City Council - Regular Meeting

Well, I'm glad everybody came tonight to see me. Hey. We lost the party. We lost everybody else. I'm not sure what happened to them, but they're coming. Trust me.

Good afternoon. Mr. Payton, will you come and do the invocation, please?

I will pledge allegiance to the flag It is now 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, and this meeting of the Ocala City Council is called to order. Clerk, please call the roll.

Here. Item 2A, new employees. First of all, I want to say good afternoon to everybody. And welcome to this afternoon's city council meeting. Item 2A, new employees. When I call your name, please stand. Stephen Hawley, public works. Ashley Brock, fleet management. Scott Gleason, fleet management. Gonzalez, fleet management.

Yeah. Albin Moses, Fleet Management, and Michael Pett, excuse me, Pagan, Fleet Management. All right, welcome. Welcome to the city family. The clerk will provide the public notice for this evening's meeting.

Agenda item four, proclamations and awards. As many of you are likely aware of, O'Kellar lost a very important figure this past week with the passing of Whitfield Jenkins. Although our agenda for tonight's meeting has already been published, This council would like to honor Mr. Jenkins with the adoption of a resolution recognizing his contributions to our community. Is there a motion to approve this resolution honoring Mr. Jenkins? So moved. Is there a second? The clerk will call the roll.

Aye. I would like to read this resolution and present it to the Jenkins family. Is the Jenkins family here tonight? Sure. Yes, sir. just so that you know that we all knew of Mr. Jenkins and knew Mr. Jenkins, and we have a lot of reverence for him and for this family. Also, Ms. Jenkins, we are thankful for the time that he was here and for the many things that he tried to accomplish. So we have this resolution, and it reads as follows. Whereas on July 28, 2026, The city of Ocala have lost a legendary civil rights leader, an extraordinary man, educator, and community activist with the death of M

Item 4B, presentation of the Mayor's Citizen Recognition Award to Victoria Clifton. How are you?

Congratulations. All right, Pete, make sure I give everything to her after I'm done reading this. Well, every month we recognize someone who's doing outstanding work with the mayor citizens award. And again, we get to acknowledge someone who's doing an amazing work in our community. I want to read your nomination and then hopefully give you the chance to share a few words if you'd like. So your nomination, Victoria Clifton, for the past 20 years has been an integral member of the Child Protection Team. She has conducted and supervised thousands of interviews helping safeguard children that has

Item 4C is the presentation of the Florida Line Workers Appreciation Proclamation to O'Kelley Electric Utility staff.

All right, it's our honor to recognize Florida Line Workers Appreciation Day. Whereas in 2012, the Florida House of Representatives designated August 26 as the annual Line Worker Appreciation Day to honor the thousand of men and women who work in high-risk environments to provide electricity to their communities, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently listed utility line worker as one of the most dangerous jobs in our country. Whereas the line worker profession demands passion, Dedication, continuous training, and unwavering commitment to public service, with line workers 24 hour

Item 4D is the recognition of Ocala Electric Utility for receiving the Florida Municipal Electric Association's inaugural utility award of excellence.

Item 4E is the presentation of the National Purple Heart Day Proclamation to Combat Engineer William James, Sergeant First Class Lonzo Douglas, and Military Police Officer John Bowles.

Well, it is truly an honor to recognize National Purple Heart Day, whereas on August 7th, 1782 in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington established the Honorary Badge of Distinction Badge of Military Merit to be awarded to regular soldiers and non-commissioned officers who demonstrated extraordinary courage and fidelity. In 1783, the Badge of Military Merit was initially awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers, Whereas General George Washington declared the award to be a permanent one. But once the Revolution War ended, the badge of military merit was all but forgotten until the 20

Okay, we're gonna take and bounce around a little bit. We have something we need to get accomplished before 5 p.m. We will consider items 10A and 10B so that our final action on these items will be complete before 5 p.m. today as it is required by Florida law. So item 10A is the adoption of the fiscal year 2026-27 tentative millage rates. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? I move. Is there a second? Budget Director Tammy Haslam is recognized for a presentation.

Are there any questions from the public? Any questions or concerns from the council? Clerk, please call the roll.

Aye. Item 10B is the adoption of Resolution 2026-46. Do I hear a motion to approve this item?

Ms. Hansen is recognized for presentation.

Are there any comments from the public? Council? Call the roll.

Aye. Thank you. So, now we will come back to item 5A. And it is the O'Kelley Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership Annual Presentation by Matt McCormick, President and CEO.

All right. We go to our consent agenda 6A. Are there any items which council would like to remove from the consent agenda for individual discussion or consideration? Hearing none, I will accept a motion to approve the consent agenda.

Are there any comments from the public? Having none, the clerk will call the roll.

Aye. Agenda item eight, introduction and first reading of ordinances. Item 8A is an introduction and first reading of ordinance 20

Thank you. We will go to public hearings, agenda item nine, and second readings of ordinances. 9A through 9D concern the same property and the same project. So we will open the public hearing for all four items. Then hear only one staff presentation and present presentation by the applicant. Take public comment on all four items and then vote on each one separately.

Item 9A is the adoption of ordinance 2026-17. Councilman Muslim, who introduced this item, is recognized for a motion.

Yeah, Council President, I move that ordinance number 2026-17 be adopted as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to City Council, accept that adoption by sections on the second reading be waived.

Yes. Clerk Jacob, will you read the ordinance by the towel?

Item 9B is the adoption of ordinance 2026-18. Councilman Manfield, who introduced this item, is recognized for a motion.

Mr. President, I move that ordinance number 2026-18 be approved. be adopted as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to City Council, except that the adoption by sections on the second reading be waived.

Clerk Jacobs will read the ordinance by title.

Item 9C is the adoption of Ordinance 2026-22, Councilman Muzzin, who introduced this item is recognized for the motion.

Council President, I move that ordinance number 2026-22 be adopted as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to City Council, accept the adoption by sections on the second reading be waived.

Clerk Jacobs will read the ordinance by title.

Item 9D is the public hearing to consider a resolution for a PD plan and standards book. Is there a motion?

Thank you. Now, Planning Director Aubrey Hale is recognized for the staff presentation.

So the applicant representative is recognized for their presentation if they want to say something.

Yeah. Okay. So if there are any comments... from the public in regards to these four. Yes, ma'am, come on up. State your name and address, please.

Any other questions from the public? Comments? All right. We're ready to vote.

Now, can we have Mr. Tillman just respond to that? Yes.

Any other questions, comments? All right, let's call the roll. Thank you. First, for item 9A, the clerk will call the roll.

Aye. Next, for Item 9B, the clerk will call the roll.

Aye. Next, for Item C, the clerk will call the roll.

Aye. Item 9E and 9F also concerns a single property and the same project. So we will open the public hearing for both items, then hear only one staff presentation, and then a presentation by the applicant. Take public comment on both items and then vote. 9E is the adoption of ordinance 2026-23. Councilman Hilty, who introduced this item, is recognized for a motion.

Council President, I move that ordinance number 2026-23 be adopted as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to City Council, accept that adoption by sections on the second reading be waived.

Look, Jacob, we'll read the ordinance by towel.

Item 9L. adoption of ordinance 2026-24. Councilwoman Drow, who introduced this item, is recognized for a motion.

Council President, I move that ordinance number 2026-24 be adopted as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to City Council, except that the adoption by sections on second reading be waived.

Is there a second? Second. Clerk Jacob, will you read the ordinance by title?

Now, Chief Planning Official, Dr. Indira Man... I'm messing up your name again. Andra Varon is recognized for a presentation.

Oh, okay. So you have did your presentation, right? All right. So is there any questions or concerns from the public? Having none? Council? All right. So we're ready to vote. First for item 9E, the clerk will call the roll.

Aye. Item 9G is the adoption of Ordinance 2026-25. Councilman Mansfield, who introduced this item, is recognized for a motion.

Mr. President, I move that Ordinance No. 2026-25 be adopted. as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to the City Council, except that the adoption by sections on the second reading be waived.

Clerk Jacob, will you read the ordinance by Tyler?

Okay. So let's see, do the agent or the applicant have anything to say?

Thank you. So I have two people that have asked to speak. Mr. Todd Deronaco.

No questions. No questions. Ms. Doris Ortiz-Garcia.

Thank you. Any other comments? Having none. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?

I WOULD JUST SAY IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I VISITED THE CAPSTONE ACADEMY AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE WHAT THEY DO. THE KIDS WERE, WHAT THEY WERE LEARNING AND THE WORK AND YOU COULD TELL JUST THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND PROFESSIONALISM, I THINK THEY'LL DO A GREAT JOB AND ADD EXTREME BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

Any other comment from the council? Call the roll.

Aye. Item 9H is the adoption of ordinance 2026-26. Councilman Hilty, who introduced the item, is recognized for a motion.

Council President, I move that ordinance number 2026-26 be adopted as provided by the Charter of the City of Ocala, Florida, and based upon evidence presented to City Council, accept that adoption by second sections on the second reading be waived. Is there a second?

Second. Clerk Jacob, will you read the ordinance, please?

Ms. Madden-DeVereen, do you have anything else that you want to speak on this matter? Go ahead, ma'am.

Any comments from the public? Any questions or comments from the council? Call the roll.

Aye. All right. We're on 10. Agenda item 10.

Item 10C is the adoption of the contract with Salt Cross, Inc. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Is there a second? City Engineer Sean Lanier is recognized for his presentation.

Any comment from the public? Council? Call the roll.

Aye. Thank you. 10D is the adoption of one-year renewal of the contract with Central Square. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Second. Assistant IT Director Kelly Vann is recognized for a presentation.

Are there any comments from the public? Any comments from the council? Call the roll.

Item 10E is the adoption of a two-year agreement for roof restoration contractor services on an as-needed basis. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Facilities Division Head Gary Cruz is recognized for staff presentation.

Any comments from the public? Council, call the roll.

Aye. Item 10F, is the adoption of a one-year contract with BOMAC Construction Services, Inc. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Public Works Director Darren Park is recognized for staff presentation.

Any comments from the public? Council, call the roll.

Aye. Thank you. Item 10G is the adoption of a two-year renewal of the agreement with Tisdale, Tidale, Enterprise, Inc. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? I move. Is there a second? Second. Utility Director Doug Peebles is recognized for staff presentation.

Any comments from the public? Council? Call the roll.

Aye. Thank you. Item 10H is the adoption of the utilization of the Florida Shelf Association Agreement with Mattity Motor Truck Company. Do I hear a motion to approve? Second. Mr. Manfield, second. Thank you.

Any comments from the public? Council, call the roll.

Aye. Thank you. Item 10I is the adoption of task work order 26-05 with infrastructure consulting and engineering PLLC. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Is there a second? Our port director, Matthew Groh, is recognized for staff presentation.

Aye. Thank you. Item 10J is the adoption of the renewal of stop-loss insurance coverage with HM Insurance Company. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? Is there a second? Second. H.R. and Risk Management Director Tom Swanson is recognized for the staff presentation.

Any questions from the public? Council? Call the roll.

Aye. Agenda item 12, city manager's report. Mr. Pete Lee.

Thank you. Police Chief Mike Balkan, recognize the report.

Thank you, sir. Any questions? All right. Ocala Fire Rescue Department, Chief Cliff Wellborn.

All right, so we do have one public comment. Mr. Clay Albright.

Thank you for coming, Mr. Albright. We hope that There's something that can be done. I'm not 100%. I don't know the extent of what you are saying. I don't know the extent of that. But hopefully you'll get some kind of relief from that. The other matters we will be talking about. Thank you.

Can I ask a question, Council President of Jeff? So when you say that the fees are going to be waived, are you waiving a $250 a day fine minus all of the hard costs?

So you can have the closing as scheduled and then deal with the other situations separately?

And how did the – I'm just sorry. What started this, taking down trees?

Well, you and I have spoken about code enforcement. I think we've all spoken together as a board about this, how really it should be less of a punitive experience, right? I mean, there are some times when it needs to be. I will tell you, you can drive around our city and see a bunch of semi trucks parked in people's yards. Go after stuff like that. Not when people are trying to beautify their properties. It's insane. Meanwhile, you can drive around and see numerous commercial properties who've let their landscaping go into decline. So his customer and numerous other commercial customers have t

And that's the complaint for the other two also.

In between where the building is and the next building to the north of it?

Is there a train track on the other side of the trees?

Would the permit have been granted had they gone through the proper... Yeah. Of course.

Yeah. We need another conversation about cooking.

I would like to add something, if you don't mind. I was in another incident this week, too, about code enforcement. And the whole idea is you hit it right on the head. It should not be punitive. These guys are here to make sure that everything's in line. That's fine. Make a phone call. Reach out. If somebody's not getting back to you and intentionally not paying you any mind, then you go after them. But some of this stuff is we have to. All these agencies are here to help the citizens. It's not the other way around. Citizens aren't here to help these agencies. And that's one thing that's alway

We will be talking in council in a workshop or whatever in regards to code. I can't promise you nothing in regards to that, but we will have a conversation, if nothing else, with the city manager, and he will go to his staff. and address issues.

Did you say it was from 17 years ago or 2017?

Were you living at this address 16, 17 years ago?

You say you do remember living at that address. Okay. I just wanted to know. Were you living there that many years ago?

I think it was different addresses. It wasn't where he's living now. It was different addresses. No, it's not where I'm living now.

So I just would like – But you might have left that address when your power got shut off.

Yeah, but what's this – like how long – when you've just done your audit – How far back are you charging people for these bills? This seems insane.

I mean, at some point, isn't this like on us that we haven't gotten it paid? I mean, to go back 17 years sounds crazy.

It doesn't excuse the fact that they didn't pay. Well, I think Peter, he's either going to have to prove it or not collect it, one or the other.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT 17 YEARS LATER?

Yes, sir, there was no statute of limitations on that. I know you got policies and whatever. I'm not trying to interfere, but it's just something to think about. Again, like Mr. Muslin said, if you didn't pay your bill, you didn't pay your bill. So you have to pay your bill. But I'm looking at 17 years of... Paying a bill wherever you're at now, I mean, and this come back to haunt you 17 years later, I mean.

I don't disagree that if you didn't pay, you owe. However, to turn off the power in the present day for something that we could have been collecting over 17 years is wrong. That is wrong. I agree.

Can you please provide us with the policy on what happens when people don't pay their electric bills? Yes. And if it needs to be changed to say after X amount of years, do you then just sue them for the money? You don't turn off the power today. No.

That is like morally wrong. We didn't turn off the power. He got a week's notice. He got a week's notice and he did nothing in that week, I don't think.

But you're not doing anything to actually pay the bill. You could have come in and paid $10, okay, and said, I'm disputing this. I'm going to pay $10. Not the way the statute is written.

I can't speak to the statute. But what I can say is that when he comes to customer service and they cannot provide him with proof that he owes it, then they should not have turned off the power until they prove it. So great. So he came before city council. He took time out of his day to be here to talk in front of Peter Brill and all of us today. How many other people does this apply to that haven't done that?

Facebook is by far the least reliable source of information.

You can get some people's opinions. All you've got to do is ask them. But like, you know what, everybody has one.

Mayor. Yeah, I'll keep it short. I know last meeting I brought up the issue about Kratom, and it was asked, you know, why am I so passionate about this? And over the last couple weeks, these are some of the emails that I've received from loved ones, people that have lost loved ones to Kratom. I've been in touch with the Attorney General's office, and I think we have a way to move forward that might help the community, and ultimately the goal is to save lives and help the community. looking at all aspects of what this would look like. But right now, the next steps forward, work possibly with th

Thank you. So I believe that we all got a lot of – I know that I got a lot of e-mails in regards to the Kratom, and most people was asking that we did not try to ban – The one that was less. The natural leaf. The natural leaf.

They wanted the HO, whatever that is. 70H, sure. I would say the synthetic kratom is the stuff that's being sold in the gas stations and the smoke shops. That's the really harmful stuff. That's the stuff that's killing people. And that would be a focus of what I would say we would go after. And, again, that will be something that I'll be able to get more information as we move forward over the next couple weeks. Thank you. Thank you.

As we have a bunch of calendar events, make sure you look over those things. Make sure that you know where you need to be. Mr. President.

Thank you. Okay. So, Mr. Berry? I'm good. Mr. Hilty?

You know, there was some interesting comment here tonight about different things that seem to be happening Citizens and of course we all heard this week that the city was fleeced out of Almost five hundred thousand dollars I would have thought tonight would have been the night that you would be transparent to the public Rather than us having to ask that I realized the investigation is still going on But I think that the public needs to know that we had a fraud case Dating back to May which obviously was covered up but for whatever reasons but again I think it's time for that to come public so

We had that conversation about not bringing it up. I think, again, I think it's our duty to keep the public informed. Our duty is to keep us informed. But at this point, nothing has been said to the public about the almost $500,000 that was taken away from us. And the fact that it happened, again, back in May. There was plenty of time.

Again, there was things that were brought up tonight. There seems to be a culture that's developing. And it gets away from, one, information to the public and information to council at different times. And, two, it gets away from let me find a way to help the citizens rather than just go in and read them the Riot Act.

But again, my point was that there was fraud committed against the city. You should have taken the opportunity to make it public and say it's under investigation. You're hiding behind that until the report comes back. And I don't think that's fair to our citizens.

No, I'm not saying you hid it from us. I'm just saying it should have been brought forward to the public to know about it. Okay.

I would be in the audience of, originally I was for full transparency. But after talking to Pete and initiating the internal auditor review, I think it would have been prudent to wait until the internal auditor review's report had come out and then have a plan as to any corrective action that would be taken at that time. At this point, I don't think the public has served either way. By us bringing it up tonight without having a full and comprehensive report from our internal auditor and also a full report on exactly what happened, timeline and everything, I think this discussion It wasn't goin

That happened yesterday or the day before, but since it goes all the way back to April or May, I think it's time to bring it up.

Well, I mean, I don't think Pete knew it until two or three weeks ago.

I'm not saying he didn't know. I'm just saying that it goes back so long so people look at it as a cover-up. And obviously it was a cover-up by the employee.

Well, then, you know, if it truly was a cover-up, then, yeah, I think said employees are going to have action taken.

Going back to my original report, this guy was a senior manager or something like that in his department.

I'm mentioning a position because it relates to what I say with what we've been hearing here. There seems to be a culture going on on different things of hiding certain things or departments taking control like, you know, code enforcement. you know, not enforcing things that they should go after, but then going and harassing people, making people cry. I mean, that's kind of crazy.

How did they have the right address on the first time but not the right address on the second time? I have to go put this all back together. I bet you it went to the same address both times.

I agree with you 100%. If our code of ordinances calls for a tree restoration plan, then you've got to have a tree restoration plan. If you all don't want us to have one, well, let's vote it out. No tree restoration plan required. But these are code of ordinances that are required, okay? And to hear Mr. Albright say tonight, well, I'm never going to pull a permit. I take a little bit of a side to that.

Okay, you're going down another rabbit hole, which was not my original point. My point was that it was interesting that we had some similar complaints, and I still have this feeling that if we got the money back, this would have never been transparent to the public.

And I think that's wrong. That's why I think it's incumbent of you to bring it up and say that we have an investigation going on. This is what happened. Let the public know.

So, Mr. Lee, you're going to, when it is appropriate, you're going to get back with us with full knowledge, right?

Well, I think our internal auditor is going to directly report back to us. He is. Counsel. He should be, which is what should happen.

All right, really quick. I see Sarah Lambert, the new executive director of Ocala Main Street here. We know that recently we've had several downtown businesses leave from the downtown, all for various reasons. Some are related reasons, some are not. But it feels a little out of balance right now. So my request for this board, for you, Council President, is that Ocala Main Street, in our next month's meeting, give them some time to prepare a presentation for us But they come and they bring us a presentation of what the true snapshot of downtown and midtown look like. Can we put that on the agen Can you all do that for us? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. That's it. Thank you.

Okay. So we've been here quite a while, but I want to congratulate Doug Peoples and O'Kelly Electric on the fine job that they have been doing and A FEW OF US WENT DOWN TO THE AWARD CEREMONY, I'M GOING TO CALL IT THAT, SINCE IT WAS AWARDED. AND MR. MUSLIM, THEY LOOK VERY HIGHLY ON OEU. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT WAS HERE, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. WE'VE BEEN BEING VERY INNOVATIVE. for one, very reliable. And I know they brought these things up. The real thing that I really love about one of the projects that they are doing now, and I think Ms. R