110 SE Watula Avenue  
Ocala, FL 34471  
Ocala  
City Council  
Synopsis  
www.ocalafl.gov  
4:00 PM  
Tuesday, May 20, 2025  
1.  
2.  
Call to Order  
Roll Call  
Mayor Ben Marciano  
Present:  
Pro Tem Ire J. Bethea Sr  
Council Member James P. Hilty Sr  
Council Member Barry Mansfield  
Council Member Jay A. Musleh  
Council President Kristen M. Dreyer  
a.  
New Employees  
- Melissa Walls, Electric  
- Samson Ngetich, Electric  
- Andrew Whichello, Engineering  
- George Wright, Public Works  
- Tucker Chenette, Water Resources  
- Thomas Zerquera, Water Resources  
3.  
Public Notice  
Public Notice for the May 20, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on April 15, 2025  
4. Proclamations and Awards  
Presentation of the Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award to Joshua Musikantow  
4a.  
4b.  
Presentation of the American Wetlands Month Proclamation to Water Resources  
Director Sean Lanier and to Water Resources Operation Manager Robyn Preston  
Presentation of the National Public Works Week to Public Works Director Darren Park  
Service Award - Lafayetta Hodges - Ocala Police Department - 20 Years of Service  
4c.  
4d.  
4e.  
Service Award - Detective Michael Bowman - Ocala Police Department - 25 Years of  
Service  
Service Award - Battalion Chief Robert Altman - Ocala Fire Rescue - 35 Years of  
Service  
4f.  
5.  
Presentations  
6.  
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.  
There being no further discussion the motion carried by roll call vote.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA  
Barry Mansfield  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve award of contract to BWC Services USA, LLC, for grounds maintenance  
services at Ocala Wetlands Recharge Park in an amount not to exceed $58,500  
6a.  
6b.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-153 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept  
and appropriate additional grant funds from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement  
for online sting operations in the amount of $2,838  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Approve a task work order with McFarland Johnson, Inc. to provide design services for  
the T-Hangar Taxilane Rehabilitation project in the amount of $83,536  
6c.  
Presentation By: Matthew Grow  
RESULT:  
PULLED  
Approve City Council Work Session minutes from April 29, 2025  
6f.  
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs  
RESULT:  
PULLED  
Approve City Council meeting minutes from May 6, 2025  
6g.  
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.  
9.  
Introduction and First Readings of Ordinances  
Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances  
Approve the sale of beer and wine for on-premise consumption for Graffiti Seafood &  
More Management, LLC., dba, Graffiti Seafood & More located at 1532 S Pine Ave  
(Parcel 28575-010-09) (Quasi-Judicial)  
9a.  
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Adopt Ordinance 2025-23 amending sections 2-195 and 2-196, Code of Ordinances,  
City of Ocala, Florida; providing for the administration of preemployment fingerprinting  
and background checks  
9b.  
Presentation By: William E. Sexton  
Jay A. Musleh  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Adopt Ordinance 2025-24 to rezone approximately 1.00 acre of property located at 3640  
SW Seventh Place from INST, Institutional, to M-2, Medium Industrial (Case  
ZON25-0004) (Quasi-Judicial)  
9c.  
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield  
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
General Business  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-155 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget for the  
10.  
10a.  
carry forward of prior fiscal year grant funds totaling $42,633,188  
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
ADOPTED  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-156 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to provide  
a supplemental appropriation to reconcile cash balance forward accounts and for the  
continuation of projects not completed in Fiscal Year 2023-24 in the amount of  
$175,431,800  
10b.  
Presentation By: Tammi Haslam  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
ADOPTED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield  
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve the award of a one-year contract for implementation and licenses to Spatial  
Business Systems for Automated Utility Design software at an estimated cost of  
$113,500  
10c.  
10d.  
10e.  
10f.  
Presentation By: Chad Lynch  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve a substantial amendment to the City of Ocala’s HUD 2019-2023 Five-Year  
Consolidated Plan and 2019-2020 Annual Plan to allow $200,000 to be used for rental  
assistance in the City of Ocala  
Presentation By: James Haynes  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-154 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept  
and appropriate 2024-25 State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program grant funding in  
the amount of $175,728  
Presentation By: James Haynes  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
ADOPTED  
Barry Mansfield  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve the award of a contract to Traffic Control Devices, LLC, for construction  
services related to the signalization project of SW 43rd Court at SW 40th Street for the  
bid amount of $532,532, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a total expenditure not to  
exceed $585,785  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve award of the agreement for recoating services for Water Tower #2 to  
Southeastern Tank & Tower, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $246,000  
10g.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve award of agreement to Ardurra Group, Inc., for professional services associated  
with planning studies for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant in the amount of  
$129,986  
10h.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Approve the purchase of new portable radios for Ocala Police Department, Ocala Fire  
Rescue, and Ocala Electric Utility utilizing State of Florida’s alternative source  
agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $5,952,904  
10i.  
Presentation By: Joshua Sasso  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Barry Mansfield  
AYE: Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
11.  
12.  
Internal Auditor's Report  
City Manager's Report  
Marion County public hearings for EMS impact fees/transportation impact fees scheduled for  
Friday, May 23, 2025, at 1:30 pm and 2:00 pm  
Ordinance for removal of fluoride from City water supply to be introduced next meeting in  
accordance with new State law to be enacted on July 1, 2025  
13.  
Overview of Crime and Traffic Stops  
14. Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report  
Ocala Police Department Report  
Unit Responses  
Service calls update  
Department Highlights  
15.  
City Attorney's Report  
Approval of and entry into a proposed Settlement Agreement in the matter of Art Rojas  
& Lucinda Hale v. City of Ocala, currently pending on appeal before the United States  
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit  
15a.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, Musleh, and Dreyer  
16.  
Public Comments  
Doug Oswald, 4304 SE 5th Street, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Sandra Slayton, 745 SW 79th Loop, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
David Boston, 155 NE 52nd Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Maryann Lambert, 13010 NW 90th Avenue, Reddick, FL, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Elizabeth Dollinger, 8500 NW 162nd Court, Morrison, FL, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Louine Ek, 5907 SW 59th Street, requested the Mayor and City Council declare June as Faith  
and Family Month  
Fernando Fernandez, 5725 Eco Road, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Craig Baggs, 401 SE 49th Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Quinn Cooper, 328 Marion Oaks Drive, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Cathy Bailey, 3030 SE 13th Street, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Brooke Bennett, 305 SE 58th Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Gabbi Gallario, 1999 150th Avenue NW, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Kent Guinn, 320 NW 3rd Avenue, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
Diane Irwin, 4490 SW 44th Street, commented on item 10(i)  
Sandra Fernandez, 3270 NE 42nd Place, spoke on the OPD/ICE MOU  
17.  
Informational Items and Calendaring Items  
- Monday, May 26, 2025 - Memorial Day Holiday - City Offices closed  
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Commission Auditorium  
- Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Thursday, June 19, 2025 - Juneteenth Day Holiday - City Offices closed  
- Monday, June 23, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Public Library  
Inform Council of renewed agreement between the Florida Department of Corrections  
and the Ocala Police Department  
17a.  
Inform Council that the Ocala Police Department has entered into a Memorandum of  
Agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a task force  
17b.  
18.  
Comments by Mayor  
Fallen Officer Memorial  
Workout with the Mayor event  
City employee recognition  
SR200 State Road update  
19.  
Comments by City Council Members  
Council Member Hilty recognized the Director of Community Development Services, James  
Haynes, for hosting a successful affordable housing event  
20.  
Adjournment  
Adjourned at 6:00 pm