2026-10-06 - City Council

Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> Every [music] Heat. Heat. [music] Hey, hey, hey. Hey, >> [music] [music] [music] >> Hey, [music] >> [music] [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. >> [music]

[music] [music] >> I >> [music] >> I >> [music] >> never >> [music] [music] >> Hey, [music] Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> Hey, hey, hey. >> [music] >> Heat. [music] Heat. Melton Row Fester Goodwin here

hug Mr. President >> here. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for opening remarks by council member Levana Goodwin [clears throat] to the flag of the United States of

America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Good afternoon everyone and you may be seated. [laughter] I wanted to take this time this

afternoon to elevate a very important uh topic and that is early childhood education. Had the opportunity to be uh council member Festererson's guest at a lunchon today for Educare of Omaha. just

thought it was important as they're celebrating 25 years of care in Omaha uh just to talk about the importance of early childhood education. First of all, many of us know that children's brains

develop 90% of their brain development and learning happens or that foundation for learning happens by the time they're the age five. And essentially what Educare of Omaha does is it's a funded center

uh that essentially ensures that high quality early learning is available to every family. Uh, Educare of Omaha provides access to high quality early learning and family support, school readiness um

before kindergarten and helps children build confidence, relationships, and routines to enter school uh ready to succeed. Uh one of the other takeaways that uh I found valuable is the way they support

families uh to ensure that the parents uh who are children's first teachers have the tools and the support necessary uh to to support their children in uh their learning journey. Uh there were a few

connected conversations um within that presentation. One of which the executive director uh Raphael Hart mentioned how he was in Congress in Washington DC a few weeks ago and the student intern there

was an educator uh student and so it shows that how you know that early childhood trajectory can lead to you know success even in our federal government. And finally, I wanted to um highlight the

director of family impact and community partner partnerships, Andrea Foster. Uh she talked about playing it forward. And what's amazing about Andrea's one, uh 25 years ago, she was a parent um at

Educare and literally the encouragement that she received from the the family advocates within the program uh inspired her to become u an educ the educator she is today. even pursuing her master's

degree. But I also find the strength of of Andrea Foster as she's um actively working with families while she's um battling stage four cancer um and and is currently the director of family impact at

Skinner Magnet School. I just wanted to quote Andrea as she talked about her journey not just as a mother, as an educator, but how educ surrounded her and her child through just really their overall

learning and development process. She said access determines outcomes and relationships change lives. So, shout out to Educare, shout out to out to that team, their board, and the wonderful work they

do for families here in Omaha. Thank you. Thank you. >> An affidavit of publication is on file and a current copy of the meeting act [clears throat] is posted in a white binder in the east wall of

legislative chambers. >> Good afternoon. Welcome to this meeting of the Omaha City Council. As a courtesy to those in attendance and to facilitate the conduct of our business, we ask that you please

silence or turn off all electronic devices. A reminder that you will have three minutes to speak on an agenda item. Please stay on topic. For those not providing in-person testimony and would like

your comments entered into the public record, you can email the city clerk's office at city clerk at city of omaha.org. Council members receive these emails and read them. Finally, council members may

ask members of the audience back up for clarifying questions, but not for extra time to speak. I would also like to remind council members to speak clearly into their microphone. so audience members

at home and in attendance can hear. And also, if you come down to speak on any item, make sure you're between the two microphones so everybody can hear you there as well. Thank you. We now have a

proclamation by Council Member Don Row. President [clears throat] have a a proclamation um honoring the Metro Omaha Builders Association. If you'd like to come up to the podium, I' be great. couple of

you maybe. Whereas the Metro Omaha Builders Association, MOBA, was founded in 1946 and is celebrating eight decades of dedication to supporting the home building, remodeling, and develop industry in

the Omaha metropolitan area. And whereas for 80 years, MOBA has grown alongside the Omaha community, representing industry professionals who create the homes and neighborhoods where generations of

families have lived, worked, and grown. And whereas MOBA serves as a strong consistent voice promoting and protecting the residential construction industry industry through advocacy for responsible

public policy collaboration with local jurisdictions and elected officials, professional development and member networking. And whereas MOBA has connected the public with regional craftsmanship,

innovation, and housing trends through cherished community traditions such as the parade of homes and the street of dreams. And whereas MOBA continues to represent hundreds of member companies serving

as a leading advocate on critical issues issues including housing affordability, building codes, development regulations, infrastructure, and ensuring the Omaha Metro remains an exceptional place to

build a home, a business, and a future. Now therefore, we, the city council of the city of Omaha, do hereby proclaim October 6th, 2026th as Metro Omaha Builders Association Day in Omaha in honor of

their 80th anniversary and encourage all citizens to join in recognizing and celebrating the vital contributions of MOBA and its members to the growth, strength, and community of the Omaha

Metropolitan Region. In witness whereof, we have set our hands and caused the seal of the city of Omaha to be affixed on the sixth day of October, 2026. [applause] >> I guess we'll be seeing you guys

Friday, huh? >> If you'd like to say a few words about Sure. >> Sure. Well, thank you, Don. Um, I'm Jaylen Ellenstein, executive director of MOBA, and want to thank my board members also for being

here today and behalf on behalf of MOBA and the entire home building and remodeling industry. Uh, thank you for allowing us to serve you. It is an honor to stand here and be recognized for our 80th

anniversary. It has been a wonderful eight decades of serving the Omaha community and we are thankful for partners like you, uh, city leaders like you who allow us, um, to serve our community. and

then also our members who allow us to fulfill fulfill our mission. Excuse me. Our mission is to promote and protect the home building, remodeling, and development industry. And we couldn't do that

without all of all of our members and without you for city leaders. Uh we do enjoy partnering with you. Uh we have the same goal you do, which is to make Omaha a better place to live and work. And we

are just thrilled to see all the progress that is happening in our community. and we look forward to to many years of partnership with you. So, thank you for the collaboration and uh thank you for

recognizing us today. >> Could we get your address for the record, too? >> Sure. Sure. Uh Jayen Ellenstein, address is 2637 South 158th Plaza, number 250, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. >> Now we can applaud.

Thank you. [laughter] >> Okay, perfect. [applause] >> Congratulations. >> Okay. Well, thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Thanks for coming down today. [snorts] >> Item six, to consider a classide

liquor license [clears throat and cough] for village in located at 10770 M Street. And just a reminder on this one, the manager application was withdrawn and a new manager application needs to be

submitted. >> I'll open the public hearing now on item number six. [snorts] Any applicant here today? Seeing none, are there any proponents? Are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. Council

member Row, you're recognized. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot to turn off but >> you're unrecognizing. >> Make a motion to refer with no recommendation. >> We had a motion and a second. A referral for no

recommendation. No further lights. Roll call. >> Melton. Yes. >> Row Fester. Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President, >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. Item

seven to consider a class D liquor license for Tallal Market 3 located at 5034 South 24th Street. Ace communication opposition. [clears throat] >> Public hearing is now open on item seven. Is the

applicant here today? Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, council. Hunter Horox, attorney for the applicant, Tyel Market 3. My address is 340 East Military Avenue, Fremont, Nebraska

68025. applicant's address is that on the application, 5034 South 24th Street, Omaha, Nebraska. Uh we're here today seeking a class D liquor license. Um my clients have a grocery store that's been in

the South Omaha area for four or five years now. They are seeking to serve or to sell liquor uh beer, wine, spirits, um on premises for off- premises consumption class D liquor license similar to that

of a Walmart or Hi Ve. Uh and happy to answer any questions the council might have. Thank you. Are there any proponents here on item seven? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is

closed. Council member Hug, you're recognized. >> Uh, good afternoon. Afternoon. >> Um, just for the record, we did receive one opposition letter from a church uh relatively close by. I just want that

to be in the record. >> And um, Madame Clerk, correct me. Um, does class D allow for single liquor sales like the small shooters and single cans of beer? >> Um, yes it does. >> Okay. Would your client

voluntarily agree to res be voluntarily restricted from selling single cans of beer and the small shooters? >> I believe that is their plan to sell if if anything it's going to be packaged. >> Okay.

Is that something we that you would voluntarily allow to be put in the record today? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Okay, madam clerk, how do we do that? >> It would >> it would be an amendment. Um, and I

believe the amendment is no sales of single containers less than 32 hours or 32 ounces of beer and 375 milliliters of liquor or less. >> Okay, that is my motion >> to amend. >> We have a motion and a

second with the amendment is >> hold on. Okay. >> And and would you for the record reiterate that you were you're doing this on your client's behalf voluntarily? >> Yes. Hunter Horox, attorney for the

applicants, we are stipulating um to that amendment that no single um shooter or alcoholic beverage will be sold. >> Voluntarily. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have a motion and a second. No further lights.

Roll call. >> Melton. >> Yes. >> Row. Yes. >> Fester. Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> Yes. >> Motion pass seven to zero and then we'll need one as

amended. >> Thank you. >> Motion as >> as amended. Second. >> Got a motion and a second as amended. Councilman Hug. Did you >> I think that's light was >> okay. We're good. Roll call. >> Melton Row.

Festererson. Yes. >> Goodwin. Harding. Yes. Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. >> Consent agenda. Any member of the city council may cause any item placed on the consent agenda

to be removed. Items removed from the consent agenda shall be taken up by the city council immediately following [clears throat] the consent agenda in the order in which they were removed unless

otherwise provided by the city council rules of order. >> The public [clears throat] hearing on agenda items 8 through 15 were held on September 29th, 2026. Any council discussion? >> Got a motion and

a second. Roll call. Milton. >> No. >> Oh, bigger pardon. >> I'm sorry. I was reading the resolutions. That's >> I already flipped my page. 18 through 15. >> We have a motion and a second on 8 through

15. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. >> Yes. >> Fester. Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Hardin. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. >> The public hearings on agenda items 16

through 22 are today. If you wish to address the city council regarding these items, please come to the microphone, indicate the agenda item number you wish to address, identify yourself by your name,

address, who you represent, and if you are a proponent or opponent. I will now open the public hearing on items 16- 22. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing

is closed. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. Row. >> Fester. Yes. >> Good one. >> Hardin. >> Yes. >> Hug. Yes. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. Item

23. An ordinance loving a special tax and assessment on real estate within the Benson business improvement district number 6875. A's amendment of the hole requested by the parks department. Is there a

motion >> for the amendment of the hole in item 23? >> Motion approved. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. >> Fester. >> Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Harding. >> Yes. >>

Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass 7 to zero. Item 24. An ordinance loving a special tax and assessment on real estate within the Blackstone business improvement district number 6877. A is

amendment of the whole request by the parks department. Is there a motion to approve amendment to the hole in item 24? >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. Fester. >> Yes. >>

Good one. >> Harding. >> Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. Item 25. An ordinance loving a special tax and assessment on real estate within the Dundy business improvement

district number 6876. A is amendment of the hole requested by the parks department. >> Is there a motion to approve the amendment of the hole in item 25? Got a motion of second. Roll call. >> Melton.

>> Row. >> Fester. >> Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. Item 26. An ordinance loving a special tax and assessment on real estate within

the Elorn business improvement district number 6878. Is amendment of the hole requested by the parks department. >> Is there a motion for the amendment of the hole for item 26? Got a motion and a

second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. >> Pester. >> Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. Item 27. An ordinance loving a special

tax and assessment on real estate within the Little Bohemia business improvement district number 6882. A is amendment of the hole requested by the parks department. >> Is there a motion to approve the

amendment of the hole for item 27? >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. >> Fester. >> Yes. >> Goodwin. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> I. >>

Motion pass 7 to zero. Item 28. An ordinance loving a special tax and assessment on real estate within the North 24th Street business improvement district number 6879. A's amendment of the hole

requested by the parks department. >> Is there a motion to approve the amendment of the hole for item 28? >> Got a motion. A second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. Fester. Yes. >> Goodwin >> Harding.

>> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President, >> I >> motion pass 6 to zero. Good. Goodwin abstains. >> Item 29, an ordinance loving a special tax and assessment on real estate within the North Saddle Creek

business improvement district number 6881. A's amendment of the hole requested by the parks department. >> Is there a motion to approve the amendment of the hole for item 29? >> Got a motion and a

second. Roll call. Melton Row Fester. Yes. >> Goodwin. Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass seven to zero. >> Item 30. An ordinance loving a special tax and

assessment on real estate within the South Omaha business improvement district number 6880. Is amendment of the hole requested by the parks department. >> Is there a motion to approve the amendment of

the hole for item 30? >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. Row. Fester. Yes. Good. Hardin. Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President, >> I. >> Motion passed seven to zero. >> Item 31, a resolution

to approve a settlement agreement with the estate of Cameron Ford in the amount of $420,000. >> The public hearing is now open on item 31. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any

opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. Melton Row Fester. >> Yes. >> Goodwin Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President, >> I. >> Motion pass seven to

zero. >> Item 32, an ordinance to approve the sixth addendum to the interlocal agreement with the Papio Missouri River NRD for the Cole Creek flood mitigation program through the year 2029. >> The

public hearing is now open on item 32. Are there any proponents? [cough] Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Item 33, an ordinance to acquire private property for the Q

Street 27th to 36th Street project. Public hearing is now open on item 33. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Item 34, an ordinance to approve

a major amendment to the Oakview mixeduse district development agreement. Planning board and planning department recommend approval. Public hearing is now open on item 34. Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Item 35, an ordinance to approve the 251 center tax increment financing redevelopment agreement. >> Public hearing is now open on

item number 35. Miss Hadley. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, council members. Uh Bridget Hadley, city planning, here to answer questions you may have. >> Thank you. Are there any proponents on item

35? >> Seeing none, are there any opponents? >> Yep. Thanks. [clears throat] >> Larry Store, 5015 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha 68132. Um, I don't recall reading on the printed agenda that there was going

to be amendments of the whole and I'd like to remind the residents of the center mall area that uh wait till next week to find out the rest of it. They'll come back with an amendment and maybe they'll

jump across center street to those nice housing areas and and west of uh the veteran center. Uh but actually >> Larry, this is 251 Center Street. >> I'm sorry. I thought you said 35. >> I'm sorry. >>

I thought you said 35. >> It's item 35, but it's the address is 251 Center Street. It's not the center. >> Oh, it's not the center. >> No. >> Why does it say center tax increment? >> I'm sorry. >>

Thank you. Are there any other opponents here on item 35? Public hearing is closed. I have a couple questions. Is a representative of developer here today? if he can come on down. >> Hi, Raald with

with 251 Center owner 1901 Howard Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. >> Good afternoon. Thanks for coming down. If you could just walk us through um this is 198 units of affordable housing which include

180 apartments and 18 town homes. Correct. >> Correct. and the investment you're making here. This how long has that Salvation Army property been a vacant kind of a desert kind of area? >> Uh several

years. So I mean it was acquired five plus years ago and it's been vacant for roughly 10 plus years. >> And and when do you plan on breaking ground for this? >> Uh so we're targeting on in March of

2017. So financial closing and and starting demolition and construction. >> Okay. I really appreciate you coming down today because I I think this is important for the community to understand that I

remember that area as a kid. I think Kraton had a baseball field near that property. And if you go over the Martha Street Bridge, you can look down and see that area. And I know we've had a lot of

housing enforcement, code enforcement issues with our planning department and also 911 calls for people that aren't supposed to be there. But this is going to be a great investment. You're going to

demo that. Correct. >> Correct. >> And you're you're hoping to start in the spring of 2025. And I our vote is next week, but I'm certainly going to be supportive of this in the south end of my

district. We're I think is this a $56 million investment. >> Uh yeah, total will be around 57 to 58 million. >> Yeah, that's and that that'll be a great magnet to get other maybe future investment in

that area that's been long needed. So we got 24th Street there and you got Martha and you got the Kennedy freeway and we're close to downtown. So the affordable housing component. Talk a little bit

about those town homes. How many families or folks can live in each one of those? 18. >> Sure. So we've got the kind of the 1acre parcel on the north side of the site. Um so you'll have 18 row houses,

four bedrooms each. Um so just kind of vary. We actually did the um row houses out on in Deer Creek 120th Military and 204th and Main Street out in Elcorn. So, they're going to be similar in aesthetic

to those. Um, so it'll kind of they'll look market rate and up to four families or four um people. >> That'll be great for families that are looking for this with the investment that's before us

today. So, I appreciate you coming down to explain that. We have other lights and I'm going to recognize council member Hug. >> Hi. >> Hi. As Danny said, this is on the south end of his district. It's

on the opposite side of the street of the north side of my district. I have gotten a lot of complaints from my constituents that live or have businesses on the south side of the bridge and it it all

has to do with uh allegedly um people entering the building uh living in the building. I know you're going to be demoing it, but it's going to be vacant over the winter and I have a concern that it

might again start to perk back up and be another issue. So, I I'd like to ask you what your plans are to keep that building secure so we don't end up with another infestation, if you will. >> Sure. Of

>> people that shouldn't be on the property. >> Sure. Appreciate the comments. And we've definitely heard a lot of that, too. And so, we use um Access Commercial as kind of our our property manager

for the building. So, we'll do our best from a security standpoint, keeping it secured, and then just get it financially closed as soon as possible so we can kind of accelerate that demolition. But,

it's it's a fair concern. We're kind of have eyes wide open on it. >> Okay. So, from now until you do demo it, can you assure us that you're going to have somebody walking around that building at

least once a day to make sure it's secure? >> Like you said, as we enter into the winter months, those things happen fast. >> Sure. Uh we can definitely we can follow up on that on kind of our plan

and kind of follow up with an email if that works. >> Okay, great. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you, Council Member Feserson. You're recognized. >> Thanks, Mr.

President. This has been on our agenda for several weeks and I'm supportive of it next week, too. A few of us drove by it just a couple hours ago and I think this will be a dramatic improvement for

that for that area. Um 198 affordable housing units. That's a major accomplishment I think for any project because they're all affordable housing units. Can you just walk through that a little bit for

us? Um those data points and and how you're able to finance this. uh many products we see of a multif family nature struggle to get to 10 or 20% affordable. So, a couple things I'd just be interested

in knowing. Um when you say affordable, are we talking, you know, 80% AMI? Walk us through that a little bit. Uh and then also how did the financing come together to allow you to do this? >> Uh sure.

Appreciate the kind words. Um so just to break out of the AMI, so it'll be 10% at 40% AMI, uh 40% at 50 AMI, and then 50% at 60 AMI. So, we kind of call it affordable housing, workforce housing. Um,

the capital stack in general, I mean, we've got, um, great local partners like Front Porch Investments, um, who provide low interest construction loans. Um, obviously the investment, um, from our

ownership is significant, too. And then, and just also with city support. Uh, so just kind of we're big on on layering the the capital stack so we can make the numbers work. And our ultimate goal with

affordable housing, especially in the urban core, is to make it look like market rate and feel like market rate. So you can't really tell the difference. >> Yeah, I commend you for doing that. And the

40 to 50% AMI is what we're talking about has the most shortage across the entire city. So appreciate that focus, too. And that would be guaranteed for the 15-year term of the trip. >> Correct. >>

Mhm. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. No further lines. >> Non-action items, items 36 through 43 do not require public hearing or city council consideration at this meeting, but will be placed on a

future agenda for public hearing and or vote. The reason for non-action is noted after the item on the agenda as well as the date the item is expected to appear on an agenda for consideration. >>

Motion to adjurnn. Do we get a motion? >> Got a motion and a I'll second. Roll call. >> Melton Row Ferson. >> Yes. Good one. >> Hardin. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President. I >> motion pass 7 to zero.

Meeting is adjourned at 228. >> [music] [music]