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Record of Proceedings

North Magnolia CRA Advisory Committee Meeting - May 28, 2026

City Council & Boards — Thursday, May 28, 2026
BodyOcala, Florida
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateThursday, May 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 34:42

Original source
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0:00

Today, May 28th, 2026 at 8 30 AM.

0:03

Can we get roll call, please?

0:07

Miss Clifton here.

0:09

Mr.

0:10

Hirschberger.

0:11

Here.

0:11

Mr.

0:11

McAllister.

0:12

Here.

0:13

Mr.

0:13

Needon.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Ms.

0:16

Wendy.

0:17

She's excused.

0:18

Okay.

0:19

We've met our quorum for today.

0:20

Thank you.

0:21

So much.

0:21

Do we have public notice?

0:24

The public notice information for the North Magnolia CRA Advisory Committee was published on May 20th of 2026.

0:31

Thank you very much.

0:33

And has everyone had the opportunity to review the September 25th, 2025 meeting minutes?

0:38

And if so, we'll do we have approval of motion.

0:46

Motion.

0:47

Motion to approve the minutes.

0:48

Do we have a second?

0:49

Second.

0:50

We have a motion and a second.

0:51

All in favor?

0:53

Aye.

0:55

Thank you.

0:56

Thank you very much.

0:57

Okay.

0:59

Roberto, grants and applications.

1:01

Thank you.

1:02

Thank you, ma'am.

1:11

Excuse me.

1:22

Good morning, everyone.

1:23

My name is Edwin Carreras.

1:25

I'm the economic development specialist for the city of Ocala.

1:27

This is my first presentation, so have a little bit of patience with me to this morning.

1:32

We're gonna be presenting a uh really good case today.

1:39

The grant, the application, it's got the case numbers here 2600 twenty-one.

1:47

It was presented by Exit Plan Investment LLC.

1:51

They're requesting that a little bit of support to make a little bit of renovation and modernization of a building to accommodate a new engineering firm.

2:01

The scope of the work includes replacements of the front doors, windows, updating light, and electrical fixtures.

2:08

A fresh exterior or building painting.

2:12

The owner of Exit Plan Investment is Davis Dinkins.

2:16

He's a renowned engineering in the city of Ocala.

2:19

He's very vested on the community.

2:24

The property is located within the North Magnolia CR8 sub-area.

2:28

I think you already know it's 1811, nor east Jacksonville Road.

2:31

It's when it used to be Rusty Nails of Ocala, if you remember back in the day.19 acres.

2:40

The song is classified uh classification is before general business.

2:45

Um we did a side basic on May 11.

2:48

We took some pictures, and the applicant is a first-time applicant in this case.

2:53

We can see in the materials, you can make reference to the aerial map.

2:58

Can locate yourself on Jacksonville Road.

3:01

Also, we got the case map, so you can see the song.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████21%
Economic Development██████████████████18%
Arts And Culture████████████████16%
Procedural███████████████15%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Public Safety█████5%
Public Works████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Code Enforcement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

North Magnolia CRA Advisory Committee Meeting - May 28, 2026

The North Magnolia Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Advisory Committee met on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 8:30 AM in the Ocala City Hall Council Chambers. The committee approved a commercial property improvement grant, received project updates, reviewed the annual report for FY2024-25, elected new officers, and discussed a commemorative sculpture for former member Clark Yandle. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for July 30, 2026.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The committee unanimously approved the September 25, 2025 meeting minutes via motion and second.

Discussion Items

  • Commercial Property Improvement Grant (CRA26-0021): Edwin Carreras, Economic Development Specialist, presented a grant request from Exit Plan Investment LLC (owner Davis Dinkins) for renovations at 1811 NE Jacksonville Rd (former Rusty Nails of Ocala). The scope includes front door and window replacements, lighting/electrical updates, and exterior painting to accommodate a new engineering firm. Total project cost estimated between $23,000 and $34,000; the applicant is investing approximately $16,000 in interior work. The maximum grant request was $17,233 (75% of eligible costs). The committee unanimously approved the grant.
  • Project Updates:
    • Charlotte Whitehead reported on a completed grant (CRA25-0021) for Auto Body Contractors on NE 8th Street, which included parking lot repaving/sealing and fence replacement.
    • Eric Smith, Senior Transportation Project Administrator, outlined upcoming rehabilitation projects: 8th Street (sidewalk, lighting, road resurfacing, railroad crossing improvements), NE 14th Street, Jacksonville Road, 4th Avenue, and gateway improvements along 10th Street. He requested committee input on citizen-priority projects.
  • Annual Report FY2024-25: Roberto Ellis presented highlights. Taxable values increased across all four CRA districts: North Magnolia up 11% (compared to downtown 9.6%, West Ocala 9.1%, East Ocala 8.9%). North Magnolia generated $589,000 in revenue (up from ~$114,000 previous year). Across all CRAs, 38 grants totaling ~$3.8 million were awarded; North Magnolia had three grants. Completed projects leveraged $9.8 million in community capital improvements.
  • Election of Officers: Since Angie Clifton served two consecutive terms as chair, the committee elected David McCollister as Chair and Mike Needham as Vice Chair, effective next meeting.
  • Clark Yandle Commemorative Sculpture: Emily Parkman, Cultural Arts Supervisor, described the Marion Cultural Alliance (MCA) painted horse sculpture program. The committee agreed to follow the same process as the Chief Greg Graham Legacy horse, with the sculpture to be donated to the city and maintained as part of the permanent collection. Staff will coordinate with family and MCA.
  • Vacant Lots and Property Development: Roberto Ellis addressed concerns about vacant lots owned by the CRA, particularly in the Marion Heights community (20-22 lots). A plot plan is being finalized to issue an invitation to negotiate for development, likely broken into sections. Some lots may be sold, with proceeds returning to the CRA. Environmental issues (water tanks) on a Magnolia property are being resolved.
  • Training Opportunities: Staff announced CRA dos and don'ts webinar (May 30, 2026, FRA), City Council workshop (June 9, 2026, on streamlining CRAs), and CRA board training (June 11-12, 2026, with expenses covered by CRA).

Key Outcomes

  • Grant Approval: Motion and second to approve CRA26-0021 for $17,233; all in favor.
  • Officers Elected: David McCollister (Chair), Mike Needham (Vice Chair) — terms begin July 30, 2026 meeting.
  • Next Steps: Staff to proceed with 8th Street rehabilitation planning, continue work on vacant lot development (finalizing plot plan), and coordinate with MCA and Yandle family on sculpture.
  • Next Meeting: July 30, 2026.
  • Committee Vacancies: Two positions open; applications via city clerk's website.

Meeting Transcript

Today, May 28th, 2026 at 8 30 AM. Can we get roll call, please? Miss Clifton here. Mr. Hirschberger. Here. Mr. McAllister. Here. Mr. Needon. Here. Ms. Wendy. She's excused. Okay. We've met our quorum for today. Thank you. So much. Do we have public notice? The public notice information for the North Magnolia CRA Advisory Committee was published on May 20th of 2026. Thank you very much. And has everyone had the opportunity to review the September 25th, 2025 meeting minutes? And if so, we'll do we have approval of motion. Motion. Motion to approve the minutes. Do we have a second? Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. Roberto, grants and applications. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Excuse me. Good morning, everyone. My name is Edwin Carreras. I'm the economic development specialist for the city of Ocala. This is my first presentation, so have a little bit of patience with me to this morning. We're gonna be presenting a uh really good case today. The grant, the application, it's got the case numbers here 2600 twenty-one. It was presented by Exit Plan Investment LLC. They're requesting that a little bit of support to make a little bit of renovation and modernization of a building to accommodate a new engineering firm. The scope of the work includes replacements of the front doors, windows, updating light, and electrical fixtures. A fresh exterior or building painting. The owner of Exit Plan Investment is Davis Dinkins. He's a renowned engineering in the city of Ocala.

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