City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Our invocation will be offered by Chaplain Joe Hasler. And thereafter, we will have the Pledge of Allegiance.

I will pledge allegiance to the flag. It is now 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026. And this meeting of the Ocala City Council is called to order. Item two. Clerk, please call the roll.

Here. to a, we have two new employees with us tonight, and we would like to recognize them. When I call your name, please stand. Michael Cortez, Public Works. Jesse Palmers, Palmers Public Works. A welcome to the city family. The clerk will provide the public notice.

Thank you. Item four, presentation of the Mayor's Citizens Recognition Award to Ms. Cherise Rivers. Ms. Rivers, will you come forward?

What up, Cherise? Well, first of all, every month we recognize people who are doing outstanding work in our community with the Mayor's Citizen Award. And, you know, over the last year we've had some amazing people doing some great things. But, again, just another amazing person who sets the example in the community for really what it means to serve and give back. So I'm going to read your nomination. And there's just so much more to what you do. And I'll share a little bit about that. But Sharice is a shining example of a rising community leader who gives back to her community through action a

Great work. Well, you also get a gift card to Cody's Roadhouse and Grill. Every month they sponsor the Citizen of the Month. They do so much for the veterans in our community. So go out and enjoy that. You get a little pin, key to the city, and then also a mayor's coin and then also a plaque. So let's get a picture together.

All right. Thank you. Item 4B is the presentation of the Arts in the Health Day in Ocala. Proclamation to Arts and Health Ocala Metro Executive Director, Patricia Tomlinson.

Hey, Barbara. Of course. Good to see you tonight. Thanks for coming. Absolutely. Hey, how are you? Thanks for coming. Good to see you. Thanks for coming. All right. It's my honor to do a proclamation for Arts and Health Day in Ocala, Florida. Whereas the city of Ocala, Florida acknowledges the effectiveness of arts for health initiatives in improving the mental health outcomes and formally recognizes the arts as a credible evidence-based resource for supporting mental health and well-being in all stages of life. which includes physical, cognitive, and social, and emotional. Whereas arts, healt

Do you want to spread out? Yep. Okay. I'm going to put you, I guess. Right here. Is that good, Greg, or do you want to go over it?

Item 4C is the presentation of a service award to Jerry Tafoya for 25 years of service with Ocala Fire Rescue.

I just want to say thank you to Chief Leach, Chief Welburn, my Captain Joe Talley for giving me a great place to work and not firing me yet.

Item 4D is the presentation of a service award to Joseph Dodden for 25 years of service with O'Kelley Electric Utilities. Thank you.

Item 4E is the presentation of a service award to Jody Taylor for 30 years of service with public works.

Item 4F is the presentation of a service award to Major Gregory Martin for 30 years of service with the Ocala Police Department.

Okay, before we move on to tonight's presentations, we're going to consider two agenda items out of order. First, we will consider agenda item 10E, which is the adoption of a successor collective bargaining agreement between the City of Ocala and the IAFF Local 2135 Firefighters and Officers Bargaining Unit. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Chief of Staff Chris Watts is recognized for the staff presentation.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? FROM THE COUNCIL? Call the roll.

Next, we will consider item 10F, which is the adoption of resolution 2026-51. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. There have been a first and a second, right? Me too. Finance Director Priyanka. Peter Brill is recognized for the staff presentation.

Aye. We will return to agenda item number five. Item 5A is the presentation of the Risk Manager of the Year Award to Richard Dennis from Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc.

Okay, agenda item number six is our consent agenda. Are there any items which council would like to be removed from the agenda or for individual discussion?

Second. Are there any other comments? Call the roll.

Aye. Item 8A is an introduction and first reading of Ordinances 2026-28. Is there a member of the city council who would introduce this item?

Thank you. Item 8B is an introduction and first reading of Ordinance 26-29. Is there a member of the council? I will. Mr. Munson. The clerk will read the ordinance.

Item 8C is an introduction and first reading of Ordinance 2026-30. Is there a member of the council who would introduce? I'll introduce. The clerk will read the ordinance by toll.

I'll let you get your breath. Okay, thank you. 8D is an introduction and first reading of Ordinance 2026-31. Is there a member of the council who would introduce this item? I'll introduce. The man for you. Clerk?

Item 8E is the introduction and first reading, ordinance 2026-32. Is there a member of the council who will introduce this item?

Item 8F is the introduction and first reading. Ordinance 2026-33. Is there a member of the council?

Item 8G, introduction and first reading of ordinance 2026-34. Is there a member of the council who will introduce? I'll introduce. The clerk will read the ordinance by title.

Agenda Item 9 is public hearings and second readings of ordinances. 9A is the adoption of Resolution 2026-49. Is there a motion? So moved. Chief Planning Official Indira Madravaran.

Are there any public comments on this matter? Council? Call the roll.

Aye. Item 9B is a public hearing to consider approval of the sale of beer and wine for on-premise consumption for beer.

Any questions or comments from the public? Councilmembers?

Item 9C is the second and final reading and adoption of Ordinance 2026-27. Councilman Hilty, who introduced this item, is recognized for a motion.

Council President, I move that ordinance number 2026-27 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.

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

PLANNING DIRECTOR AUBREY HILL IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS PRESENTATION.

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

Aye. Agenda item 10, general business. Item 10A is the adoption of the agreement for professional services with JLC Air Show Management, LLC for the production and management of the Wayne's Oval Keller Florida Air Show. Do I hear a motion to approve this item?

Airport Director Matthew Grove is recognized for presentation.

So first of all, is there any questions from the public? No? Council?

Well, again, obviously, you know, I think this is a great thing. I do want to recognize Corey and Loretta back there from TDC. I sit, as your representative, you know, I sit on the council, and we're excited. He's been working on this thing for about two years. So it's taken us about two years to get these guys to come to Ocala. You know, obviously, I always knew we had a diamond in the rough with the airport. So they've done a great job of bringing them to Ocala. Now, obviously, there are some nuances. Once he had it, then we had to wait to make sure that we did get the Blue Angels. But now t

I had a question. So what is the possible economic impact this event will have on our community?

I'm sure our local businesses will appreciate that.

I would just like to add, having spent 20 years around the aerospace industry working on the F-14 project, when I first moved to Florida, we had the Blue Angels, I think, in Gainesville. That was 35 years ago. We've never seen anything like that. They travel around the country, so this is a huge impact, and people will come from far away to see this because it's a great show.

Thank you. No other questions, comments? Call the roll.

Aye. Item 10B is the adoption of Resolution 2026-50. Do I hear a motion to approve? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Mr. Groh is recognized for presentation.

ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? COUNCIL? Call the roll.

Aye. Thank you. Item 10C is the adoption of budget resolution 2026-156. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Mr. Groh, you're recognized once again. Stay up here, Matt.

All right. Public, do you have any comment? Council, call the roll.

Item 10D is the adoption of the Second Amendment to agreement with Order Ram Productions, Inc. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Second. Second. Special Services Division Head Amy Liberty is recognized for a presentation.

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

Aye. Going to 10G, the adoption to renew property, casualty, liability, and work compensation insurance policies. For fiscal year 26-27, do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Is there a second? Second.

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

Aye. We have one additional item which was not on our public agenda. This item is the approval of the Internal Auditor Employment Agreement with Vincent Iovina. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved. Is there a second? Second. Chief of Staff Chris Watt is recognized for staff presentation.

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

Aye. Thank you. Thank you. He's going to stay there. Oh, okay. City Manager Pete Lee recognized for his report.

So you're saying you have a procedure, though, that would essentially protect us if the new one was in place?

Thank you, sir. Item 13, Ocala Police Department. Deputy Chief Luke.

Chief, Deputy, Lou, go back one. Can you go back one slide? So, I just want to make sure I'm reading this, right? The Baker Acts are 364 compared to 640 year-to-date or 640 for the whole year? That is. 640 for the whole year. Okay. But we're trending down is what you're saying? Okay.

Right? Great work. Yep. See the numbers going in the right direction.

Chief Clint Wellborn, recognized for his report. Ocala Fire Rescue.

Chief, I have one question. Was OPD reporting on the opioid overdose deaths, or was that a report that you would normally give? We had both given it in the past. Are we still seeing the trend in the right direction?

Okay. If you could get me the report, I'd like to see it. Sure. Thanks. All right.

Thank you, sir. City Attorney, your report, sir. Okay. So we do have some public comments. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO KEEP THEM TO THREE MINUTES. I'M GOING TO START OUT WITH RYAN PANZAGRAFF. IF I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME WRONG, CORRECT ME WHEN YOU GET UP THERE, SIR.

GIVE ME YOUR ADDRESS, SIR. SAY IT AGAIN. ADDRESS, PLEASE.

I do believe part of it was because it was an ongoing investigation, for one.

I know. I personally heard about your call today. I would have called you back.

Well, I would have definitely got back with you. I would have got back with you. I heard about your phone call today, literally at 2 o'clock.

I can't speak for the others, but I'm answering. You were asking me why I didn't call you back. I heard about it at 2 o'clock today. I planned on calling you back.

I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS WHEN THE MEETING IS OVER IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.

Well, let me say this. I don't know about the calls, but I can say this. We have just got the findings a few moments ago. I got it. So we know what we didn't know. There was an ongoing investigation. Sure. All right. So I can't answer why somebody didn't call you back.

I didn't... I'm going to say this and I'm going to stop. How many times did you call back and talk to the secretary?

I don't know what happened and what didn't happen.

I understand. You've given me your answers, and I can't answer that. I was asking him. I was trying to. What I'm saying to you right now, sir, I understand your flight. The issue that we have right now is that We now have the information to give you. Okay. Okay. Not just to give you, to give everybody. Okay. So, please, the information will come out.

I got what you're saying, but I can't answer what I don't know. Well, I understand, but I mean, if I'm not mistaken, was it not you that. It is time now. Was I not mistaken that you were the one. It's time now for me to move forward, sir. Really? We could stand here all night and I can't answer the question for you.

Well, I can't let you stand here all night trying to beat me inside the head. So now I'm saying to you is I need to move forward, sir. I do appreciate you coming. Thank you. Yes, sir. We do appreciate you coming, sir.

Ms. Sonya Ritchie. Did I say that right?

Can you speak into the mic, Sonia? Yes. Thank you.

Come on. Put five minutes on the clock. Put five minutes on the clock. Pete, I don't know, do you know anything about what Ms. Thomas is about to talk about?

And I just, it's nothing we can do from right here. It has to come from you and your staff. So, you know, I want to hear, but... I just need one of your people. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Okay, Ms. Thomas. You've got five minutes.

Thank you. Okay. Item 17 is notices about different activities that we have going on with the city. So make sure that you read those. All right. So comments. And we will start with Mr. Manfield.

Mr. Hilty. Just curious about the complaint by Ryan. 29 times he says he's called. Isn't there some record of that? I understand you have your record. I'm not asking you. I'm asking the city staff about is there a record of the voicemails? Is there a record of if you spoke to an individual, did they leave a message or email to whoever you were calling?

I don't want him. I want to hear from the city as to why the citizen isn't getting responded to.

I'm talking to Chris. So you think that he was sufficiently answered. That's all I'm after. Without question. Okay. Without question. All right.

Mayor. All right. Well, thank you for coming out today. And, um, Kibbe, I appreciate it. And, you know, we've the, the, um, I've had several conversations with the attorney general and the, uh, the testing for the synthetic Kratom is there's one, there's one place that does it. I think it's DAX. And they have to come up with some more testing facilities to be able to put a major focus on the synthetic kratom, which I do agree is causing a lot of issues in the community. And there needs to be a focus on that. And I'm going to be working on that to be able to get that done. So I appreciate the t

Thank you. Okay, so last week, a few of us went to THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE, AND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES HAVE THE MAYORS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CITY COUNCIL, ULTIMATES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, FROM VARIOUS CITIES THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. AND WE COME TOGETHER AND WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF MAJOR ISSUES, THE PROPERTY TAXES, HOW THE COUNCIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SHOULD OPERATE, AND THE DECORUM We talk about policies and procedures. We talk about just about anything that you can talk about. That's why places like that to go and sit down and talk to your peers from two people, and I'