City Council - Regular Meeting

Maybe there are. I'm gonna grab them.

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

Would you join me in prayer this afternoon? Gracious God, we are thankful for all that you have provided, all that you continue to provide. We ask that you continue to give us wisdom, understanding, and strength to lead in your direction, your community. We ask all of these things in your son's name. Amen.

Amen.

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.

Mr. Marciano.

Here.

Mr. Musley.

Here.

Ms. Dreyer. Here. Mr. Hilty.

Here.

Mr. Mansfield. Here. Mr. Bethea.

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.

THE AUGUST 18TH, 2026 CITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS PUBLICLY NOTICED ON JULY 7, 2026. AS A REMINDER, PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES UNLESS AUTHORIZED TO STAND BEYOND THAT TIME BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT OR MAJORITY OF COUNCIL. ALL MATERIALS FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MUST BE GIVEN TO THE ATTENDING STAFF OF DISTRIBUTION Prior to speaking at the podium, please state your name and address for the record. And to maintain order, speakers must be recognized by the council president. Please silence your cell phones and all electronic devices for the duration of this meeting. Thank you.

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 and selflessness. Beyond her work as the founder and CEO of Xenia Wealth Management, Sharice pays it forward. She founded the Grilled Cheese Foundation, a nonprofit that offers scholarship. to help young students sixth grade go to college, discover their passions, and pursue education with purpose. Charisse mobilized some of the country's most acclaimed leadership speakers, John Maxwell, John Gordon, Ryan Leake, and helped lead the charge to bring them to Ocala for a high-level leadership conference. Charisse is a financial planner and founder of CEO of Zinnia Wealth Management. Additionally, she is a radio host for the popular Retirement Coffee Talk podcast. a university of florida graduate sharice is a mother of two and loves to travel with her family in the free time sharice serves on the board of directors for the ocala metro chamber and economic partnership and in 2025 was the organization's chairman of the board and um i mean this is just a short list because what i see is when you're out in the community um you're kind of even behind the scenes doing some amazing work and i know your heart and you want to make a great difference in this community, and Ocala is better because of you. So congratulations on your Citizen of the Month Award.

Okay, I didn't know I was going to say anything, but I'm honored, and I'm just incredibly honored, and I didn't know you were going to do all of that. So this is the first time I've seen this, and I'm here to serve the community and do all I can, and I believe that everyone who steps up and does something for someone, your neighbor, the community, a foundation, a board, you're just adding so much value. So get on board if you're not.

Awesome.

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.

Three, two, one. And one more. Three, two, one. Thank you.

Thank you.

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, health in Ocala Metro, arts initiatives have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety in patients recovering from addiction by 62%, improving feelings of belonging in veterans by 56%, and reducing nervousness by 50% among school-aged children. Whereas participation in arts promotes mental wellness, reduces depression, social isolation, and loneliness, while providing accessible opportunities for healing, self-expression, and personal growth for over 19,000 residents throughout Ocala Marion County, OF ALL AGENTS AND BACKGROUNDS, WHEREAS HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS, VETERAN PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS OCALA-MARIN COUNTY INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZE, UTILIZE ARTS-BASED APPROACHES TO ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. Whereas Arts and Health Day within Ocala-Marion County provides an opportunity to recognize the contribution of artists, healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and community leaders who advance the use of arts as a modality for mental health and healing. Now, therefore, I, Ben Marciano, by the virtue of authority vested in me as the mayor of the city of Ocala, Florida, do hereby declare August 18th, 2026 to be Arts Health Day in Ocala, Florida. In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Ocala, Florida to be affixed this 18 day. So congratulations and thank you for this work.

Thank you very much. We're absolutely honored. We are a nonprofit organization that, as you heard, support mental and physical health through the arts. But one of the more interesting things that we do, in addition to making art with the public, we also keep data on all our arts interactions to prove that art is actually good for you. We work with veterans, children in the foster system, those with dementia and their caregivers and a lot more. And the statistics that Mayor Marciono cited are our own statistics from right here in Marion County. So thank you.

Thank you so much for the information.

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.

Fire equipment operator, paramedic three, Jerry Tafoya, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, began his career with Ocala Fire Rescue in August 2001 as a certified firefighter paramedic. He began his training and worked in South Florida fire service before moving to Ocala. F.E.O. Tafoya is currently assigned to Engine 4 as well as being a part of the aircraft rescue firefighting team at the airport. He also is a founding member of the Ocala Fire Rescue SWAT Medic Team, having a hand in the team's development. For 25 years of service, please join me in congratulating Jerry Tafoya. Thank you very much.

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.

Thank you.

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

Joe Doughton began his career with the city of Ocala on July 31st, 2001 as a tree crew equipment operator. On June 21st, 2004, he joined Ocala Electric Utility as a line crew groundman. Through his hard work and dedication, Joe was promoted to line truck operator on September 25th, 2006. He has continued to advance throughout his career and currently serves as a line truck operator three, a position he has held since February 19th, 2019. Outside of his daily responsibilities, Joe enjoys creating homemade sauces and cooking chicken wings for the City of Ocala's annual charity cook-off, King of the Wing. He has proudly participated in the event for the past nine years, combining his love of cooking with supporting a great community cause. When he's not at work, Joe enjoys cruising and camping with family and friends. He and his wife, Stephanie, have been married for 25 years. Together they have three children, daughter Emily, sons Dylan and Dustin, and they are the proud grandparents of two wonderful grandsons, Elijah and Leon. For 25 years of service, congratulations, Joe. We would have had a grill up here, but fire would have kicked us all out of here if we did.

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

Jody Taylor has been employed with the city of Ocala residential sanitation division for 30 years. He began as a residential sanitation worker one before being promoted to an assistant crew leader. Jody then was promoted to clam shell operator and now is a sanitation three worker and has been in his position for the past 27 years. He's expanded his role to learn additional trucks and responsibilities. Jody's very reliable and dependable employee WHO CAN BE COUNTED ON TO DO WHATEVER IS ASKED OF HIM. MANY TIMES HE HAS PROVEN HIS VALUE AS AN OPERATOR WHILE DOING STORM CLEANUP AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE CITY OF OCALA COMPLETE COLLECTION OF POST-HURRICANE ARMA STORM DEBRIS WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS. NOT ONLY IS JODY A PRODUCTIVE WORKER, BUT HE HAS ALSO SHOWN THE ABILITY TO SAFELY REMOVE DEBRIS FROM SITUATIONS WHERE IT DOESN'T LOOK POSSIBLE. but he's always found a way to accomplish the task. Jody has lived in Ocala for 40 years and has been married to Margaret for 37. Together, they have three daughters, Angela, Stephanie, and Jody, and six adorable grandchildren. We're happy that Jody is a part of the city of Ocala and even more specifically, a part of Residential Sanitation Division. Jody's been proud to make a career with the city of Ocala and plans to continue for many years. Thank you, Jody, for 30 years of service. Thank you, Jody. Thank you.

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

All right. Shortly after graduating from Forest High School, Greg joined the United States Army where he honorably served both active and reserve duty until 1998. Major Martin was hired at the Ocala Police Department in August 1996 after he earned a degree in criminal justice with a dual certificate in corrections and law enforcement. He served in many roles at OPD, including patrol officer, property crimes detective, major crimes detective, drug agent, and as a member of the SWAT team for 15 years. Greg was promoted through the ranks to sergeant in 2006, lieutenant in 2015, captain in 2017, and the major in January of 2021. He is currently the commander of the Special Operations Bureau. Greg is married to his best friend, Charlie, and they have two children, Riley and Austin. Riley's in our third year of medical school, so I guess you'll be retiring a little after that. Get on the payroll as Austin and Austin is a firefighter paramedic with Marion County Fire Rescue for 30 years of service. Thank you, Greg.

You know, it's funny looking at Jerry and Pat and those guys in the back because I was there when we started the medic unit for the SWAT team. But, you know, 20 didn't bother me, 25 didn't bother me, but I woke up this morning and 30 is kind of weird. But I tell you, the most amazing part is not that I've accomplished 30 years of doing this, but I've done it with my best friend by my side for 30 years, and it's not easy. to do that in our profession. It's kind of unheard of. Um, so I thank her every day for putting up with me cause I'm a, I'm a mess for sure. A hundred percent. And then my son, um, you know, some of the biggest flexes in life are our kids. I couldn't be more proud of my, my son Austin, who's doing well at Marion County and my daughter. So, um, but you know, in the grand scheme of things, uh, I've been incredibly blessed. Uh, we contrary to what some people believe, we live in a phenomenal community. I've been around the world, uh, Well, I wouldn't say around the world. I have been, unfortunately, some places. But I've been around a lot of places where cities and counties don't get it right. I've worked for tremendous people. I've had tremendous councilmen and councilwomen. I've had tremendous city managers and mayors. And they've all been incredibly supportive of us our entire career. And when you do that, you wake up every day and you just feel like you're just going to work and it's just another day. It doesn't feel like 30 years for me. So the citizens of Ocala have been fantastic. And I thank all of you for supporting us for my 30-year career. Mr. Mayor, thank you so much. Pete, thank you so much. And thank you to my family. So coffee brews at 7 tomorrow.

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.

Good afternoon, Council. Chris Watts, Chief of Staff. THIS AGENDA ITEM SUPPORTS THE COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF BEING FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE. ON MARCH 24TH OF THIS YEAR, THE PARTIES BEGAN NEGOTIATING THE TERMS OF A THREE-YEAR COLLECTIVE BARGAIN AGREEMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 1 OF 26 AND RUN THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2029. ON JULY 9TH, THE PARTIES REACHED A TENATIVE AGREEMENT. THE IAFF HELD A RATIFICATION VOTE ON AUGUST 12TH TO THE 14TH, AND THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WAS APPROVED BY THE UNION AT A VOTE OF 94 AND 9 AGAINST. IF APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE INCREMENTAL COST OF THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IS $8.7 MILLION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL, AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

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

Mr. Musley.

Aye.

Mr. Mansfield.

Aye.

Ms. Dreyer. Aye. Mr. Hilty. Aye. Mr. Bethea.

Aye. Thank you.

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?

Sounds like it to me.

Me too. Finance Director Priyanka. Peter Brill is recognized for the staff presentation.

Good afternoon, Council. Peter Brill, Director of Finance. This agenda item meets Council's strategic goal, quality of place. Council is considering the removal of the annual business tax receipt, which is also known as BTR. The BTR has been allocated as a pledge revenue to outstanding debt for resolutions 2002-80 and 2015-57. TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POTENTIAL REMOVAL OF THE BTR AS A PLEDGED REVENUE, FINANCE HAS SECURED APPROVAL FROM THE DEBT HOLDER, RAYMOND JAMES BANK, AND THIS RESOLUTION IS THE LAST FINANCIAL PIECE NEEDED. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. I'M HERE TO ASSIST WITH QUESTIONS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC?

COUNCIL? CALL THE ROLL.

MS. DREYER? AYE. MR. MANSFIELD?

AYE.

MR. MUDSLEY?

AYE.

MR. HILTON?

AYE.

Mr. Bethea.

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.

Good afternoon, chairperson, commissioners, and guests. It is my pleasure to recognize an outstanding public servant and leader in the field of risk management. On behalf of Preferred Governmental Insurance Trust and Public Risk Underwriters, we are honored to present the Risk Management of the Year Award to Mr. Richard Dennis, the Risk Manager of your great city, City of Ocala. Risk management is about protecting people, safeguarding public resources, and helping organizations operate safely and effectively. Richard has exemplified those principles through his leadership, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. His dedication to promoting safety, managing risk proactively, and supporting the city of Ocala has made a meaningful difference within your organization and serves as a model to all of our members within Preferred Governmental Risk Insurance Trust. Richard, thank you for your hard work. Your partnership, your service, congratulations on a well-deserved recognition from preferred governmental risk trust insurance.

Thank you very much.

Here, we'll get you guys first, and then we'll bring everybody up.

So can you center on the X?

bring his department up

Here we go. Three, two, one. ITEM 5B IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2026 FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION RECAP AND 2027 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW BY

Susky that's right. You got it.

Did I do it?

You did you did? advocacy partners absolutely Thank you guys for having me here today. I really appreciate it and I just have to say that it is a Such a heartwarming experience to come to your city council meetings and see the presentation of the service awards and all of the things that you guys do at the very beginning. It just really puts a pep in my step and makes me happy. 30 and 25, to have that many people who have served this community for that long time and time again is so incredible. And it says a lot about your leadership and just a lot about this awesome community. I'm here to talk about the legislative session, and along those same lines, today is primary election day in Florida. I see lots of I voted stickers in the room, but if you haven't voted, you still have a couple more hours to get to the polls and help decide, determine who is going to lead our state in the next year or two. But I'm here to talk about the legislative session, and I have to start off again by thanking you guys for the opportunity to represent this amazing community in Tallahassee. Thank you for the access that you give us to your incredible work. professional staff. They are a huge help to Stephen and I and our entire firm in Tallahassee, but it's truly an honor to get to represent this beautiful community and also work alongside the incredible legislative delegation that you guys have representing you up in Tallahassee. So the session ended officially on March 13th. It doesn't seem like that long ago, but it feels like a lifetime. And rather than kind of going out with a bang again this year, it went out with a bit of a whimper. And for the second year in a row without a completed state budget, which is the one thing constitutionally that the legislature is tasked with doing every year. So despite supermajorities of Republicans in both chambers of the legislature, once again this year there were some disagreements on priorities and spending that ended up causing the session to continue or the multiple sessions that I'm going to discuss here in a little bit. During the regular session, there were almost 1,900 bills filed in Tallahassee. 237 of those 1,900 actually passed. And since the session ended, the governor has acted on every single one of them. He signed most of them and vetoed eight. One of them is gonna be important and of interest to you guys, and I know you're already aware, but some of the notable things that passed this year were a data centers bill that preserves some local control over siting and development decisions. I know the county had some workshops going on to discuss those that have been postponed, but certainly a big issue that lots of local communities are engaged in heavily. Legislation was passed this year that increased the caps on sovereign immunity claims against local governments. That is one of the bills that Governor DeSantis vetoed this year because of the increased costs that it would have brought to local governments. Another bill that passed was a piece of legislation giving additional authority regarding municipal utility service extensions an agriculture package that connects farmers in Florida with families and food banks legislation requiring verification of citizenship before folks can vote in Florida, and then a broad school safety package also passed. And sometimes in Tallahassee, what doesn't pass is even more important than what does pass. And this year, once again, Senate President All-Britain's Rural Renaissance Bill did not pass. The legislature did not successfully pass an AI Bill of Rights. and a couple of other things but there were term limits for county commissioners did not pass this year an effort to repeal local government's authority to levy local business taxes and legislation that would have allowed large-scale developments in florida to bypass some of the comprehensive plan provisions that exist for local governments in Florida. So once the regular session ended, we thought that we'd take a break for a couple of weeks and then come back and do the budget. But the governor had other plans for us and called the legislature back for a special session on an AI Bill of Rights. medical freedom proposal and congressional redistricting the legislature ultimately decided not to take up the first two but pass the congressional maps that the governor proposed and then we were able to get on to the budget and complete that work and So after several weeks of negotiation, the legislature eventually approved a $114 billion state budget, which was a billion dollars under last year's budget and roughly $3 billion less than what Governor DeSantis proposed. It includes $14 billion in reserves, $150 million in debt reduction, raises for correctional officers, state attorneys, public defenders, investments in natural resources and environmental restoration, funding for affordable housing initiatives, cybersecurity grants, and an overall increase in education spending statewide. Importantly to this community, that budget also included $500,000 for the city's exfiltration project which has been ongoing for several years and we were very fortunate that the governor approved that that line item this year so the budget passed on May 29th and the governor signed the budget on June 29th a month later and a day before the final day of the fiscal year he vetoed 1.7 billion dollars out of the budget 800 that 800 million of which were local projects like the city of Ocala's and which was less more than last year but less than he had done in the past so we're all grateful for that And just when everybody thought that we could head home for the summer, the governor brought us back for a third special session, and this one was on property tax reform. I know you guys are incredibly well-versed in what is going on with that, but I will give a little bit of an overview. So the House of Representatives had undergone a pretty significant process workshops around the state and a lot of conversations they came up with some proposals and ultimately the Senate never took those up during the regular session so the governor felt that it was important to call everyone back to have a special session on property tax reform And in short, the proposal that passed would increase the homestead exemption for non-school taxes for Florida residents to $150,000 in 2027, and that would go up to $250,000 in 2028. It also limits the increase on assessed value for non-homesteaded property in the state and restricts local governments' ability to use property tax revenues for nonessential items in the budget. This proposal, as you know very well, will require a 60% plus one approval in the November ballot. We've already seen some court challenges that have resulted in, on Thursday, a rewrite of the ballot language, the summary and the language itself. And that seems to be what will go on the ballot in November. And if it does pass, the constitutional amendment will take effect on January 1st of next year, 2027. So coming up, the legislature will need to codify that and as well as codify a process because the language is says that local governments can use a plan to fully eliminate property taxes and in a manner that is prescribed by the legislature. Um, so there are significant implications and lots of conversations going on in local communities and certainly here in the city of Ocala, um, where you guys are growing continually. Um, and I know that there are a lot of demands on the, the city's budget, et cetera. So it'll be interesting to see what happens with that in the next couple of months. But now that all of the sessions are behind us, legislators have gone back to their communities to spend time with their families this summer. campaign a lot of elections are going to be decided today and so it will be interesting but once we get through the november election the legislature will come back to tallahassee in november the week of november 17th to formally organize for the 2027 session install our new leaders and get the committee process underway And then in January, we will welcome a new governor to the state of Florida who will be inaugurated in January. But in the meantime, we anticipate that in the legislature, Senator Jim Boyd, who is from Bradenton, will very likely become our next Senate president. And then Representative Sam Garrison from Clay County, who is an attorney and has done some work for local governments in the past, will very likely become our next Speaker of the House. We'll also have some new leadership in state agencies. um and you know a few surprises will likely be on deck and we're going to be interested to see what everyone's agendas for the 2027 session will be though we don't know exactly what that is we know that it is going to be very interesting and never a dull moment in tallahassee so we will be ready for that but um Our firm is incredibly grateful to get to represent the city of Ocala. And we will be back in the coming months to have a meeting with your senior staff and to meet with each of you individually as your staff works to develop your legislative agenda for next session. So we'll see you again soon. But anyway, we're just incredibly grateful and Grateful that the session is over, grateful to be here, and thank you very much for your time.

Thank you. Bless you.

Okay.

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?

Council President, I make a motion to approve the consent agenda.

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

Ms. Dreyer? Aye. Mr. Mosley?

Aye.

Ms. Hilty? Aye. Mr. Mansfield?

Aye.

Mr. Bethea?

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?

I'll introduce.

Clerk will read the ordinance by title.

IN ORDINANCE, AMENDING THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, COMPRESS THE PLAN FUTURE LAND USE MAP SERIES AS REQUIRED IN SECTION 163.3161 THROUGH IT INCLUDING SECTION 163.3248 FLORIDA STATUTES DETAILING THE FUTURE LAND USE CHANGE CASE NUMBER LUC26-0002 AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DESIGNATION FROM MEDIUM INTENSITY SPECIAL DISTRICT TO PUBLIC FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE 1700 BLOCK OF NORTHWEST MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AVENUE. parcels 25502-000-00, 25502-002-00, and 25491-001-00, approximately 11.20 acres, providing direction to staff, repealing inconsistent in or conflicting provisions, providing for severability of ordinance provisions, providing for modifications arising from consideration at a public hearing, providing direction to the codifier, and providing for an effective date.

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.

ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF OCALA FLORIDA CHANGING THE ZONING M2 MEDIUM INDUSTRIAL AND M3 HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO GU GOVERNMENTAL USE FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE 1700 BLOCK NORTHWEST MARTHA LUTHER KING JR. AVENUE PARCELS 25502-000-00 25502-002-00 AND 24591-000-00 APPROXIMATELY 11.20 ACRES Case number ZON26-0007, providing direction to staff repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions, providing for salvability of ordinance provisions, providing for modifications arising from consideration of public hearing, providing direction to the codifier, and providing for an effective date.

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.

An ordinance amending the zoning map of the city of Ocala, Florida, changing the zoning from M1 Light Industrial and B4 General Business to M1 Light Industrial for certain property located at 314 and 28 Northwest 14th Street and 1332 Northwest Magnolia Terrace, parcel 2572-018-001, 2572-017-004, and 2572-017-005, approximately 5.93 acres, case number ZON 25-0008, providing direction to staff repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions, providing for severability of ordinance provisions, providing for modifications arising from consideration at a public hearing, providing direction to the codifier, and providing for an effective date.

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?

An ordinance amending the zoning map of the city of Ocala, Florida, changing the zoning from GU governmental use to B1 neighborhood business for certain property located at 1501, Northwest 14th Street, parcel 25571-000-00, approximately 3.23 acres, case number ZON26-0006, providing direction to staff repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions, providing for severability of ordinance provisions, providing for modifications arising from consideration at a public hearing, providing direction to the codifier, and providing for an effective date.

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

I'll introduce.

The clerk will read the ordinance.

An ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Ocala, Florida, changing the zoning from M1 light industrial to M2 medium industrial for a portion, 3.05 acres, of certain property located in the 1700 block of Northeast 18th Place, parcel 2649-004-001, approximately 4.95 acres. Case number ZON26-0010. providing direction to staff repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions, providing for savability of ordinance provisions, providing for modifications arising from consideration at a public hearing, providing direction to the codifier, and providing for an effective date.

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

I'll introduce.

Clerk will read the ordinance.

An ordinance amending the City of Ocala, Florida Conference of Planned Future Land Use Map Series as required in Section 163.3161, through and including Section 163.3248, Florida Statutes, detailing the future land use change case number LUC26-0005, amending the future land use map designation from neighborhood to public for property located in the 700 block of Northwest 14th Street, Parcel 25785-000-00, approximately 0.52 acres. Providing direction to staff, repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions, providing for severability of ordinance provisions, providing for modifications arising from consideration of the public hearing, providing direction to the codifier, and providing for an effective date.

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.

An ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Ocala, Florida, changing the zoning from R2 two-family residential to GU governmental use for certain property located in the 700 and 800 blocks of Northwest 14th Street and the 1400 block of Northwest 17th Place. Parcels 25768-000-00, 25775-000-00. 25784-000-00 and 25785-000-00. Approximately 9.94 acres. Case number ZON26-0012. Providing direction to staff repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions. Providing for salvability of ordinance provisions. Providing for modifications arising from consideration at a public hearing. Providing direction to the codifier and providing for an effective date.

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.

Second.

Chief Planning Official Indira Madravaran.

Good afternoon. For the record, Indira Madravaran with the Growth Management Department. The applicant and property owner Magnolia Extension LLC is requesting to abrogate proportions of a 30-foot wide right-of-way generally associated with Northwest 13th Street and Northwest First Avenue of the 1300 block of North Magnolia Avenue. The agent for this request is Kendall Drake of Drake Construction Services. The properties impacted by the Northwest, uh, 13th street aggregation include different ownership, uh, which are the Magnolia extension LLC, as well as the property to the south Cincinnati capital partners, five to one LLC. The portion of Northwest first Avenue being aggregated is internal to the Magnolia extensions LLC site, and will only impact that property. Both rights-of-way contain existing 8-inch gravity sewer lines, and Northwest 13th Street also includes a street light, but are otherwise undeveloped. A utility easement has already been reserved in favor of the City of Ocala upon abrogated portions of the rights-of-way. The applicant has indicated the intent to utilize the abrogated area. through further development of the site staff finds that the requested abrogation will not negatively impact any adjacent properties other than city utilities no comments or objections were received by any other utility providers staff recommends approval subject to the following condition that the applicant will assume responsibility for the maintenance of of the 8-inch gravity sewer lines upon the north half of the abrogation of Northwest 13th Street and upon the abrogation of Northwest First Avenue and for the charges related to convert the streetlight on Northwest 13th Street to a yard light subject to the applicable rates charged by OEU. Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at their P&Z hearing in July. I'm happy to answer any questions.

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

Ms. Dreyer? Aye. Mr. Musley?

Aye.

Mr. Hilty. Aye. Mr. Mansfield. Aye. Mr. Bethea.

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

And dear Madge of Aaron, again for the record. The applicant, um, doing business as via Panini is requesting a new alcoholic beverage location permit to sell beer and wine for on-premise consumption via Panini is proposed restaurant located at seven 25 East silver Springs Boulevard with a proposed 20 seats and two employees. Um, comments were requested from the growth management department, police and fire. No objections were received. There have been three calls for service at this location during the past two years. There is one church and no schools or daycares located within the 500-foot radius. Staff recommends approval, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Any questions or comments from the public? Councilmembers?

Yeah, this is the former Peter Dinkles site, right? Thank you.

It'll be nice to see it activated as a restaurant again.

Yeah. Call the roll.

Actually, I think we need a motion. I'm going to make a motion to approve that.

I'll second that. Very good.

Okay. Ms. Dreyer? Aye. Mr. Musley?

Aye.

Mr. Hilty? Aye. Mr. Mansfield? Aye. Mr. Bethea?

Aye. Keep Mr. Ray Gus.

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?

In ordinance of the City of Ocala, Florida, amending Chapter 106, Article 4, Affordable Housing Code of Ordinances, amending Section 106-105 by revising criteria pertaining to affordable housing loan programs, including length of terms, applicability, administrative process, and interest rates, providing direction to staff, repealing inconsistent and or conflicting provisions, providing for SEVERABILITY OF ORDINANCE PROVISIONS, PROVIDING FOR MODIFICATIONS ARISING FROM CONSIDERATION AT A PUBLIC HEARING, PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE CAUTIFY, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

PLANNING DIRECTOR AUBREY HILL IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS PRESENTATION.

Good afternoon, Aubrey Hale, Planning Director for the record. So this code amendment addresses OCALA's strategic goals of quality of place and operational excellence by amending Chapter 106, Section 105 of the Housing Incentive Fund. Chapter 106 addresses some planning and housing in general for the city of Ocala, but it also does provide for the affordable housing incentive fund, which is used to offset permit and impact fees for dwelling units that qualify under the city's definition of affordable housing. Additionally, there's a code reference in this section to a loan program that has limited or very restrictive criteria. uh... as we know there are federal and state housing programs uh... that help to address affordable housing and access to uh... and greater access to uh... affordable housing within communities uh... bar the city current code reflects uh... just kind of a short-term loan project program currently at zero percent interest This does provide for a faster return to the Housing Incentive Fund. However, it does have some limitations when working with federal and state programs. So oftentimes those require longer financing and affordability provisions. as part of those federal and state programs so this code amendment addresses some and provides some greater flexibility and guidance to the loan programs and and really what it does is two primary things it first establishes a short-term loan program and those are things are those are loans that are seen as a maximum of 10 years or mature 10 years or less from the effective date of the loan and have a maximum interest rate that ranges from 0% to half of the U.S. prime interest rate. Additionally, there's another one that it establishes a long-term loan program, which matures more than 10 years from the loan effective date and does not exceed a 30-year max period for that loan. These loans for the long-term program would only be available to assist with federal, state, and local affordable housing programs. They would not be used for the code is worded in a way to not allow for sole source funding out of the long-term loan program. It's more for the assistance of those federal and state and other local initiatives. Again, the interest rate would be slightly higher for these long-term loans because it would be allowed, you know, since they are longer term, we wouldn't see as much funds come back into the affordable housing incentive fund. So it ranges from half the U.S. prime interest rate up to the maximum of the U.S. prime interest rate. Lastly, what this code amendment will do is it does provide some administrative authority to the city manager or their designee to prepare the final signatures and approvals for the loan documents as compliant with the proposed code. So in closing, the landscape of affordable housing is continuously evolving. And due to these changes in federal and state and other local housing programs, this code amendment will provide some greater flexibility and clarity in how those city loan programs can operate. and function with those other housing initiatives. Staff does recommend approval and is available for any questions.

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

Mr. Holti? Aye. Mr. Mansfield? Aye. Mr. Musley? Aye. Ms. Dreyer? Aye. Mr. Bethea?

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?

So moved.

Is there a second?

Second.

Airport Director Matthew Grove is recognized for presentation.

Good afternoon, Matthew Gray, Airport Director. This agenda item meets Council's strategic goals of economic hub and quality of place. I'm pleased to present to you, for your approval, a proposed agreement with JLC Airshow Management for the production and management of the Wings Over Ocala Airshow at the Ocala International Airport. This is a new event for Ocala with the inaugural show scheduled for April 30th through May 2nd, 2027, followed by spring events in 2028 and 2029. JLC Airshow Management is an experienced professional airshow producer, having completed several successful airshows and airports around the Southeast United States. Under this agreement, JLC takes responsibility for producing and managing essentially all aspects of the event. Performers, ticketing, marketing, sponsorships, concessions, vendors, sanitation, fencing, insurance, and operations. ultimately event operations. JLC is also responsible for all event parking, both on-site and off-site, shuttles, traffic management, all at its own expense. The city's role is primarily to provide the airport venue and coordinate public safety and emergency services that might be necessary to safely conduct the event. That includes specialized airport rescue firefighting, EMS teams, law enforcement, regular fire services, and traffic control along Southwest 60th Avenue. There will be a cost to the city for those services. The police estimate approximately $23,000 and Ocala Fire approximately $15,000 for a current total of about $38,000. These costs will be paid for through the airport fund. There's also a 100,000 annual sponsorship contemplated from the Marion County Tourist Development Council. That funding is subject to TDC approval and availability, and it's intended to support the production and operation of the event. Also in the agreement contains a revenue sharing provision. So JLC will collect all event revenues. AND PAY THE EVENTS REASONABLE, NECESSARY, AND DOCUMENTED PRODUCTION EXPENSES. FOR THE FIRST 300,000 OF THEIR NET REVENUE, JLC WILL RETAIN 100% OF THAT. for net revenue exceeding three hundred thousand jail jlc receives seventy percent and then the airport will receive the other thirty percent so um there there is a mechanism to recover some of our costs built into the agreement um there's other protections in the agreement either party can cancel terminate with 60 days written notice the city has additional termination rights if jlc defaults for whatever reason or if there's a significant change in the management that would alter or jeopardize the event. From the airport's perspective, from my perspective, it's an opportunity to show off Ocala. We have a great facility out there. We could see upwards of around 45,000 people show up for the event. And I think where we are right now with the airport, it's the perfect time to show it off. WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE CITY AND AT THE AIRPORT. SO THOSE VISITORS, THEY GENERATE HOTEL STAYS, RESTAURANT ACTIVITY, FUEL SALES, AND QUITE A BIT OF OTHER SPENDING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. STAFF FROM THE MARION COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ARE HERE. THEY CAN ADDRESS ANY ECONOMIC RELATED SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE EVENT. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO LEGAL REVIEW. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

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

I have some comments.

Make a comment.

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 that they've got that all tidied up, you might say, it's going to be a great event. So I'm excited about it. They've done a good job. Matt's done a good job. It's just been a lot of work together. So I'm excited to finally see. something comes in front of us.

Can I just add something as a point of reference? Because I see a lot of new faces in the crowd today. And I know sometimes when we incentivize things, it gets kind of confusing as to where the money comes from. So this money is not taxpayer dollars. The airport makes money, like a Macy's would if you went to Macy's. And the money that this airport makes is what is paying for law enforcement and fire to be there. So this is not taxpayer revenue. It's coming right from the airport revenue. to say that for the record.

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

Corey. It's huge. Yeah, I thought it would be good to hear it.

Good afternoon, or good evening. My name is Corey Locke. I work for the Ocala-Marion County Visitors Convention Bureau, 109 West Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, right here in downtown. So the estimated economic impact based on our calculations are about $4.5 million, and that's a total economic impact combining direct-induced and indirect economic impact. So that's our estimation based on that's a $25,000 attendee estimate. We anticipate it to be a little bit higher than that, but we're being conservative. Those numbers sound really good to me.

I'm sure our local businesses will appreciate that.

Absolutely. Absolutely.

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.

Absolutely. That's the intention. That's the plan, and this gentleman has a lot of experience running these shows all across the country. He's been doing it for a number of years, so he knows what he's doing. And we started initial contact in 2022, so it's been almost four years that we've been trying to work on this. As Councilmember Mansfield mentioned, we've been trying to get the Blue Angels. That was the initial push, and so we weren't able to get it in the first two years of this attempt, and so this year we were able to get it secured by the federal government, and it was established for Ocala for May of 27, and we're hoping to get something for the future of that too.

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

Mr. Mansfield?

Aye.

Mr. Musley? Aye. Ms. Dreyer? Aye. Mr. Hilty? Aye. Mr. Bethea?

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.

Thank you again. Matthew Groh, Airport Director. This agenda item meets Council's strategic goals of operational excellence and quality of place. This item is to accept a Federal Aviation Administration grant for the construction phase of the Runway 36 Safety Area Grading Project. The total construction cost is $427,542. The FAA will provide about 95% of that. The remainder, the airport share is about $21,000 or 5% of the total cost. The project is consistent with the airport master plan supported by the airport advisory board. And then once the FAA grant is executed, we have the hard copy in hand, we're going to pursue some additional funding to further offset the airport expense through FDOT SO YOU CAN EXPECT US TO BRING THIS BACK AGAIN ONCE WE GET THAT ADDITIONAL GRANT MONEY FOR THE PROJECT. THE FAA SYSTEM OF THEIR GRANT DISBURSEMENT IS A LITTLE CONFUSING AT TIMES, SO THEY SENT OUT A COUPLE GRANTS. ONE WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, ONE WAS NOT, BUT THEY WERE BOTH SIGNED AT THAT TIME ON AUGUST 3RD. AGENDA ITEM AT THIS TIME COVERS THAT SIGNATURE. WILL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD ABOUT THAT.

NOTHING OTHER THAN YOU SPOKE TO THEM ONCE YOU LEARNED THAT WE SIGNED IT PREMATURELY AND ADVISED THEM THAT NO DECISION WAS FINAL UNTIL THE BOARD OR COUNCIL TOOK ACTION TONIGHT.

THANK YOU.

STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

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

Mr. Hilty. Aye. Mr. Mansfield.

Aye.

Mr. Musley. Aye. Mr. Bethea.

Aye. Thank you. Item 10C is the adoption of budget resolution 2026-156. Do I hear a motion to approve this item? So moved.

Second.

Mr. Groh, you're recognized once again. Stay up here, Matt.

You forgot.

This is the budget resolution for the previously mentioned grant agreement. The staff recommends approval.

Enough said.

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

Mr. Mansfield. Aye. Mr. Hilty. Aye. Mr. Musley. Aye. Mr. Bethea. Aye.

I think I was excited about the air show.

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.

Good evening. Amy Liberty, Special Services Division Head for Recreation and Parks. This agenda item supports the city's strategic goal of quality of place and operational excellence. The Recreation and Parks Department and the Cultural Arts Division are responsible for providing events, concerts, and performing arts programming featuring national, regional, and local artists across various community venues. The city does not have the in-house expertise or equipment required to provide concert production or sound services. On-RAM Productions has consistently delivered reliable, high-quality production services for all of this programming and events, and renewing this contract ensures continuity, maintains event quality, and allows staff to stay focused on planning and delivering programs without technical concerns. This is the second, the Second Amendment represents the final, second year, two-year agreement option available under the original contract, and staff recommends approval, and I welcome any questions.

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

Mr. Mansfield? Aye. Mr. Hilty? Aye. Mr. Musley? Aye. Mr. Bethea?

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.

Risk Manager Richard Dennis is recognized for staff presentation. Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council. I'm Richard Dennis, Risk Manager. This item supports the city's strategic goal of physical sustainable. Before you today is an annual renewal of our city property liability, auto, workers' compensation, crime, cyber, and other specialized coverages. The current policies expire on September 30th, 2026, and the recommended renewal will maintain continuity of coverage beginning October 1st, 2026. This is a favorable renewal that reduces the city's overall premiums, improves important property protections and maintains comprehensive coverage across the city's major risk exposures. The total projected premium is $2,566,079 representing an overall reduction of $76,889 or approximately 2.9% from the previous year's premium. Staff recommends approval and I'm available for any questions.

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

Mr. Mansfield?

Aye.

Mr. Hilty?

Aye.

Mr. Musley? Aye. Mr. Bethea?

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.

Good afternoon again, Council Chris Watt, Chief of Staff. This agenda item supports the Council's strategic goal of being fiscally sustainable. On August 11th, 2026, as you recall, the City Council interviewed three applicants for the open internal auditor position. At the conclusion of the interviews, Council voted to hire current assistant auditor Vincent Iovino for the internal auditor position. As a charter officer, Mr. Iovino, would work for council pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement agreed to by the parties. Councilman Musley and Mr. Arvino have agreed to the terms of the employment agreement before you. It's on the left-hand side of your binder, if anybody's looking for it. The employment agreement is subject to the council's formal appointment of Mr. Arvino as the internal auditor on the second council meeting in October per the city charter. Staff recommends approval. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

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

Mr. Musley.

Aye.

Mr. Mansfield. Aye. Mr. Hilty. Aye. Mr. Bethea.

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

THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A RED FOLDER IN FRONT OF EACH OF YOUR SPACES. THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED DURING CITY MANAGER SUPPORT AND THE COMMENT PORTION OF LAST WEEK. I'LL LEAVE THOSE FOR YOU TO READ, ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO. WE DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS THOSE. I CAN DISCUSS THEM WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY AT A LATER DATE. BUT THE EMAIL COMPROMISE INCIDENT, YOU MAY WANT TO DISCUSS. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT CHRIS BACK UP HERE. He was the editor at least of this document along with several staff members who I'd like to thank for their input, IT, procurement, the internal auditor, OPD, several others. I'm sure I left someone out. Risk. Risk. Yeah, Richard. Thank you, Richard. How can I forget the guy who just won risk manager of the year? So they all worked together. after I found out about this incident to put this together. And as you know, we got the bulk of the insurance money back, $250,000. We got the check today. So it was a $27,000 to $28,000 loss. the end of the day. Two employees no longer are with us as a result of this. I don't know, Chris, whether you have anything to add.

I don't have any, but if anybody, after you read the report, if you have any questions, obviously I'm happy to answer them at any time to the best that I can. Mistakes were made, and there has been several changes to procedure that have been put into place to prevent this from happening again. one thing I would like to add say though if the procedures that the city had in place at the time that we put in place in 2019 as most of you would recall this happened one other time this would not have happened the procedures would have worked if they had been followed and it would have stopped this from happening unfortunately an employee did not follow that the procedure that was in place and and that's what prompted this loss

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

Yeah. Mayor Marcelo, I hope so. It is a lot tougher now. There's a lot more eyes looking at it. The older I've gotten, the more sophisticated these guys get. And we try to stay ahead of it. We also, Richard and I, we try to find the best insurance that we can. So when something like this happens, from the best companies that we can, so when something like this happens, We're sure. I understand. $277,000 loss is a $27,799 loss because we purchased the right insurance. It's unfortunate that we have to spend taxpayer money on that, but as you can see, thank goodness that we do. Okay. Thank you.

The only other thing is, you know, we didn't release any of this information to the public until this report was generated and we gave it to you, and now we'll provide this report to the public.

Okay.

THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE?

YEAH, A COUPLE OF THINGS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHRIS. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE ON THE PARKING GARAGE. I THINK IT WILL SOFT OPEN PROBABLY THE FIRST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER. A LOT OF SMALL THINGS GIVEN THE TIME AND THE SIZE AND THE the type of work that we're doing, but we're down to the elevators and the signals for fire rescue and safety and the parking garage. And as soon as we're finished with those, we'll soft open. That probably will be, I hope it's prior to the next council meeting.

So that'd be good.

And on Friday, August 28th from 10 to 11 on the square, we're going to do the ribbon cutting for the trolley. So we hope to see you there. That's all I have, sir.

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

Good evening, Council. Luke Yandy, Ocala Police Department Deputy Chief. First slide is going to go over the three different types of crimes that we track, violent crimes, property crimes, and societal crimes. All three of them are down. If you wonder what societal crimes are, there are things like public drunkenness, noise complaints, vandalism, drugs, fraud, corruption, prostitution, white-collar crimes. So they are down this time this year from last year. The next is covering Baker and Marchman Acts. These two are also down in comparison to last year's numbers, which is a good thing.

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.

Okay. Total incidents so far just a little bit over 7,300. Okay. Proactive calls 40 almost 4700 which is slightly down from this time last year and dispatch calls are slightly up In our final slide Our 300 crimes for the two-week period is 7% more than this time last year, which was 280 Arrest her down by 7% 209 versus 225 Traffic is slightly down by 12%, although we just added a new member to the traffic unit. Effective, I think, in September. And crashes are down by 12%, which is also a good thing.

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

And that's it. Any questions? Any questions?

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

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

Good afternoon. Clint Wellborn, Fire Chief. For our two-week update, the unit responses are on your screen there. Rescue 4 leading the way with 194. Engine 4 on the engine side with 125. Total responded to vehicle accidents were 73 by OFR. Total across the city was 164. We had five fires, 29 community paramedicine and court calls. Calls for this period, 1,141 to bring the total for the year of 17,480. Just a few updates or highlights. This was an extrication. It happened on August the 8th. We responded to a vehicle, a single vehicle that collided with the tree in the early hours of the morning on August the 8th. One of the occupants was trauma alerted to the hospital while the other was transported for further evaluation. Also, we had some promotions this past week. Battalion Chief Brad Cortez, Captain Jagra McGuire, And then one more item. I do want to, on behalf of all of our and all of our personnel, thank you for your continued support and the passing of the successor collective bargaining agreement. That's all I have.

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?

I know we were down like 50%. We were seeing the trend down. Unfortunately, in the last, I want to say probably the last month or so, it started to trend back up. What do you think it is? You don't know yet? I don't know. It could be a combination of things, and I think that probably the combination of drugs also that's out there that we're starting to see on the streets again.

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.

HELLO. MY NAME IS RYAN PANZAGRAFF.

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

MY ADDRESS? YES, SIR. 5705 SOUTHWEST 108th STREET. I STARTED OUT WITH JUST WANTING TO KNOW SOME SIMPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SCAM SITUATION. AND OVER THE LAST OVER A WEEK, I HAVE CALLED THE CITY APPROXIMATELY 30 TIMES. I'VE BEEN HUNG UP ON 17 TIMES. MOST SPECIFICALLY BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. I CALLED SIX TIMES TODAY. I'VE LEFT A BUNCH OF VOICEMAILS. AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I'VE BEEN IGNORED. I've asked to talk to the city mayor. I've been ignored. I've asked to talk to the city manager. I've been ignored. I've asked to talk to the city attorney to find out if any of this was legal. I've been ignored and hung up on. And I just really had some questions, and I didn't know why I was treated that way. I mean, I don't know if you're willing to answer me, Mr. Lee, but I left a bunch of voicemails and I just was wondering why you didn't get back with me. Same question, though me and you, Mr. Mayor, have had very good interactions. I appreciate your time. I left voicemails for you and the city attorney. I left multiple messages for you and I was just wondering why I didn't get a call back from anybody.

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

I wasn't asking for details of the case. I was asking just general questions. I really do feel like my First Amendment rights were violated because if I can't even ask questions to my government about money being misspent and scams, and I can't even get a call back, I feel like that's a pretty easy violation of my First Amendment rights, and I just didn't understand why you guys would do that to me. I mean, are the three of you, anybody interested in answering that question?

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

I mean, I could show you. I have 30 times that I tried to call your office. Okay.

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.

Understandably, but I mean, this has been going on for over a week.

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.

You didn't get my message from last week? I left quite a few.

Okay.

Would you like proof of that?

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.

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN PRIVATE. I'D LIKE THESE KIND OF STATEMENTS TO BE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC. I JUST WOULD, I MEAN, MR. LEE?

THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT. I DIDN'T GET ANY, I GOT NO MESSAGES TO MY PHONE. THE CHIEF OF STAFF SPOKE TO YOU. THE CHIEF OF STAFF REPRESENTS OUR OFFICE AND REPRESENTS, I TOLD EVERYONE THAT HE EDITED document and there was nothing to talk about, sir.

Why do you get to decide if there's nothing to talk about when I'm just a member of the public trying to ask you a question and I call approximately 30 times and your office hangs up on me 17 times? That seems really inappropriate. And though we're about to run out of time, I ask City President if you allow me some more time because this is a concerning matter to me.

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 mean, this is a lot of phone calls to the office, and to be ignored that many times. I mean, this is a lot of times to be hung up on, asked to talk to supervisors, be totally just ignored. I mean, I just, don't you think that that's inappropriate?

Did you not talk to someone?

Yes, sir. Did you not talk to someone? I talked to a secretary that hung up on me when I called back and asked other questions.

I didn't... I'm going to say this and I'm going to stop.

Okay.

How many times did you call back and talk to the secretary?

Well, I asked to talk to the city manager. I asked to talk to the mayor. I asked to talk to the city attorney. I believe, to be exact, it's 29 times. I left voicemail after voicemail after voicemail. Or not voicemail, but message. And... they wouldn't even they just when I called back and asked for an additional question they would literally just hang up the phone on me one time I called and I they picked up the phone and they said oh it's that guy and hung the phone up then I asked him if you could go back I believe the guy's name is Brian he's in the communications I asked him to go back and listen and see if they hung up on me and he said he would call me back and that never happened okay I just think it's really, it just seems very suspicious that, or nefarious maybe, that, I mean, it wasn't brought to our attention. A city manager didn't bring it to the citizens' attention for a long time. And then when I'm trying just to get information to ignore me for over a week, and then that's really, really bad. I mean, I wouldn't imagine you seem like an honest person. I wouldn't imagine you'd think that that's acceptable.

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

I'm just talking about my instance.

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 mean, sir, I have the information. Okay, so. What I really have a problem.

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 was trying to do this off of the record for the last week. and I couldn't get my information, and I really think that it would be unprofessional to cut me off at this point.

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.

Really?

Yes, sir. We do appreciate you coming, sir.

Ben, this is how we're going to do it? This was not right, guys. This was not right.

Ms. Sonya Ritchie. Did I say that right?

You did. It's probably the second time I've public spoken somewhere.

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

I'll turn it this way. My name is Sonia Ritchie. My address is 520 Northeast First Avenue, Ocala, Florida. I just want to take a moment to say thank you. We did attend the Marion County Commission meeting this morning and truly appreciated the commissioners being willing to listen, ask questions, and recognize that there is an important distinction between traditional pureleaf kratom, and synthetic extracted and highly concentrated products. I also appreciate the willingness of the city council to listen and have the conversation. And I want to personally thank Ben Marciano for taking the time to come to Monday Lotus and sit down with us and have a conversation about what we serve and how we operate and the difference between traditional pure leaf and the products that are created legitimate concerns. That conversation did matter, by the way. We support responsible regulation. And we stand with the city in addressing synthetic and manufactured high potency products. What has been important to us from the beginning is making sure traditional pure leaf is understood and not simply lumped together with fundamental different products. For eight years, we have operated responsibly as an alcohol-free establishment in the community and will continue to do so. I simply wanted to acknowledge the willingness we have seen from both the city and the county to listen before making decisions. In my opinion, good policy starts with conversation, accurate information, and understanding what is actually being regulated. And I appreciate your time.

Thank you, ma'am. Kibbe Fulton.

It's been a long day. We had a really great meeting today, this morning. But I'm going to read. I'm a little tired, so forgive me. I am Kibbe Fulton. I am co-owner of Muddy Lotus Tea, as most of you know. It says, good afternoon, Mayor Marciano and council members. I need your address. Oh, it's 520 Northeast First Avenue. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. We are the only alcohol-free bar. I might hear some repeating here. We're a food establishment, so we're regulated by the state. as a food establishment. I'm going to go off this. I never can stick to the page. I heard some of your commentary not too long ago. And I'd like to keep everything professional and let you know that we run professionally. And I'd also like to be included with decisions that you guys make. I'd like you to be able to ask me questions. And we don't believe in the 70H. I think we align with Mr. Marciano about anything that is synthetic. We've never sold it. A potato in a cup doesn't make it vodka. There have been bad players in the industry that have created something off of a tree, a leaf off of a tree, and made it something that is not good for anybody. I would like to propose to you, like we have dispensaries for medical marijuana. Since we're food regulated, what if we were the dispensary for the leaf kratom? We're already licensed by the state. We're already inspected by the state. What if we help set the bar for the testing, the batch numbers, the licensing, everything that you guys are wanting accountability for? I'm just trying to offer you a pathway so that a Florida legal substance can stay legal. The state is already taking care of the problems. There will be more things that will probably be coming up for testing. I mean, this is all new. The DEA is getting ready to drop the illegal side of the bad players in the industry. We're not one of them. I want you to know that a lot of people jumped to judgment not too long ago up here, and We've been in business for eight years, and we care about our community. We care about integrity. I have compassion for anybody who has been subjected to people who are just seeking to make money and change something that it should have never been. That's just my proposal to you, and I am willing to answer any questions. I'm willing to sit down with you. And if you guys go and make another meeting that has to do with this product, please let us be a part of it. I'm not here to cause problems for you. I'm here to actually solve some of the problems, to make it easier. And I can bring people in to help you to understand everything a little bit easier. Not to benefit me. It benefits everyone. Like this morning, we had someone flying from D.C. that I had no idea was going to be there to speak about the product, the kratom leaf. So I know you've heard a lot of bad things, but there are some really good things that have come out of people in recovery, pain management veterans, so that they're not on opioids. It's just the leaf. That's all I'm asking you to do is just consider our small business. Thank you for letting me go over. Mr. President, I appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Marciano. I really enjoyed meeting you. Thank you guys for listening to me.

Thank you. Serena? Mojica? Magica?

Mojica. Had me say my own name wrong.

Mojica. What a G?

Serena Mojica. Okay. 2820 Southeast 7th Avenue. I'm also here as a representative of myself and Mariela DeCity. I've worked there for a long time. And I just wanted to say that this is only relevant because we went to the county commission meeting this morning. And so it just is convenient. that we public comment at the city council as well as Kratom has been a hot topic recently. It was quite wonderful. It was really engaging and informational. It was really awesome to see support from places like our capital. come out, have the Global Kratom Association come and take care of some things as well. It felt like there was some real headway. I've actually thought this has been quite beneficial. Mr. Ben Marciano bringing it to the attention of the city in general. I feel like things kind of get can get overlooked, shoved under, sold in the back corners of a gas station, right, and affect individuals. And when we get publicity like this, even though from our side when we see the differences, it feels sometimes like you're having to put up a wall or fight. It's really nice to get that information out there that there are differences and that these things do hurt people and there's people that need to be held accountable with standards. I think that's the biggest portion of that is that there's standards to uphold. And when we don't create better standards, people who hurt people just get away scot-free. And that's, I think, always been the bigger problem. fight behind not just banning it, but really looking into the standards that we set that hold other people accountable to their actions. Because they're really bad entities out there. And it's been great publicity, actually, to just get the information out. Because we've done a really good job at the bar for the last eight years keeping our community safe because we inform them over and over and over again. Be careful where you go. Be careful who you buy from. these things are unregulated, don't go consume them. It's a passion project at this point, not only to advocate for something that can help people, but for something that really can also harm people when it's mislabeled and people think they're getting something that's good for them. I would love to see the standards. It feels like the county commission took it really seriously and they're interested in putting pause coming back to it, reviewing it, and then making headway with that. And so I'm hopeful that in the future you guys will also consider what it looks like to really create standards and not just kind of put a ban because there's a good and bad to everything. And this is an industry that needs help to have its full potential in its good light and actually hold other people accountable to their bad actions. So thank you for your time and support.

Thank you. Okay, Ms. Peggy Thomas.

Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Peggy Thomas. My address is 1339 Southwest 2nd Street. And I'd like to, first of all, thank the City of Ocala Police Department. I am a descendant of Burrow Dawkins. He was my great uncle. And I do have my badge with me that was presented to me.

Ms. Thomas, hold up a minute.

I'm sorry.

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?

I don't know much, sir. It's about electorate. It's something about electorate.

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.

Okay, thank you. I inherited the family property and home that I now reside. I've been back in Ocala at least five years, and I've been living in the house with no heat, no hot water. It's been a challenge. Found out that my pipes were tampered with. I had, in the wintertime, I'm usually because of no heat. I'm in South Florida, Miami. I have children and family in Miami, South Florida area. So it's been a challenge for me to be in the house. I signed up for the rehabilitation program five years ago. When it first opened, I signed up. Then I found out about... four months ago, maybe, that I was taken off the list. And I wasn't notified. No one sent me a letter as to why, what the issue was. So once I addressed it to Mr., oh, gosh, what's his name? Haynes. Mr. Haynes, yes. Then I was told that there was a lien on my house and I had to retain a lawyer to refute that. It was 20 years ago from a repossessed vehicle. And I have four children and I had a neighborhood of children that I transported back and forth to school. Like I said, it was 20 years ago. So I've been having bumps in the road with this. Then there was another, I was notified. Okay, I was taken off. I was number two on the list to get a rebuild for my home. And then I was notified. No, I wasn't notified. I've been inquiring. And once I inquired, I was told that I was taken off the list. And no one had sent me a letter, no notification, no phone call, no email, no text message, no anything. I've been packing up my house for five years, getting rid of things. So I'm here to find out. Definitely. When I would be scheduled for the reveal because they put me back on the list. I was number two, so they put me back on number two. I didn't know what was going on because all I knew was they were building houses all around me. And I started to question. If I'm number two on the list, why is everybody else getting homes and I'm not? So once I inquired, that's what I found out about Alene 20 years ago. And I wasn't informed. I'm just waiting, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting. I couldn't be in the home during the winters and most of the time during the summer. I'm in South Florida where my children and family are. So I would like to be, you know, to get some answers as far as how should I proceed, what's going on, because, I mean, like I said, I have no hot water.

Okay.

Oh, hi. How are you? I think that I spoke with you a couple weeks ago. My name is Chris Watt. I examined the lien, and I told you that it was no longer valid because of its age and that we would be moving forward with your request as fast as we could. Is that who I spoke to?

Yes.

Okay. So I'll give you my card, and if there's anything else you'd like to speak to me about, please call me.

I'm happy to. You're quite welcome. Thank you so much. I appreciate everything, giving me a moment to speak and just thank you all for hearing me out and I appreciate it but this has been a value to me. This is my family history. And I respect police officers. My oldest brother was a retired FBI agent. My brother in Gainesville is a colonel. He was a retired colonel in the Army. So I respect law enforcement deeply. And I just want to, you know, live out the rest of my life in comfort, you know, and get this situation done with my home. And I appreciate you giving me some extra time, Mr. Ira. And it's very nice to see you again. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I used to work for six years as a lifeguard, right?

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.

I have none.

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?

Do you want to speak to me or do you want to speak to the citizen?

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

Yes, please sit down.

Sit down. Wow.

So, Mr. Hilty. Council, Mr. Ryan's statements are not completely accurate. I spoke with him a week ago in the presence of the city attorney, at which time he was demanding a public records request be fulfilled regarding documents about this investigation and what happened. I explained to him that it was ongoing. When it was done, the report would be released to the public. That wasn't acceptable to him. Numerous times he said I was covering it up, a crook. Eventually, I said to him, by hanging up on, when someone continues to go on and on and on again, you say, I'm sorry, I don't have any more information for you, sir, and you hang up. If that's hanging up on someone, then yeah, I did it to him twice. Yesterday, once I knew the report was almost complete and we would have it ready for council today, he had called many, many times. All the calls that come through the switchboard are recorded. I've listened to dozens of them. I can make them available for any of you that would like to listen to them. His characterization of what happened is quite honest, just not accurate. I called him yesterday to try to stop this nonsense, and I called him at the number he had left, and I told him that it was going to be released today, and that would he like me to leave one at the clerk's office, or would he like me to email it to him, but once it was released to the council. Again, he became irate and called me a crook, insisted that I give it to him now. I said, I can't give it to you now because it's not done. Second of all, it has to go to the council first, and then it would be released. And then again, I told him, listen, you know, it'll be there tomorrow. He said, I don't want you to hand it to me. I mean, I don't want you to leave it at the clerk's office or to email. I want you to be a man and hand it to me, which you may have observed. I did. I don't know what else to say other than his characterization of what occurred. And Mike, what I listened to and what I experienced by speaking to him could not be further from the truth.

So you don't think he called 29 times?

I think that he did. I've got the recordings. I think he called more than that. And every time he, in an irate manner, demanded to speak to a city manager who was at a conference or a mayor that has business to run and hasn't had his beck and call eight hours of every day. And these people weren't available. And I tried to explain to this gentleman, on both occasions I spoke to him, the thing that he was demanding... wasn't ready to be released yet. It was still an investigation. And when it was, I would have it for him. And when it was, I gave it to him. That information is not true.

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.

Okay. Thank you.

Can I speak on that?

No, sir. We've done...

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 time that we met together and thought it was a good meeting. I also want to just reference that I am in city council a lot. And I do speak to a lot of citizens. And I see our staff and how they interact with the citizens every day. And I really believe that they really go out of their way to do a good job. Are there some times that we get it wrong? Absolutely. You tell me a business that doesn't. But I will tell you that a lot of times the stories we hear are not always accurate. And I'm not saying I own a business. I hear from customers all the time. But I will tell you, our staff really try to do a great job. And they go out of their way to try to do a great job. And I see the email strings of what is actually happening and then what our staff have done to try and cause the issue. So I just want you to understand that, that I really believe that they're doing a good job most of the time and really putting a lot of effort into helping our citizens. Lastly, I just want to recognize our Public Information Office. They were named Government Team of the Year. I think Greg and his team have done an amazing job. Greg has been a great resource for me. I don't think I would be able to do my job without him, but again, it's just a great acknowledgement of the work that's being done. It seems like a lot of our teams, Richard, are consistently recognized for the work they're doing, and I think Ocala sets the example for the country. of how we should lead and take care of our citizens. So I'm very grateful for all the work of the staff. Thank you.

We'll bring them forward at the next meeting. That's the plan. I don't know who's going to take the picture, Greg, when he's up here.

Yeah, I'll figure it out.

Mr. Muzzin.

Yeah, I'd like to thank Pete and the rest of the staff for putting together the report on the fraud incident. I think it was very thorough. I managed to skim through it as soon as I got it when I sat up here It's unfortunate, but I think Chris Watt said it. If policies and procedures had been followed, we'd have never had a loss. And to the employees that are out there, I think you do a great job, but the policies and procedures are in place for a reason, and they need to be followed, particularly in this day and age when we're targeted for scams and frauds multiple times, probably multiple times an hour, and Chris Ramos can probably attest to this, there's somebody somewhere in the world trying to figure a way to scam the city of Ocala or the city of Claremont or the city of Bellevue or any other city or county or state in this union. And thanks to the good work, we did recover a substantial sum of money. Thanks to the risk management side, we had the proper insurance in place. And to the rest of the employees, I just implore you to know your policies and procedures and follow them so we don't have an incident like this in the future. Thank you.

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'm just saying this, two people cities to millions of people in a city. Because geographically and a lot of stuff like that, things are different. But most of the information, IT'S THE SAME FORM. YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO CATER DOWN. BUT WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT, AND I THINK WE ALL CAME BACK BETTER INFORMED ON HOW TO DO OUR JOB, HOW WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR CITY OF O'KELLY. AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAID A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CONFERENCE BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSTANDING. IT WAS OUTSTANDING. OKAY. We are at the end of the council meeting. I hope all of you will be safe travels. This meeting is adjourned.