintenance and support in

the amount of $69,666

8d.

There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Kristen M. Dreyer

SECONDER: Barry Mansfield

AYE:

Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, and Hilty Sr

Approve former Assistant City Attorney W. James Gooding III’s request to represent the

Grand Oaks Planned Development property owner (Leon Ocala Holdings III LLC)

8e.

There being no discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Kristen M. Dreyer

SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh

AYE: Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, Musleh, and Hilty Sr

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.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA

Kristen M. Dreyer

SECONDER: Barry Mansfield

AYE:

Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, Musleh, and Hilty Sr

Approve Change Order #1 with Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. for asphalt crack seal/fog seal

of Runway 18/36 at Ocala International Airport in the amount of $76,064

9a.

9b.

Approve use of the State of Florida Department of Management Services alternate source

agreement for the purchase of a dispatch radio console from Motorola, Inc. for the 9-1-1

Communications Center expansion in the amount of $59,729

Adopt Budget Resolution 2023-117 amending the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget to

transfer funds from the Infrastructure Surtax Reserve for Fund Balance to support replace

a transfer switch for the Ocala Police Department in the amount of $60,643

9c.

9d.

Adopt Budget Resolution 2023-118 amending the FY23 Budget to appropriate funds

from the building fund reserve for building-related expenses in the amount of $284,903

Approve Special Meeting City Council Minutes from August 5, 2022

Approve Special Meeting City Council Minutes from August 26, 2022

9e.

9f.

9g.

See Item 10

Approve Regular Meeting City Council Minutes from November 15, 2022

9h.

10.

Consent Agenda Items Held for Discussion

Should any items be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion, they will be discussed at

this time.

Approve Special City Council Meeting Minutes from September 1, 2022

9g.

Council President Hilty requested Council review the corrections made to the meeting

minutes.

There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Kristen M. Dreyer

SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh

AYE: Mansfield, Bethea Sr, Dreyer, Musleh, and Hilty Sr

Introduction and First Reading of Ordinances - None

11.

Introduce Ordinance 2023-27 to rezone from M-1, Light Industrial, to M-2, Medium

Industrial, for certain property located at 2340 NW 27th Avenue, approximately 10.89

acres (Case ZON22-44908) (Quasi-Judicial)

11a.

Jay A. Musleh

Introduced By:

RESULT:

INTRODUCED

12.

13.

Internal Auditor's Report - None

City Manager's Report

Legislative Delegation Lunch scheduled on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Mary Sue Rich Community Center grand opening scheduled on January 10, 2023, at 11 am

Animal Control Workshop tentatively scheduled on Tuesday, February 14, 2023

City Manager Pete Lee commented the City will invite Marion County and the Humane Society

to the pending meeting.

Utility Advisory Board recommendation

City Manager Pete Lee commented the Utility Advisory Board recommended increasing the

PCA rate; however, the City recommends not taking action at this time, due to decreased natural

gas prices.

Council President Hilty concurs with Mr. Lee.

14.

Police and Fire Department Report

Police Chief Mike Balken – Public Safety Opioid Response Efforts

Police Chief Balken discussed the public safety Opioid response efforts for December 19, 2022

to December 31, 2022. The Police Department's Opioid response efforts 8, overdose deaths 1,

Narcan leave behind 2 and Amnesty participation 3. He provided a brief overview of the

departments support efforts in the community.

Fire Chief Clint Welborn – Public Safety Opioid Response Efforts & Community Paramedicine

Fire Chief Welborn discussed the public safety Opioid response efforts and community

paramedicine program. The overdose response efforts 6, overdose deaths 0 and Narcan leave

behind 0. For the month of December, 418 people have enrolled in the Opioid Recovery Project

and they had a total of 224 community paramedicine graduates. The Narcan leave behind for the

OD2A Program amounts to 112 participants, and 2,293 calls for service (YTD 25,641).

15.

Mayor's Report

Mayor Guinn commented on the proposed panhandling ordinance

Mayor Guinn commented the City is working on drafting a new Panhandling Ordinance and

shared a photo depicting a local panhandler.

16.

17.

City Attorney's Report

Informational Items

17a. Calendaring Items

- Mary Sue Rich Community Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Tuesday, January 10,

11:00am - 1821 NW 21st Avenue

- Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 16 - City Offices closed

17b. Comments by Mayor

17c. Comments by Council Members

Council Member Bethea discussed upcoming MLK Jr. Day events

Council Member Bethea encouraged the public to attend upcoming MLK Jr. Day events.

Council Member Bethea commented on a prayer vigil in response to a New Year's Eve shooting

Council Member Bethea thanked the community for coming together to host a prayer vigil in

response to a New Year's Eve shooting. He suggested collaborating with Ocala Police

Department and local organizations to combat gun violence in the community.

Council President Hilty commented on the Treasury report

Council President Hilty requested more information regarding the $20 million debit. Director of

Finance Emory Roberts responded the $20 million was allocated to a separate account. The

budget balance fluctuates yearly; and the City received tax revenue last month, which will

balance the debited amount.

Council President Hilty asked if the rate of return is annualized. Mr. Roberts responded no,

quarterly. Furthermore, the City allocated funds from the Investment Manager Fund to pay the

debt/pre-payment for the pension.

Council President Hilty asked what the interest rate is for the $60 million loan. Mr. Roberts

responded 3% fixed rate.

17d. Informational

Power Cost Adjustment Report - November 2022

17d1.

17d2.

17d3.

Executed Contracts Under $50,000

Treasury Cash and Investment Report for the quarter ending September 30, 2022

18.

Adjournment

Adjourned at 4:52 pm

Minutes

_______________________________

James P. Hilty Sr.

________________________________

Angel B. Jacobs

Council President

City Clerk