[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6603750,"mediaKeyId","2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5","parentId",2998086,"title","Ocala council approves zoning change, contract renewals and multiple procurement items; council confirms tree commission appointment and settlement","audioSeconds",880,"startMs",2184000,"endMs",3064000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5&start=2184&end=3064","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5/thumbnail_2184000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603750/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-council-approves-zoning-change-contract-renewals-and-multiple-procurement-items-council-confirms-tree-commission-appointment-and-settlement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603750-e313df017b444f0c955b89334d64e192/orig.mp4?Expires=1776393368&Signature=Y7OrZYwyOg76izU~w7gL~bj35xmsP5zY01BE95rQfvkgpTQMudK6UzaMD4dUCXrCJRxitn34F6SaxnIxIef5EvfLEtEDgsBE4ZjZdIWbmzAQ74cDXKZsJB~wzWKLRpHd9DaQ5PQqP3VwaG6zr2MbUx5H04VyevF3e4KYr7rGFpy7PFBZ7GF3wnaKM4MvnVbPyWKNqVQYgctTALpwRH~wI9XrlBSgxDdXED5D7tZAK77kH0lNXlcH5WPZ4Qz4gf77jFJlUnhvvU4orF8kcY8gV2zvBJV2RDqOIBKMjH9OonJtL7f93jNWad0TK6Ys9P-9L~omos~e8NnOsi-UiGkrzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ocala","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Ocala City Council approved a package of ordinances, contract renewals, purchases and appointments during its April 25, 2025 meeting. Most items were routine and passed on roll call votes after brief staff presentations.

Key actions approved by the council:

- Adoption of Ordinance 2025‑22 (case ZON25‑0003): Council approved rezoning two properties at 1533 and 1541 Northeast 14th Street from RO (residential office) to R‑3 (multifamily residential) for approximately 1.34 acres. Chief planning official Indira Madreveran said the change brings the parcels into a zoning district permitting multifamily uses by right and that the request is consistent with the comprehensive plan and East Ocala community redevelopment plan. The planning and zoning commission had recommended approval. The motion to adopt was made by Councilman Jay Musley and the ordinance was adopted by roll call.

- Contract renewals and purchases: The council approved one‑year renewals and purchases including a one‑year renewal with CW Roberts Contracting Inc. for the Transportation Rehabilitation Improvement Program (first renewal, up to a 3% increase), a one‑year renewal with Marion Rock LLC (3% increase), the purchase of Grundfos pumps and parts from FJ Newgens & Associates, Inc., and the second amendment to a cooperative purchasing agreement with In‑Depth, Inc. for tank cleaning and sediment removal. City Engineer Sean Lanier presented these items; staff recommended approval on each.

- Award of contract for SR‑40 traffic signalization: The council awarded a contract to CW Roberts Contracting Inc. for State Road 40 traffic signalization. Staff reported only a single responsive bid was received and recommended approval.

- Additional expenditures and cooperative purchases: Council approved an increase in the contract cap for G Solutions Group, LLC to cover yard and wood waste disposal costs for the fiscal year, approved use of the OMNIA Partners cooperative purchasing agreement with Advance Auto Parts, and approved a five‑year contract with OTI Fiber LLC for fiber services (Ocala Fiber Network). The council also approved a one‑year maintenance renewal with Morse Communications for video surveillance and access control systems.

- Public safety and personnel: Council approved a three‑year renewal of the agreement to provide a school resource officer at Trinity Catholic High School, with receivables totaling $320,436. The council also approved cooperative purchasing for temporary staffing services with 20 Second Century Technologies Inc. and Advanced Personnel Services Inc., with expenditures capped at $400,000.

- Administrative items: Council appointed Taylor Shear to an unexpired term on the Tree Commission (term to 03/01/2029), and the city attorney presented a proposed settlement for pre‑suit claims arising from a traffic accident involving a city employee; the settlement was recommended by HR and Risk Management and approved by the council on roll call.

Most items passed unanimously or by common roll call majorities recorded in the meeting minutes; staff presenters were available to answer questions but most agenda items generated little public comment. Staff recommended and the council approved each contract and procurement item by roll call as reflected in the meeting record.

Full list of approved items (as recorded on the agenda): Ordinance 2025‑22 (ZON25‑0003 rezoning); 1‑year renewals with CW Roberts (transportation rehab) and Marion Rock LLC; purchase of Grundfos pumps and consumable parts; second amendment with In‑Depth, Inc.; award to CW Roberts for SR‑40 traffic signalization; increased cap for G Solutions Group, LLC; utilization of OMNIA Partners cooperative with Advance Auto Parts; one‑year maintenance renewal with Morse Communications; five‑year contract with OTI Fiber LLC; three‑year renewal for Trinity Catholic High School SRO (receivables $320,436); cooperative purchasing for temporary staffing with 20 Second Century Technologies Inc. and Advanced Personnel Services Inc. (expenditure not to exceed $400,000); appointment to the Tree Commission; approval of the proposed settlement for the traffic collision claims.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ocala - City Council - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On April 25, 2025 the Ocala City Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑22 rezoning two parcels, approved a series of contract renewals, awarded a traffic signal contract and approved a settlement, among other routine actions. Votes were recorded by roll call and passed.","taxTitle","Ocala, Marion County, Florida","taxId",4898,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603755,"Ocala staff urge caution on county’s proposed higher transportation and EMS impact fees, request clearer benefit boundaries",944,3310000,4254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5&start=3310&end=4254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5/thumbnail_3310000.jpg","/articles/6603755/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-staff-urge-caution-on-countys-proposed-higher-transportation-and-EMS-impact-fees-request-clearer-benefit-boundaries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603755-e6e0ed7e3deecfd7c0fb981f87184740/orig.mp4?Expires=1776393368&Signature=TP8IndspoDFR5KbQcn-mWGy31MvezK4QV6PrKpCvm239lYR6QEf5YQpYnaTTXjXCcb2jQ0NgcTnH-DJchPgu2Rh3YnOn7iFKu0ezNHIR2EtIuztQNHvtwjn2xmfucNpKlQK7Rt6u~m0l4bMPB2oAf~0MSfj6xYa4XIjUiP7YOr-H53uGANZgnwHn5EywMx4SOJoIrnIBOKGImDwHs~FbPoZL5HDEtukItFeYp6LvCQFUosJa95DPNettoMUcXxMgYjkrrghRXCkHY6csrnM9NvyOGe7wdsaGG2mVMEw5-z9H-1kIyUzqmVJ-Gn4MNqveqPZHSRtqZ32tM8rTz-l-lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials and council members discussed proposed Marion County increases to transportation impact fees and a proposed EMS impact fee, raising questions about how fee revenue would be allocated and whether the county’s proposed district structure would meet the legal tests that allow impact fees to be imposed.

The city manager summarized the county’s schedule: a May 6 workshop to discuss “extraordinary circumstances” and a May 23 adoption hearing, with any adopted increases taking effect 90 days later. Staff noted historical collection amounts and contrasted those with the county’s proposed 2025 fee schedule. Between February 2003 and February 2010 the city collected roughly $25.2 million in transportation impact fees; after the 2017 reinstatement through December 2024 the city collected about $6.17 million. The city said the 2015 study used a $6,978.94 baseline for a 1,500–2,500 square‑foot home; the current fee is about $1,397 and the county’s proposed 2025 fee would be about $5,318 for a dwelling in that size range.

City staff raised several concerns: (1) the county’s East/West district split has produced unequal revenue outcomes (staff cited roughly $31 million from the West district and $19 million from the East in the historical accounting), (2) the county’s current proposals may not provide a “rational nexus” showing that fees collected from new development will be proportionate and spent on facilities that directly benefit the fee payers, and (3) the city lacks clear visibility into where previously collected fees were spent and whether future collections will fund city‑adjacent projects that provide direct benefit to Ocala residents.

On EMS, staff said the county’s proposed 2025 EMS fee would be $125.23 per functional residence, which translates to about $222 for a 1,500–2,500 square‑foot dwelling. City officials noted that EMS services receive multiple revenue sources (insurance reimbursements, county revenues, etc.) and said a countywide fee should meet the same rational‑nexus tests. Several council members urged that, if the county uses the city’s acknowledged daytime population in fee calculations, the city should receive a proportionate share of penny sales tax revenue tied to that daytime population or the fee structure should be phased in.

The city manager said staff will schedule one‑on‑one meetings with council members and continue discussions with the county before the May 23 hearing. Staff suggested the city could pursue a mobility fee alternative or seek an Ocala‑specific benefit district if a more defensible legal nexus and spending plan cannot be achieved under the county’s proposed approach. No formal council vote was taken; staff will report back after one‑on‑ones and additional county materials are available.","City staff and council discussed proposed county transportation and EMS impact fee increases, raising concerns about rational nexus, benefit districts, the city’s daytime population and whether collected fees will fund projects benefiting Ocala.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603760,"Ocala council removes Davis–Bacon requirement for downtown parking garage contract after merchants describe business losses",1238,926000,2164000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5&start=926&end=2164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2998086-35ff7ef34736ac66449f2993cce06ad5/thumbnail_926000.jpg","/articles/6603760/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-council-removes-DavisBacon-requirement-for-downtown-parking-garage-contract-after-merchants-describe-business-losses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603760-dfee17d5e2e9490eed1b3044141a1da6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776393368&Signature=J0XWm-RxDUjCyw9QnbBe7nCjdJzzqzvR3wOeOHt8s8~PV2YB7nM2WXXTusFrYPHMQ4zFEYz8agylSFIRVCncrEdZayTH3UIEOGBgcnv9sH1l~1VBivzumbiOJH24k18PuAVobb-XAkvFxX9i-1dt2iRbk0O6TmqL3WZ~G7mcr63YlMQ2XCajTvnDfvnm-5bTAesAyTUfSbDul28I~6iDVcPHqUZ3OoKKkrIwe9RkVSV0~PuYo7OcileQGdRwai2oAcNDSO7rJpWKnOpwJJ12ak8ZuWnEZkeitRyBNQHh8guSRy94JYjFOYHn0Fw~EPSjhA~NgAhdgwen7i8yuYJBKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ocala City Council voted to remove Davis–Bacon requirements from the contract with SSC Construction Management for the downtown parking garage, after a group of downtown business owners described reduced foot traffic and intermittent road closures that they say have hurt sales.

At a public comment segment before the vote, multiple downtown business owners said construction activity and unclear traffic patterns have caused steep declines in customers. Sarah Partee, owner of the Gathering Cafe, told the council her business has seen “about a 50%” drop in customer visits and reported a construction-related water outage on the cafe’s busiest day. Ricky Nabok, store manager for the T‑Mobile at Pine Avenue and Broadway, said monthly customer counts were down roughly 18% and that appointment-based businesses need advance notice of road closures. Jay Richmond, Starbucks manager, said the store was down 20–35% and urged more consistent daily cleanup, improved signage and scheduling work outside peak morning hours. David Armstrong, co‑owner of the Gathering Cafe, asked the city to pave and stripe a gravel lot the city opened near Fort King and Third to provide safer, clearer temporary parking for customers.

City Engineer Sean Lanier said staff recommended removing the Davis–Bacon requirement from the parking garage contract; he described the item as supporting the city’s “operational excellence and quality of place” goals and answered merchants’ questions about how the city expects to reduce construction impacts. Lanier said the portion of Third Avenue and Fort King that had been delayed for drainage tie‑ins would receive a 1‑inch temporary working topping to smooth areas cut for utilities, with a full repave to follow after project completion. He said the paving can be scheduled on weekends or low‑traffic periods and that staff will seek to provide weekly delivery and closure schedules to downtown businesses when heavy precast deliveries or erection are planned.

Council members and business owners suggested additional mitigations, including (1) clearer, professional signage; (2) advance notice of road closures and heavy truck deliveries; (3) a contractor‑provided traffic flagger or marshal during busy workdays; and (4) temporary parking striping and pedestrian access improvements for the gravel lot south of Fort King and Third. Lanier said staff would coordinate routes and signage, evaluate temporary paving and sidewalk restoration, and work to be “nimble” as the contractor sequences deliveries.

An attorney representing several downtown merchants, Joseph M. Hanrani, noted the city would save about $61,000 by removing the Davis–Bacon requirement and asked the council to use any savings to help affected businesses. The council did not specify a use for the savings during the meeting.

The motion to remove the Davis–Bacon requirement and proceed with the contract amendment passed on a roll call vote. The meeting record shows the motion was approved by the council (tally recorded as unanimous).

Council members directed staff to provide more frequent scheduling updates to merchants and to explore temporary paving, signage and traffic control options to reduce business disruptions while construction continues.

Votes and next steps: the council approved the contract amendment removing the Davis–Bacon requirement; staff said they will provide weekly schedules for heavy deliveries, pursue weekend/low‑impact paving where feasible and evaluate installing temporary striping and pedestrian improvements in the gravel lot referenced by merchants.","Council approved removing Davis–Bacon requirements from the SSC Construction Management parking garage contract and heard multiple downtown merchants describe steep drops in customer traffic and requests for better scheduling, signage and temporary parking while construction continues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ocala council approves zoning change, contract renewals and multiple procurement items; council confirms tree commission appointment and settlement

Ocala staff urge caution on county’s proposed higher transportation and EMS impact fees, request clearer benefit boundaries

Ocala council removes Davis–Bacon requirement for downtown parking garage contract after merchants describe business losses