East Ocala CRA staff previews annual report, restates account balances and recent projects

City staff presented the East Ocala CRA first-draft annual report and a status update on recent projects and account balances at the advisory committee meeting.

Robert Ellis, the city's economic development manager, told the committee that "The annual report is due annually by March 31, and it covers a period 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024." Staff highlighted a North East Third Street streetscape improvement tied to the Midtown brewery project and reported grant activity and account balances.

Staff reported that the East Ocala share of the North East Third Street streetscape improvements amounted to about $242,855; the downtown CRA paid approximately $112,000 toward those costs while most improvements occurred on the East Ocala side, staff said. Staff also said four grants were awarded in the last fiscal year totaling about $53,462 and that four projects were completed; the total project costs for those work items were about $102,106, of which $51,863 was reimbursed to property owners.

In a standing-account update, staff reported a CRA account balance of roughly $307,009.09, that $122,853 had been awarded from that account leaving an available balance around $247,941, and that $178,838 had been paid out in grants so far this year. Ellis noted that a recently completed Midtown brewery project attracted a $100,000 reimbursement payment for roof replacement that was part of this year's payouts.

Staff said the full draft annual report is in the meeting packet and requested committee comments, ideally the week of March 6 so the report can be finalized for presentation to city council. Members asked for a hard-copy booklet; staff said one would be printed for committee members.

Other brief items - Staff announced board reappointments: two members (one identified in the transcript only as Mr. Blair and another listed as "Mr. *****") were reappointed to four-year terms ending March 1, 2029; Mr. Santana's term will end the week of the meeting and his position is currently vacant. - The committee confirmed the 2025 meeting schedule included in the packet and noted application deadlines listed there.

Speakers (as identified in the transcript) - Robert Ellis, economic development manager, City of Ocala (presenter) - Marie Mansidoux, economic development specialist, City of Ocala - Charlita Whitehead, economic development and virtual arts projects coordinator, City of Ocala - Mr. Blair, advisory committee member - Mr. Santana, advisory committee member (term expiring) - Chair Perez

Authorities - other: East Ocala CRA annual reporting requirements (referenced_by:["annual-report-financials-east-ocala-cra-feb-2025"])

Clarifying details [{"category":"streetscape_cost","detail":"East Ocala share of North East Third Street streetscape improvements","value":242855,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"downtown_cra_contribution","detail":"Approximate downtown CRA contribution to streetscape costs","value":112000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"grants_awarded_last_fiscal","detail":"Number and total of grants awarded last fiscal year","value":"4 grants, ~$53,462","units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"total_project_costs_completed","detail":"Total cost of completed projects reported","value":102106,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"reimbursements_to_property_owners","detail":"Amount reimbursed to property owners","value":51863,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"current_account_balance","detail":"CRA account balance reported","value":307009.09,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"awarded_amounts","detail":"Amount awarded from account","value":122853,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"available_balance","detail":"Available balance after awards","value":247941,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"paid_out_year_to_date","detail":"Grant payouts year-to-date","value":178838,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"},{"category":"midtown_reimbursement","detail":"Reimbursement to Midtown brewery project for roof replacement","value":100000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Robert Ellis"}]

proper_names [{"name":"North East Third Street","type":"location"},{"name":"Midtown brewery","type":"business"},{"name":"Downtown CRA","type":"agency"},{"name":"East Ocala CRA","type":"agency"},{"name":"City of Ocala","type":"agency"},{"name":"Mr. Santana","type":"person"},{"name":"Mr. Blair","type":"person"},{"name":"Chair Perez","type":"person"}]

provenance {"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"1207.045","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"Good afternoon. Robert Ellis, economic development manager. I'll just be walking through 2 projects that were recently of back in July of last year, and, scope was to replace the windows and repaint the new wall at the front there.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"1413.42","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"So the annual report is due annually by March 31, and it covers a period 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024. The main highlights, the full report, the first draft of the full report is in the agenda packet.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}