Ocala Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing - January 28, 2026
Ocala Code Enforcement Special Magistrate Hearing - January 28, 2026
Magistrate Ryan C. Fong presided over the January 28, 2026, code enforcement hearing, addressing violations of Ocala city ordinances including property maintenance, permitted uses, and unsafe conditions. The docket included consent items, new cases, old business, petitions for fine reductions, and non-compliance hearings.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from September, October, and November 2025 meetings.
- Acceptance of proof of publication.
- Swearing in of city staff witnesses.
Discussion Items
- Old Business – Non-Compliance (Carlton McDonald and Pamela Lewis, CE25-0492): Respondent McDonald requested an extension due to upcoming eye surgery and limited resources. The city acknowledged partial progress. The magistrate granted an extension until February 26, 2026, by 4 p.m. to achieve full compliance; fines would accrue if not met.
- Old Business – Rock Hospitality Partners LLC (multiple cases): Seven related cases for vacant parcels on West Silver Springs Boulevard. The city reported modifications and storage without site plan approval. The magistrate granted an extension until February 26, 2026, for compliance.
- Petition – Hester property (COM18-1002 and 2024_11694): Staff recommended reducing a $6,450 fine to $500, plus full hard costs of $5,571.96, totaling $6,071.96, to facilitate property revitalization. The magistrate approved the reduction.
- New Business – RV Occupation (CE25-1290, Warfel): Respondents stated they primarily live in a mobile home and use the RV occasionally. The city presented neighbor complaints but only a brief video. The magistrate found insufficient evidence of habitation and dismissed the violation, warning against future residential use of the RV.
- New Business – Vacant lot compliance (2024_10902, Wykoff/Greene): The city confirmed the property had become compliant as of January 27, 2026. The magistrate found a prior violation existed, ordered continued compliance, and assessed costs of $308.97.
- New Business – Restorative Justice Foundation (2024_10921): The property remained non-compliant due to stored vehicles. The magistrate ordered compliance by February 26, 2026, and assessed costs of $389.97.
- New Business – Default cases: For eight cases (CE24-0055, CE25-0306, CE25-0844, CE25-1087, CE25-1105, CE25-1103, ENV25-0300, CE25-1301) where respondents did not appear, the magistrate entered findings of violation and adopted staff recommendations for corrective action, fines, and costs.
- Petition – Chambers property (2024_11600 and CE25-1068): Staff recommended reducing $12,950 in fines to $2,000, plus hard costs of $1,016.58, totaling $3,016.58, to allow a property sale and redevelopment. The magistrate approved.
- Old Business – Mass Non-Compliance Hearings: For 11 additional cases where respondents did not appear and properties remained non-compliant or costs unpaid, the magistrate ordered enforcement of previous orders and staff recommendations.
Key Outcomes
- Extensions granted for McDonald and Rock Hospitality cases until late February 2026.
- Fine reductions approved for Hester property ($6,071.96 total) and Chambers property ($3,016.58 total).
- RV occupation case dismissed with a warning.
- Multiple default judgments entered against absent respondents.
- Compliance orders issued with specific deadlines and cost assessments.
- Next meeting scheduled for February 25, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
January 28th, 2026. All right, good morning. My name is Ryan Fong. I'm a Florida bar licensed attorney, and I've been appointed by the City of Ocala as magistrate for today's code enforcement hearings. While formal rules of evidence do not apply, due process will be observed, and only those that have a case on today's docket will have a chance to speak, or if you are a witness called to testify about that case. The city will present um its evidence and case first, and then you will have an opportunity to respond. Okay, proof of publication uh 012820 261 030 published January 6, 2026 is approved. Um I looked at the prior minutes from the September, October, November meetings of last year, and I will approve those as presented. Um at this time, before we go into the cases, I'm gonna have those that are going to testify on behalf of the city. Um please rise to be uh sworn in these wear on that testimony about being true, the whole night about the truth. Um, yeah, we can proceed. All right, good morning. For the record, Dale Hollingsworth, Jennifer Buller, Rob Moore, Stephanie Smith, Osias Ferrera, Jeff Gilbo, Steve Knight, Charles Hanna, and Greg McClellan accepted the oath. Uh good morning again, Your Honor. My name is Dale Hollingsworth. I'm the duly appointed chief code official, and our manager of this division will lead the presentation of our cases this morning. We're gonna start an old business. It'll be under consent agenda for non-compliance. It's a massey hearing for case CE25-0492. CE 25-0492, the City of Ocala versus Carlton McDonald and Pamela Lewis for a vacant lot in the 1500 block of Northwest 18th court here in Ocala. Uh we do have documentation presented attesting to the uh previous order being entered. The property remains non-compliant. I'll ask representation who is here this morning to approach and address the magistrate first so the city can have a better understanding of what they're seeking this morning. Okay, is anyone here for that case? Mr. Should we just won out and then talk about it? Okay. Yes. Please state your name and address for the record. Um Carlton McDonald. Um I'm leaving at um Wandering Oaks. RB Park, um, it's I weight 326 O'Cala. Um I move my camper off my property because they say I cannot have it there. And I was I'm trying to move as much as I can, but like I said, um I I'm uh I have one eye, and I was supposed to get a second surgery from last year. I didn't get didn't get to do it, but it's just me alone, and I'm trying to do the best I can right now. So, you know, if if I could get a little extension, I mean I have a lot of building blocks there, and I don't know where to put them, but the other stuff I should be able to move them in a few more weeks. And um right now I have an I have a appointment for February 10th in Orlando to do my surgery. So I mean it's just me alone. My son came from Georgia last night. And um he's gonna come back on the 10 to take me to Orlando to do my surgery, but it's just me alone, and I'm I'm just trying to leave too. You know what I'm saying? I'm not trying to get too high in this world because we are gonna die when the time comes. I'm just trying to leave until my time comes too. So it was a rush. Why I I leave ungo on my property. You know, I didn't plan to go on it with my sister soul or formerly owes, and that's why I just move over on my property. Because I didn't want to go pay no rent because I know the rent is I right now. So I'm by a camper and put it here, and you say I can keep it here, so I don't know what to do. I mean, I move it to uh a trailer park, so that's one thing. The the other items that's there.
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