East Ocala CRA advisory committee approves three grant awards, one conditional approval; board member recuses from one vote

The East Ocala Community Redevelopment Agency advisory committee on Feb. 2025 approved three grant actions and took several routine votes, including approving the minutes and maintaining current officer positions.

Staff presented three grant applications and the committee approved each after brief discussion. Marie Mansidoux, the city's economic development specialist, told the committee that the Mesa de Notte commercial building improvement application was being revised to include planters and that "Staff is recommending, the an increase in the grant max from the $13,682.70 to 17,290, and we have the adequate funds, to approve the grant." The committee approved the increased maximum; Mr. Blair did not participate because "he's filling out the form right now, and if he would not be participating in the decision of this application," Mansidoux said, noting a conflict of interest.

The committee also approved CRA application CRA2400-0009 from Loretta and David Wheeler for replacement of a roof and an HVAC system at 926 Northeast Fifth Street. Mansidoux said the home is in the East Ocala CRA, was built in 1953, and the site visit was completed Dec. 10, 2024. The low contractor quote was $31,275 and the high was $33,438; the residential maximum grant is $20,000 and staff recommended approval. The applicant who addressed the committee said, "Not just yet. I have no funds. I would have to apply for a personal loan," and staff reminded the board that the program is a reimbursement grant that requires owners to pay contractors up front and submit proof for reimbursement. Mansidoux said applicants are generally given up to 12 months to complete the work.

A third application, CRA25-00044 from Robin Noble (Noble House Holdings LLC) to replace nine windows at 217 Northeast Eleventh Ave., was approved on condition that staff receive a comparable second bid showing non-impact (non'impact) window pricing. Charlita Whitehead, economic development and virtual arts projects coordinator, told the committee the high quote was $19,999, the low quote $15,275, and the recommended 75% reimbursement amount would be $11,456; she said, "Based on the grant review information and the provision information that we've been provided, staff does recommend approval of CRA25Dash00044." Committee members asked staff to obtain or request an additional comparable bid where the higher quote included impact windows.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes: motion passed (mover/second not specified in transcript). - Mesa de Notte commercial building improvement grant: approved; staff recommended increasing the grant maximum from $13,682.70 to $17,290 to cover planters; Mr. Blair recused for a conflict of interest; outcome: approved. - CRA2400-0009 (Loretta and David Wheeler), roof and HVAC replacement at 926 Northeast Fifth Street: approved; outcome: approved; note: grant is reimbursement-based and applicants have up to 12 months to complete work. - CRA25-00044 (Robin Noble / Noble House Holdings LLC), replacement of nine windows at 217 Northeast Eleventh Ave.: approved on condition that a comparable non-impact-window bid is submitted; outcome: approved (condition). - Maintain current officer positions (chair and vice chair unchanged) and select grant review committee representatives: motion passed. - Motion to adjourn: passed.

Why it matters: The three grants direct East Ocala CRA funds to small property improvements in the CRA area, covering storefront and residential repairs and energy/comfort upgrades. Staff said adequate CRA funds are available to cover the awards. The conditional approval for the window project seeks to ensure bids are comparable before reimbursement.

Key details and clarifications - Mesa de Notte: planters to be installed at front and back entrances; total of 27 planters cited by staff; bid line items for planters changed the prior scope; lowest bids for planters reported as $7,708 and highest $8,638; lowest combined bid total reported as $28,817; CRA 60% cap calculation produced a $17,290 maximum (staff recommended increasing the previous max of $13,682.70). - Wheeler residence (CRA2400-0009): site visit completed 12/10/2024; home on ~0.26 acres; built 1953; zoning R-1A; contractor low quote $31,275; grant maximum $20,000; reimbursement based program; typical completion window up to 12 months. - Noble windows (CRA25-00044): property on 0.31 acres, built 1940; applicant is owner-occupant via Noble House Holdings LLC; bids ranged $15,275'$19,999; staff recommended approval contingent on a comparable second bid clarifying whether the higher quote includes impact windows.

Speakers (as identified in the transcript) - Marie Mansidoux, economic development specialist, City of Ocala (staff presenter) - Charlita Whitehead, economic development and virtual arts projects coordinator, City of Ocala (staff presenter) - Robert Ellis, economic development manager, City of Ocala (staff) - Mr. Blair, advisory committee member (board member; recused on one item) - Loretta Wheeler, applicant (identified as part of the Wheeler application) - Chair Perez (referred to as "Miss Perez" in meeting; advisory committee chair) - Mr. Comanche (advisory committee member) - Mr. Atkins (advisory committee member)

Authorities - policy: East Ocala CRA commercial building improvement grant program (referenced_by: ["votes-at-a-glance-east-ocala-cra-feb-2025"]) - policy: East Ocala CRA residential improvement grant program (referenced_by: ["votes-at-a-glance-east-ocala-cra-feb-2025"])

Discussion vs. decision - Discussion: Committee members asked for comparable bids for the window replacement and questioned whether staff site visits were necessary when applicants supplied photos; staff explained the program is reimbursement-based and that site visits can clarify scope but were waived in at least one case to expedite an application. - Direction: Staff was asked to request a comparable non-impact-window bid for CRA25-00044; staff said they would follow up. - Decisions: The three grant actions were approved (one with a condition); Mr. Blair recused from the Mesa de Notte vote for a conflict of interest.

Clarifying details [{"category":"planter_count","detail":"Number of planters for Mesa de Notte","value":27,"units":"count","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"mesa_de_notte_bid_low","detail":"Lowest planter bid reported","value":7708,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"mesa_de_notte_bid_high","detail":"Highest planter bid reported","value":8638,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"mesa_de_notte_combined_low_total","detail":"Lowest combined bid total (reported)","value":28817,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"mesa_de_notte_grant_max","detail":"Proposed new CRA grant max","value":17290,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"wheeler_low_quote","detail":"Lowest contractor quote for Wheeler roof/HVAC","value":31275,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"wheeler_high_quote","detail":"Highest contractor quote for Wheeler roof/HVAC","value":33438,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"wheeler_grant_max","detail":"Residential grant maximum","value":20000,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"noble_low_quote","detail":"Lowest quote for Noble windows","value":15275,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Charlita Whitehead"},{"category":"noble_high_quote","detail":"Highest quote for Noble windows","value":19999,"units":"USD","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Charlita Whitehead"},{"category":"reimbursement_policy","detail":"Grant is reimbursement-based; applicant must pay up front and submit proof","value":true,"units":"boolean","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"},{"category":"applicant_timeline","detail":"Standard completion window offered to applicants","value":12,"units":"months","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Marie Mansidoux"}]

proper_names [{"name":"Mesa de Notte","type":"business"},{"name":"East Ocala CRA","type":"agency"},{"name":"City of Ocala","type":"agency"},{"name":"Loretta Wheeler","type":"person"},{"name":"David Wheeler","type":"person"},{"name":"Noble House Holdings LLC","type":"business"},{"name":"Robin Noble","type":"person"},{"name":"Northeast Fifth Street","type":"location"},{"name":"Northeast Eleventh Ave","type":"location"}]

provenance {"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"67.84","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"Good afternoon. My name is Marie Mansidoux. I am the, economic development specialist for the city. I will be go going over 2 grant applications. ... Staff is recommending, the an increase in the grant max from the $13,682.70 to 17,290, and we have the adequate funds, to approve the grant.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"488.285","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"The proposed work is eligible for the West the East Ocala CRA, sorry, residential improvement grant program. And the maximum that can be, awarded is 20,000. We have the adequate funds, available for the grant. Based on the grant review and the information provided, staff recommends approval of CRA 24Dash0009.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]}