East Ocala CRA Advisory Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026
East Ocala CRA Advisory Committee Meeting - April 29, 2026
The East Ocala CRA Advisory Committee met on April 29, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. The committee approved the prior meeting's minutes, discussed a residential property improvement grant application, received project updates from staff, reviewed grant allocation status, and addressed committee vacancies and potential role changes.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Prior Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
Discussion Items
- Residential Property Improvement Grant Application (CRA 26-0017): Charlotte Whitehead, Economic Development Project Coordinator, presented a grant application from Walter and Kelly Demshock for 1113 Northeast Second Street. The proposed work includes replacing windows and installing a fence. Quotes ranged from $25,242 (low) to $34,837.92 (high). The maximum eligible reimbursement is $18,932, but due to limited available funds ($17,785), the grant would be capped. Committee members raised concerns about the window quotes—one specified impact windows (not required in the area) and the other lacked description. A motion was made and seconded to table the application until the next meeting (June 24, 2026) to allow the applicant to obtain more detailed bids and to potentially access additional funds expected to be approved at the May 19 CRA board meeting.
- Project Updates (Eric Smith):
- State Road 40 Improvements: Milling and resurfacing is underway through the East Ocala CRA. FDOT approved stamped crosswalks at Watullah and Eighth intersections, similar to downtown designs. Landscaping enhancements are also planned. At-grade lighting and other requested features were not approved.
- Tesca Willa Park Signage: Wayfinding signage for the park is postponed pending completion of a downtown wayfinding contract.
- Sidewalk Gaps on Second and Third Streets: Staff is investigating filling gaps but noted challenges with utility poles and sprinklers. A final determination is expected by the next meeting.
- Skate Park: Public art originally planned for skate bowls will instead be implemented on decorative slats to avoid durability issues.
- Grant Allocations Update (Roberto Elis): The committee reviewed current fiscal year grant activity. Of the $400,000 allocated, approximately 95% has been committed. 21 applications were approved (2 historic, 14 residential, 5 commercial), but only one project is completed. Staff plans to request additional funds from the CRA reserves (~$1.3 million) at the May 19 CRA board meeting to cover pending applications and the June intake cycle. Next fiscal year's grant budget is nearly double due to high demand. Discussion also touched on the property improvement grant requirement that improvements must be maintained for five years, with prorated repayment if sold.
- Committee Role and Vacancies: Roberto Elis noted that the CRA board will discuss the advisory committee's policies and procedures on June 9, 2026, potentially shifting the committee's focus from grant approvals to policy influence and framework recommendations. Two vacancies on the committee were announced, with a call for interested individuals to apply via the city clerk's website.
- Sand and Sun Festival: Staff announced the Cultural Arts Department's event on May 16, 2026, at Citizen Circle, featuring sand sculptures and interactive activities.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted unanimously to table the grant application for 1113 Northeast Second Street to the next meeting (June 24, 2026), pending additional window bid details and possible fund availability.
- Staff will notify the applicant of the tabling and encourage obtaining a third window quote.
- Staff will bring a resolution to the May 19 CRA board meeting to appropriate additional grant funds.
- The committee will receive a final update on sidewalk feasibility by the next meeting.
- The committee adjourned the meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Let's go ahead and call this meeting to order for the East Ocala Ray Development Advisory Committee. It's April the 29th, 2026, and it's uh four o'clock in the afternoon. You want to do a roll call? Yes. Mr. Blair? Here. Mr. Colmas? Here. Mr. Gamash. And Mr. Aiken. I'm here. Thank you. Thank you. We've met our quorum. And we did the public notice. The public notice for the East O'Cala CRA Advisory Committee was published today on April 29th, 2026. Okay. Have you all read the prior minutes? Mm-hmm. Okay. We're kind of gonna approve them. To approve it. I'll second. A good deal. Everybody's in favor of it, I'm sure. Yes. Thank you. Um take care of the grants and applications. Or I guess it's for the 1113 Northeast Second Street. Yes. Yes, sir. Uh good afternoon. Charlotte Whitehead, Economic Development Project Coordinator presenting a residential property improvement grant program application. The grant ID is CRA 26-0017. So this application, the applicants are Walter and Kelly Demshock. The proposed go for work includes replacing windows and installing a fence around the perimeter of home and the prep work that's included with that. So the property is of course located within our East Ocala CRA. The address is 1113 Northeast Second Street.14 acres and was built in 1948. And the zoning classification is R3 multifamily, but this is a single family home. And the house is it's a nice home, but it is representative of kind of the aging how homes in the area. So there are some definite deteriorating things, and I think that those items are gonna be really beneficial. This is an aerial map of the home, so you can see where it's located. Um it's just a couple blocks off 40 on second there, and the case map kind of showing the zoning. So here are photos of the front of the property from second street facing north. And the windows uh are one of the elements that are being replaced. So they're in poor condition.
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