The Ocala Community Redevelopment Area Agency Board on Feb. 18 approved a series of property-improvement grants, adopted a budget amendment to add funds for low-income household assistance in West Ocala and confirmed multiple appointments and reappointments to CRA advisory committees.

Roberto Ellis, economic development manager, presented the grant items and project details. “This first grant application is in our East… East Ocala CRA. The cost of the project is estimated to be $8,895. The grant will reimburse the applicant up to 75% of the amount,” Ellis said, noting the East Ocala CRA advisory committee recommended the application on Jan. 15 and staff recommended approval.

The board approved the following items, each by vote during the meeting. Public comment on the items was not recorded.

- East Ocala residential property improvement grant (Item 5a): Project cost estimated at $8,895; grant would reimburse up to 75% of the cost. The East Ocala advisory committee and staff recommended approval; the board voted to approve the grant.

- East Ocala residential property improvement grant (Item 5b): A reroofing project with a potential CRA reimbursement up to $66,600. The East Ocala advisory committee recommended approval and staff recommended the grant; the board voted to approve.

- East Ocala commercial building improvement grant (Item 5c): A commercial property along East Silver Springs Boulevard was identified as a target for improvement. If approved, the grant would cover up to 60% of the project cost; staff recommended approval and the board approved the request.

- Budget Resolution 2025-100 (Item 5d): The board adopted a resolution amending the fiscal year 2024–2025 CRA budget to add funds for community development assistance in the West Ocala CRA. Ellis said the CRA previously allocated funds for similar projects in March 2024 and that demand in West Ocala has been significant; staff requested additional funds to meet upcoming project needs. The board adopted the resolution.

- Appointment: Dennis P. McFadden (Item 5e) was appointed to the West Ocala Redevelopment Advisory Committee. The staff report identified McFadden as executive director of safety and security for Marion County Public Schools and a member of the Governor’s West Neighborhood Revitalization Council; staff recommended approval and the board approved the appointment.

- Reappointments (Item 5f–5i): The board approved reappointments of Dr. Barbara Brooks and Elgin Kerlock to the West Ocala CRA advisory committee (Brooks has served as chair and both have served on that committee since 2016); Carl [last name not specified] and Greg Blair to the East Ocala redevelopment advisory committee (members since 2018 and 2021, respectively); Ted Schott to the Downtown Ocala redevelopment sub-area advisory committee (served since 2017); and Floyd Hershberger and Clark Yandel to the North Magnolia redevelopment advisory committee (served since 2016). Staff recommended each reappointment and the board approved them.

Meeting procedure and votes: For each item the board called the roll and recorded ayes with no recorded nays. The transcript does not attribute movers or seconders to the motions. Public comment was not recorded on these agenda items.

The board adjourned after completing the items and indicated it would reconvene at 4:00 p.m.

Notes: The transcript contains some inconsistent name spellings and partial redactions for one East Ocala appointee (rendered as "Carl *****" in the record). Where the transcript provided a role or affiliation (for example, Roberto Ellis; Dennis P. McFadden; Dr. Barbara Brooks), the article uses those descriptions. Other roll-call names and pronunciations follow the meeting record and are presented as board members calling votes during roll calls.