Votes at a glance: Ocala council adopts budgets, millage rates and several contracts; tabling and other actions

This round-up lists the formal votes taken at the Ocala City Council meeting on Sept. 16, 2025, and summarizes key contract awards, budget and millage resolutions, grants and other formal actions adopted by the council.

Votes and outcomes

- Resolution 2025-182 (Downtown development district millage rates): Adopted. The council adopted operating millage rates for Downtown Districts A, B and C at 1.7185, 1.6332 and 1.4699 respectively; each rate was higher than the rollback rate by 6.84%–7.62%. (Roll call: all voting councilmembers recorded as Aye.)

- Resolution 2025-183 (Downtown development fund budget FY 2025–26): Adopted. Total downtown development fund operating budget: $695,065. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Resolution 2025-184 (Citywide millage rate FY 2025–26): Adopted. City operating millage set at 6.6177 (5.83% above rollback rate). (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Resolution 2025-185 (City budget FY 2025–26): Adopted. General fund $188,100,612; total city budget $1,152,885,830. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Alcohol permits (public hearings): Two on-premises alcohol permits were approved by roll call: Koto Hibachi Express Sushi and Bubble Tea (3811 SW College Road); Staybridge Suites Ocala (4627 NW Blitchton Road). (Roll call: Ayes recorded by council.)

- Additional expenditures to GFL Solid Waste Southeast LLC: Approved. Council retroactively approved $1,569,573.95 in solid-waste disposal expenses already paid plus $150,000 for Aug–Sep disposal, for a total requested approval of $1,719,573.95. (Roll call: Musley Aye; Bethea Aye; Hilty Aye; Mansfield Aye; Dreyer Aye.)

- Award of five-year solid-waste disposal contract to GFL Solid Waste Southeast LLC: Approved. Approximate total contract expenditure: $19,412,250 (five-year estimate). (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Seventh amendment for single-stream curbside recycling with Waste Pro of Florida, Inc.: Approved for FY 2025–26. Estimated annual expenditure: $1,684,065 (per ton rate presented). (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Holiday lighting and decor contract (Shellard Lighting Design LLC): Approved for a three‑year award, aggregate not to exceed $508,023. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Metropolitan area network circuits (CenturyLink/Lumen Technologies): Approved. Estimated expenditure: $298,296. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- FAA Airport Improvement Grants: Accepted. Resolution 2025-41 accepted AIP funding for rehabilitation of the general aviation terminal apron ($2,664,891; 95% federal share; airport match ~$296,099). Resolution 2025-42 accepted AIP funding to extend the runway safety area for Runway 36 (grant $225,850; 95% federal share). Council authorized city officials to execute grant documents. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Renewal with Reed’s Uniforms LLC for Fire Rescue uniforms: Approved (one-year renewal). Estimated annual expenditure: $138,000. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- Collective bargaining agreements: Council approved successor collective bargaining agreements for the lieutenants’ and sergeants’ bargaining unit of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 129 for 10/01/2025–09/30/2028; costs are included in the adopted budget and will be transferred to the Ocala Police Department budget. (Roll call: unanimous Aye.)

- City attorney authorization to execute a quitclaim deed related to a 2006 right-of-way abrogation: Approved. Council authorized the president to sign the quitclaim deed to clarify previously abrogated right-of-way; staff said the action imposes no cost to the city. (Roll call: Ayes recorded.)

- Other consent items and routine approvals: Several routine consent agenda items and committee reports were approved as presented (consent list minus item 6b). The previously described item 6b (Forking Tennis Center management-fee amendment) was removed from consent, discussed and tabled pending additional financial documentation.

Why it matters: The council’s budget and millage decisions set property-tax rates and the city’s operating plan for FY 2025–26. The suite of procurement approvals covers solid-waste disposal, recycling, holiday programming and network circuits; the FAA grants fund airport infrastructure improvements with a primarily federal cost share, reducing local capital burden.

Vote records and next steps: The votes recorded in the meeting minutes and roll-call statements are summarized above. Items requiring follow-up include staff-provided financial documentation for the Forking Tennis Center item (tabling) and grant-match requests to FDOT for airport match funding. Staff will proceed with executed contracts and grant agreements as authorized by council.