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Ocala council approves contracts, task orders and $6.26 million transit bus purchase; budget amendment adopted
Summary
The Ocala City Council on July 1 approved a series of contracts, task work orders and a budget resolution, including the $6,264,500 purchase of five battery‑electric transit buses from Gillig LLC and multiple engineering work orders to update reclaimed water and biosolids planning.
At its July 1 meeting the Ocala City Council approved a slate of contracts, task work orders and a budget resolution to fund several water, transit and facilities projects.
Key approvals
- Architecture Studio: Council approved additional expenditures and Task Work Order No. 3 to the city’s continuing services agreement with Architecture Studio, Inc., to design two truck sheds, a storage building and an administration building at the old WRF No. 1 site (presentation by city engineer Sean Lanier). Staff said the work supports relocation of the Central Lines Division and other site renovations.
- Kimley‑Horn: The council approved Task Work Orders No. 43 and No. 44 with Kimley‑Horn and Associates, Inc., to update reclaimed water master planning and to update the WRF‑3 biosolids evaluation, respectively (Sean Lanier presented).
- Budget resolution: Council adopted Budget Resolution 2025‑163 to provide funding for the work described above and to cover water resources engineering professional services for the remainder of the fiscal year.
- Painting and maintenance contracts: The council awarded two‑year citywide painting contracts to Chinese Connection Painting, Inc., Lamphere Company and Overall Contractors Group, Inc., for interior and exterior painting services (presentation by Gary Cruz, Facilities Division head).
- PowerServe Technologies: The council approved an agreement with PowerServe Technologies, Inc., to supply microprocessor protective relays and panels for electric substations (presentation by Ocala Electric Utilities Director Doug Peebles). Staff said PowerServe was the lowest responsive bidder.
- Pavement marking: The council approved a two‑year contract with Brian Bambassy, LLC (pavement striping/thermoplastic work) for neighborhood striping and small jobs (presentation by Public Works Director Darren Park). Council clarified this contract is for smaller jobs; larger arterial work is covered under another contract.
- Transit buses: Council approved the purchase of five Federal Transit Administration heavy‑duty Category B 35‑foot battery electric buses from Gillig LLC for $6,264,500 (presentation by Transit Administrator Tom Duncan). Duncan said Gillig’s bid offered roughly 55% more battery capacity than a competing bid and that the city will maintain a blended diesel/electric fleet; the buses will support service expansion and reduce midday charging interruptions.
- Employee insurance: Council approved employee‑paid insurance lines (dental, vision, short‑term disability, supplemental coverages) at no cost to the city and continued the city‑paid basic life, flexible spending account administration and employee assistance program premiums. HR and Risk Director Devin Kuykendahl said the city broker, Brown & Brown, recommended no carrier changes and presented annual city costs for the employer‑paid items.
Votes and process notes: all items recorded in the meeting minutes were approved by roll call vote with ayes from council members present. Several approvals were accompanied by staff presentations and the council’s routine roll call votes. For multiple items staff noted the work supports the city’s strategic goals of operational excellence, quality of place and fiscal sustainability.
What to watch next: the engineering task orders will require design and coordination with utilities and project managers; the Gillig bus procurement will be implemented under FTA grant and local match provisions previously budgeted by the city.
