110 SE Watula Avenue  
Ocala, FL 34471  
Ocala  
City Council  
Synopsis  
www.ocalafl.gov  
4:00 PM  
Tuesday, June 17, 2025  
Revised 6/13: Moved 17a to General Business, 10f.  
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 Jay A. Musleh  
Council President Kristen M. Dreyer  
Council Member Barry Mansfield  
Excused:  
2a.  
New Employees  
- Rebecca Bleschke, Customer Service Office  
- Jazmine Early, Customer Service Office  
- Clay Surdam, Electric  
- Walter Norris, Electric  
3.  
Public Notice  
Public Notice for the June 17, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting was posted on May 16, 2025  
4.  
Proclamations and Awards  
Presentation of the Mayor’s Citizen Recognition Award to Larry and Darnitha Johnson  
4a.  
4b.  
4c.  
4d.  
Presentation of the Faith and Family Proclamation to Louine Ek  
Service Award - Elissa Hughes-King - Ocala Police Department - 15 Years of Service  
Service Award - Detective Mathew Steckman - Ocala Police Department - 20 Years of  
Service  
5.  
Presentations  
2025 Citizens Academy Graduation  
5a.  
5b.  
Introduction of Ben Strasser and Candice Falk from InSite Real Estate Investment  
Properties, LLC  
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:  
APPROVED  
MOVER:  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Approve the donation of surplus computer equipment to the College of Central Florida  
with a valuation of $4,890  
6a.  
6b.  
Presentation By: Christopher Ramos  
Approve the award of development opportunity, and an Affordable Housing Agreement,  
to Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, Inc., to construct and sell an affordable  
housing unit on surplus property in West Ocala identified as Parcel 2856-003-003  
Presentation By: James Haynes  
Approve the award of development opportunity, and an Affordable Housing Agreement,  
to Habitat for Humanity of Marion County, Inc., to construct and sell an affordable  
housing unit on surplus property in West Ocala identified as Parcel 2497-005-005  
6c.  
Presentation By: James Haynes  
Approve the City of Ocala’s Community Development Block Grant 2025 Annual Action  
Plan for submission to the Department of Housing and Urban Development  
6d.  
6e.  
6f.  
Presentation By: James Haynes  
Approve a one-year agreement with Lutheran Services Florida, Inc. Health Systems for  
an Ocala Police Department chaplain position in the amount of $99,694  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-159 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept  
and appropriate Chaplain Program grant funds from Lutheran Services Florida Health  
Systems for a full-time Police Chaplain in the amount of $99,694  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-160 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 $4,585  
6g.  
6h.  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-161 amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept  
and appropriate a community donation for K-9-related expenses totaling $1,000  
Presentation By: Michael Balken  
Approve the appointment of Bradford Harper to the Downtown Ocala CRA Advisory  
Committee for an expired term ending March 1, 2029  
6i.  
6j.  
Presentation By: Roberto Ellis  
Approve City Council minutes from June 3, 2025  
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.  
Introduction and First Readings of Ordinances  
(Second and Final Reading - July 1, 2025)  
Introduce Ordinance 2025-32 to amend the boundaries of the Ridge at Heath Brook  
Community Development District generally located southeast of SW Highway 200  
(College Road) and west of I-75 by adding approximately 29.142 acres to increase the  
size of the Community Development District to approximately 104.938 acres (Case No.  
CDD25-0001) (Quasi-Judicial)  
8a.  
Jay A. Musleh  
Introduced By:  
9.  
Public Hearings / Second and Final Readings / Adoption of Ordinances  
NOTE: Items 9c and 9d will be considered at 5:00 pm or shortly thereafter.  
Open a public hearing to review and receive comments concerning SunTran’s proposed  
budget for Fiscal Year 2022 Section 5339(a) Bus and Bus Facilities grant funding from  
the Federal Transit Administration in the amount of $289,188  
9a.  
Presentation By: Tom Duncan  
Adopt Ordinance 2025-25, repealing Sec. 70-371., Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala,  
Florida, requiring fluoridation of the municipal potable water supply  
9b.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, and Dreyer  
NAY:  
Musleh  
ABSENT:  
Mansfield  
Adopt Ordinance 2025-28 to rezone from B-2, Community Business, to B-4, General  
Business for property located at 2206 SW 10th Road (Parcel 23536-000-00),  
approximately 0.53 acres. (Case ZON25-0005) (Quasi-Judicial)  
9e.  
Presentation By: Endira Madraveren  
Jay A. Musleh  
ADOPTED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Request to postpone to the July 1, 2025 City Council meeting - Adopt Resolution  
2025-29 to abrogate a portion of NE 47th Court between Block I, Lot 2 and Block F, Lot  
17 of Glynnwood Unit 1 as recorded in Plat Book G, Page 91, of the public records of  
Marion County, Florida (Parcels 2735-0006-017 & 2735-009-002) (Case ABR23-45418)  
(Quasi-Judicial)  
9f.  
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
POSTPONED  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Request to postpone to the July 1, 2025 City Council meeting - Adopt Ordinance  
2025-29 to change the Future Land Use designation on approximately 0.78 acres for  
property located in the 1900 block of NE 49th Avenue (Parcels 2735-006-017 and  
2735-009-002) from Neighborhood to Low Intensity (Case LUC23-45427)  
(Quasi-Judicial)  
9g.  
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
POSTPONED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Request to postpone to the July 1, 2025 City Council meeting - Adopt Ordinance  
2025-30 to rezone approximately 6.83 acres for property located at the southwestern  
corner of the intersection at NE 49th Avenue and E Silver Springs Boulevard (Parcel  
2735-000-002, 2735-009-001, 2735-009-002, 2735-006-017, and a portion of parcel  
27028-004-03) from PD, Planned Development, R-1, Single-Family Residential, & B-2,  
Community Business, to PD, Planned Development (Case PD23-45431) (Quasi-Judicial)  
9h.  
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum  
James P. Hilty Sr  
POSTPONED  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Request to postpone to the July 1, 2025 City Council meeting - Adopt Ordinance  
2025-31 to rezone approximately 0.59 acres for property located at the southwestern  
corner of the intersection at NE 49th Avenue and E Silver Springs Boulevard (a portion  
of 2735-000-002) from PD, Planned Development, to B-2, Community Business (Case  
ZON23-45419) (Quasi-Judicial)  
9i.  
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum  
Barry Mansfield  
POSTPONED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Request to postpone to the July 1, 2025 City Council meeting - Adopt Resolution  
2025-30 to approve a resolution for a Planned Development Plan and Standards Book for  
property located at the southwestern corner of the intersection at NE 49th Avenue and E  
Silver Springs Boulevard (Parcel 2735-000-002, 2735-009-001, 2735-009-002,  
2735-006-017, and a portion of parcel 27028-004-03), approximately 6.83 acres (Case  
No. PD23-45431) (Quasi-Judicial)  
9j.  
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
POSTPONED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
10.  
General Business  
NOTE: Item 10a will be considered at 5:00 pm or shortly thereafter.  
Approve first amendment to contract with Polydyne, Inc. for liquid polymer supply and  
delivery services at Water Treatment Plant No. 1, Water Reclamation Facility No. 2, and  
Water Reclamation Facility No. 3 with an estimated aggregate expenditure of $250,000  
10b.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Approve award of a two-year contract to Sherman Mechanical Contractors for heating,  
ventilation, and air conditioning repairs and installations as needed with an estimated  
aggregate expenditure of $150,000  
10c.  
Presentation By: Gary Crews  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Approve the purchase of inventory items for Ocala Electric Utility from multiple vendors  
in the amount of $260,724  
10d.  
Presentation By: Chad Lynch  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Approve Amendment 2 to Traffic Signal Maintenance and Compensation Agreement  
with the Florida Department of Transportation for reimbursement to the City of Ocala in  
the amount of $524,949  
10e.  
Presentation By: Darren Park  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Approve proposed Policy Statement for Roll-Off Compactor Solid Waste Collection  
Services  
10f.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: Jay A. Musleh  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Adopt Ordinance 2025-26 concerning Chapter 70 of the Code of Ordinances to amend  
Sections/Subsections 70-301(d)(4), 70-321(b), 70-391, 70-411(a), 70-413, 70-414,  
70-417(b) and (c), and adding Sections/Subsections 70-301(d)(5), 70-418 and 70-419  
9c.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
James P. Hilty Sr  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
ADOPTED  
James P. Hilty Sr  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Open a public hearing to consider the adoption of Ordinance 2025-27, adjusting the  
water and sewer impact fees under Chapter 70, Article V, Division 2, Section 70-502,  
Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida  
9d.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
Barry Mansfield  
Introduced By:  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
ADOPTED  
Ire J. Bethea Sr  
SECONDER: James P. Hilty Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
Adopt Resolution 2025-31 concerning a new sewage rate schedule pursuant to section  
70-301, City Code, a new water rate schedule pursuant to section 70-416, City Code, and  
new reclaimed water service fees and connection fees pursuant to section 70-358, City  
Code, effective October 1, 2025  
10a.  
Presentation By: Sean Lanier  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
ADOPTED  
Jay A. Musleh  
SECONDER: Ire J. Bethea Sr  
AYE:  
Bethea Sr, Hilty Sr, Musleh, and Dreyer  
Mansfield  
ABSENT:  
11.  
12.  
Internal Auditor's Report  
City Manager's Report  
Commercial and residential comprehensive fees  
Police Department recognition  
13.  
Ocala Police Department Report  
Overview of Crime and Traffic Stops  
Department Highlights  
14.  
Ocala Fire Rescue Department Report  
Unit Responses  
Service calls update  
Department Highlights  
15.  
16.  
City Attorney's Report  
Public Comments  
Sharma Robinson, 621 SW 7th Street, unit 301, expressed concern regarding Suntran's  
operations in the City  
17.  
Informational Items and Calendaring Items  
- Thursday, June 19, 2025 - Juneteenth Day Holiday - City Offices closed  
- Monday, June 23, 2025 - 3:00pm - TPO meeting - Marion County Public Library  
- Tuesday, July 1, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Friday, July 4, 2025 - Independence Day Holiday - City Offices closed  
- Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, July 15, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, August 12, 2025 - 12:00pm - City Council Workshop Re: FY 2025-26 Budget -  
Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 3:45pm - CRA Board meeting - Council Chambers  
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - 4:00pm - City Council meeting - Council Chambers  
17a. Moved to 10f.  
Informational item regarding the emergency payment of the price difference for  
offloading and field service for transformer unit in the amount of $47,000.  
17b.  
17c.  
Local Mitigation Strategy 2024 Annual Report  
18.  
Comments by Mayor  
Hoops & Badges Basketball Tournament  
Successful protests in the City  
19.  
Comments by City Council Members  
Council Member Hilty requested information regarding fees for public record requests  
Council Member Bethea requested Pete Lee, City Manager, investigate the Suntran complaint  
20.  
Adjournment  
Adjourned at 5:48 pm