The Ocala City Council on Nov. 4 approved a slate of contracts, equipment purchases and housing rebuilds, including additional fencing expenditures to secure city fiber infrastructure, renewal of a valet parking license, two HOME-funded rebuild contracts and an extension to a purchase-and-sale agreement for airport property.

Many items were bundled on the consent agenda and passed after two items — a fencing contract amendment and a valet parking license renewal — were pulled for council discussion. The council approved an additional $45,857 expenditure under an existing fencing contract to secure the Ocala Fiber Network perimeter after staff said prior amendments had pushed the contract over the $100,000 threshold. Council also approved the annual renewal of the Marks Prime valet parking license while noting long-standing enforcement complaints; staff said downtown staffing will be present during peak hours to enforce the 15-minute limit.

Other approvals included a one-year renewal of an agreement with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership for business attraction and retention work; renewals and one-year extensions for fiber installation and utility inspection contracts through the Florida Municipal Power Agency; and a renewal of the city’s public-safety CIS software system used for dispatch and records.

Two housing projects funded with HOME program dollars were approved: a rebuild of the Thomas residence (bid awarded to 2W Construction for $220,550) and a rebuild of the Quarry residence (bid awarded to Steeda LLC for about $190,000). Staff said both homes were determined dilapidated and that HOME rules require significant projects, with affordability periods and repayment/forgiveness schedules tied to occupant status (five-year occupancy rules and longer forgiveness terms for elderly or disabled homeowners).

The council approved the purchase of 95 Lifepak CR2 automated external defibrillators ($219,435) for the police department and authorized fire-department purchases including an automated chest-compression device and two LifePak 30-5 units. The council also approved a one-year extension to a purchase-and-sale contract for 115 acres of non-aviation property at the Ocala International Airport with Insight Real Estate, and adopted updated airport leasing and development policies and a new interactive property map.

Votes on the listed items were recorded by roll call during the meeting; staff recommended approval on all items. Where council requested follow-up — for example, enforcement measures at the valet location and additional transparency on due-diligence deliverables from the airport purchaser — staff committed to next steps or noted conditions in the contract amendments.