110 SE Watula Avenue  
Ocala, FL 34471  
Ocala  
City Council  
Synopsis  
www.ocalafl.gov  
4:00 PM  
Tuesday, December 2, 2025  
1.  
2.  
Call to Order  
Roll Call  
Mayor Ben Marciano  
Present:  
Pro Tem Jay A. Musleh  
Council Member Kristen M. Dreyer  
Council Member James P. Hilty Sr  
Council Member Barry Mansfield  
Council President Ire J. Bethea Sr  
3.  
Public Notice  
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Public Notice for the December 2, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted  
on November 7, 2025  
4.  
5.  
Proclamations and Awards  
Annual President’s Award  
Presentations  
4a.  
5a.  
5b.  
5c.  
Comments by outgoing Council President  
Presentation of Plaques and Gifts  
Swearing-In of Reelected Council Members  
1.  
2.  
3.  
City Council District 1 – Barry Mansfield  
City Council District 3 – Jay A. Musleh  
City Council District 5 – James P. Hilty Sr.  
5d.  
5e.  
Swearing-In of Mayor Ben Marciano  
Council Reorganization  
1.  
Election of Council President Ire J. Bethea Sr.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
2.  
Election of Council President Pro-Tem Jay A. Musleh  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Kristen M. Dreyer  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Change of seating and name plates  
3.  
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.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA  
Kristen M. Dreyer  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Agreement to accept Victims of Crime Act grant funds received from the State of  
Florida, Office of the Attorney General, in the amount of $59,412  
6a.  
6b.  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Budget Resolution 2026-115 to amend the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept and  
appropriate Victims of Crime Act grant funds received from the State of Florida, Office  
of the Attorney General, in the amount of $59,412  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Expenditures for utility services provided by SECO Energy for Fiscal Year 2025-26 with  
an estimated expenditure of $84,000  
6c.  
6d.  
6e.  
6f.  
Presentation By: Peter Brill  
Resolution 2026-8 to amend each respective community redevelopment plan for the four  
redevelopment subareas: West Ocala, East Ocala, North Magnolia, and Downtown  
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale  
Appointment of Donald Gulling to the Downtown Ocala Redevelopment Area Advisory  
Committee for an unexpired term ending March 1, 2029  
Presentation By: Angel Jacobs  
Minutes from November 18, 2025 City Council Meeting  
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  
(Second and Final Reading - December 16, 2025)  
Ordinance 2026-4 designating a historic landmark at the southeast corner of 117 E Silver  
Springs Boulevard (Parcel ID# 2823-064-007) and installing a historic marker titled  
“Elvis in Ocala, Tom Petty Inspired” (Quasi-Judicial)  
8a.  
James P. Hilty Sr  
Introduced By:  
Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances  
Ordinance 2026-1 to amend the code of ordinances for permitted uses in the M-1, Light  
Industrial, zoning district to include churches/places of worship located on major and  
minor arterial roadways subject to supplemental regulations (COD25-0003)  
9a.  
9b.  
9c.  
Presentation By: Emily Johnson  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Barry Mansfield  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Ordinance 2026-2 to change the future land use designation on approximately 10.36  
acres (Parcel 21454-000-00) located at 2500 NW 31st Avenue from Medium  
Intensity/Special District to Employment Center (Case LUC25-0005) (Quasi-Judicial)  
Presentation By: Emily Johnson  
James P. Hilty Sr  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Kristen M. Dreyer  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Ordinance 2026-3 to rezone approximately 10.36 acres (Parcel 21454-000-00) located at  
2500 NW 31st Avenue from R-1, Single-Family Residential and R-2, Two-Family  
Residential to M-1, Light Industrial (Case ZON25-0012) (Quasi-Judicial)  
Presentation By: Emily Johnson  
Jay A. Musleh  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE: Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
General Business  
10.  
Redevelopment Agreement between the City of Ocala and Marion Opportunity Zone  
Investment I, LLC, for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the historic Hotel Marion  
property, with total City incentives not to exceed $2,896,670  
10a.  
10b.  
10c.  
Presentation By: Aubrey Hale  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Kristen M. Dreyer  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Purchase of physical security equipment from Morse Communications Inc., including  
digital cameras, building access controls, and alarms with an estimated expenditure  
$245,725  
Presentation By: Christopher Ramos  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Kristen M. Dreyer  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
One-year renewal of software maintenance agreement with Harris Corporation for the  
City’s customer management system, Cogsdale, with an estimated expenditure of  
$258,373  
Presentation By: Christopher Ramos  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Kristen M. Dreyer  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Renewal of agreement for professional electric transmission design and engineering  
services with GAI Consultants, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000  
10d.  
Presentation By: Doug Peebles  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Barry Mansfield  
SECONDER: Kristen M. Dreyer  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Utilization of Florida Department of Management Services cooperative purchasing  
agreement with Point Blank Enterprises for the purchase of replacement ballistic vests  
for the Ocala Police Department SWAT team in the amount of $161,449  
10e.  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Kristen M. Dreyer  
AYE: Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Authorization to enter into a purchase and sale agreement for real property located along  
the 1900 block of NW 21st Street, approximately 10.49 acres, further identified by parcel  
ID: 21943-000-00, in an amount not to exceed $868,000  
10f.  
Presentation By: Roberto Ellis  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Barry Mansfield  
SECONDER: Kristen M. Dreyer  
AYE:  
Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
Three-year renewal of the Agreement for Agent of Record and Insurance Consulting  
Services with Risk Management Associates, Inc., with a total contract value not to  
exceed $270,000  
10g.  
Presentation By: Todd Swanson  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Kristen M. Dreyer  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE: Musleh, Dreyer, Hilty Sr, Mansfield, and Bethea Sr  
11.  
12.  
Internal Auditor's Report  
City Manager's Report  
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Light Up Ocala event  
Council Board appointments  
Ocala Golf Course update  
13.  
14.  
Ocala Police Department Report  
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Overview of Crime and Traffic Stops  
Department Highlights  
Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report  
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Unit Responses  
Service calls update  
Department Highlights  
15.  
16.  
City Attorney's Report  
Public Comments  
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Jason Tolbert, 1700 NE 50th Avenue, Ocala, FL, discussed a mixed-use proposal  
for City Council to consider  
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Kibbie Fulton, 520 NE 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL, encouraged the Mayor and City  
Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Shane Bores, 887 NW 6th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34475, requested the Mayor meet  
with residents in the community to discuss Kratom  
Jimmy Voelkel, 129 Marion Oaks Drive, Ocala, FL 34473, encouraged the Mayor  
and City Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Dillon Craig Aldridge, 2950 NE 14th Street, Ocala, FL 34470, encouraged the  
Mayor and City Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Brigitte Smith, 4275 SW 85th Avenue, Ocala, FL, encouraged the Mayor and City  
Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Serena Mojica, 731 SE 13th Street, Ocala, FL 34471, encouraged the Mayor and  
City Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Christy House, 240 NW 137th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34482, encouraged the Mayor  
and City Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Wesley McNair, 1756 NE 3rd Avenue, Ocala, FL, encouraged the Mayor and City  
Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Mitchell Tucker, 401 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL, encouraged the Mayor and City  
Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Heather Cook, 4100 NE 37th Place, Ocala, FL 34480, encouraged the Mayor and  
City Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
Kimberly Bailey, 11616 SE 55th Avenue, Bellview, FL 34420, encouraged the  
Mayor and City Council to support Muddy Lotus Tea and Kratom  
17.  
Informational Items and Calendaring Items  
- Tuesday, December 16, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25, 2025 - Christmas Eve & Christmas  
Day Holidays - City Offices closed  
- Thursday, January 1, 2026 - New Year's Day Holiday - City Offices closed  
- Tuesday, January 6, 2026 - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
Power Cost Adjustment Report - October 2025  
17a.  
Fully Executed Contracts Under $50,000  
17b.  
18.  
19.  
Comments by Mayor  
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Kratom Bill  
Light Up Ocala event  
Comments by City Council Members  
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Council Member Mansfield recognized past Council President Dreyer for her great  
leadership  
Council Member Hilty recognized Council Member Dreyer for her service as the  
past Council President  
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Council Member Dreyer commented on the importance of TPO attendance  
Council Pro Tem Musleh expressed gratitude to be able to serve on the City  
Council for another term and recognized past Council President Dreyer for her  
great leadership  
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Council President Bethea recognized past Council President Dreyer for her great  
leadership  
20.  
Adjournment  
Adjourned at 6:00 pm  
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