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Omaha City Council Special Meeting - August 12, 2025: Interlocal Agreement and Lottery Operator Assignment

City Council — Tuesday, August 12, 2025
BodyOmaha, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:48

Festerson.

0:50

Goodwin.

0:51

Harding.

0:52

Hug.

0:52

Melton is absent.

0:53

Row.

0:54

Mr.

0:54

President.

0:56

Good afternoon.

0:57

Welcome to this special city council meeting of the Omaha City Council is a courtesy to those in attendance.

1:03

And to facilitate the conduct of our business.

1:05

We ask you to please silence or turn off Bill, your electronic devices.

1:11

I guess we'll get started here.

1:13

Um item number three.

1:15

Just real quick, an affidavit of publication is on file, and a current copy of the open meeting act is posted in a white binder in the East Wall of Legislative Chambers.

1:22

Item three, an ordinance to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Kearney controlling the distribution of keynote lottery proceeds.

1:29

Council discussion.

1:34

Any discussion?

1:35

Is there a motion?

1:36

For the amendment of the whole.

1:59

Do we have any idea how much that might mean?

2:01

Um based on their uh they've had a uh keto program for about 24 years, and based on their recent handles, we're estimating that'll be in the range.

2:13

This the City of Almost portion.

2:15

It's actually it's I think it's a one percent plus a one percent, so it ends up being two percent um that should amount to about 150 to 200,000 a year.

2:26

Okay.

2:26

Um hundred and fifty based on the old handles, and we're hoping we can grow that a little better.

2:30

And that would start.

2:32

Uh when we when would we see that start?

2:34

Yes, and that and and thanks to your accommodations of this schedule, uh, that will start Friday, August fifteen.

2:43

Okay.

2:43

All right.

2:44

Thank you.

2:44

Thank you.

2:46

Thank you.

2:46

No further lights.

2:47

Is there a motion?

2:48

So move.

2:50

Sorry.

2:50

Motion and a second.

2:52

Roll call.

2:54

For the amendment of the whole, correct.

2:57

Yes.

2:57

Good one.

2:58

Harding.

2:59

Yes.

2:59

Hug.

3:00

Yes.

3:00

Row.

3:01

Mr.

3:01

President.

3:01

Aye.

3:02

Motion passed six to zero.

3:04

Item four, a resolution to approve the assignment and assumption agreement for the lottery operator agreement.

3:10

I'll open the public hearing on item number four.

3:12

Proponents, Mr.

3:13

Harvey.

3:14

Yes, uh, Bill Harvey, uh, one one two forty Jungle Boulevard, uh, general counsel for Big Red Kino.

3:20

And I really just wanted to say thank you so much for accommodating this schedule.

3:24

Thanks to everybody on the council, to the council staff, um, to the city clerk and her staff, uh, law department, especially my friend Mr.

3:32

Weeson, who I know voted really diligently and hard on this, and uh to the finance department and the mayor's office.

3:39

So thank thank you.

3:40

And everybody I forgot to thank.

3:42

We really we really really appreciate this, and it's gonna get the city of Omaha uh and the and the relationship with uh the city of Carnival to a great start.

3:51

So thank you so much.

3:52

I'm happy to answer any questions about this assignment, but I think it was explained very well in the staff memo I saw.

3:58

So um, if you have any questions, please please uh let me know.

4:02

Thank you.

4:03

Any other proponents here on item number four?

4:06

Seeing none, is there any opponents?

4:09

Public hearing is closed.

4:13

Motion and a second roll call.

4:15

Good one, Harding.

4:17

Yes, hug, row, Mr.

4:19

President.

4:19

Aye.

4:20

Motion passed six to zero.

4:21

Thank you so much.

4:22

Thanks, Bill.

4:24

Motion to adjourn.

4:27

Roll call.

4:28

Festerson.

4:29

Good one.

4:30

Harding.

4:30

Yes, hug.

4:31

Row.

4:32

Mr.

4:32

President.

4:33

Aye.

4:33

Motion passed, six to zero.

4:34

Meeting is adjourned at twelve forty-eight.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Summary of Proceedings

Omaha City Council Special Meeting - August 12, 2025: Interlocal Agreement and Lottery Operator Assignment

The Omaha City Council held a special meeting on August 12, 2025, to consider two items: an interlocal agreement with the City of Kearney regarding distribution of keno lottery proceeds, and the assignment of the lottery operator agreement. All votes were unanimous (6-0), with Councilmember Melton absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Bill Harvey, General Counsel for Big Red Keno, expressed gratitude to the council, staff, and city departments for accommodating the schedule and emphasized that the agreements will benefit Omaha's relationship with Kearney.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3 – Interlocal Agreement with City of Kearney: Council discussion included questions about the financial impact. City staff estimated that Omaha's share (2% of keno handles) would amount to approximately $150,000 to $200,000 per year, based on Kearney's 24-year keno program. The agreement is set to start on August 15, 2025. A motion to approve as amended passed unanimously.
  • Item 4 – Assignment and Assumption Agreement for Lottery Operator: No discussion from council members; the public hearing was opened and closed with only the proponent speaking. The resolution was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 3: Approved 6-0, authorizing the interlocal agreement with Kearney for keno proceeds distribution, starting August 15.
  • Item 4: Approved 6-0, approving the assignment and assumption agreement for the lottery operator.
  • Meeting Adjourned at 12:48 PM.

Note: No agenda or minutes were available for this meeting; the summary is based solely on the transcript.

Meeting Transcript

Festerson. Goodwin. Harding. Hug. Melton is absent. Row. Mr. President. Good afternoon. Welcome to this special city council meeting of the Omaha City Council is a courtesy to those in attendance. And to facilitate the conduct of our business. We ask you to please silence or turn off Bill, your electronic devices. I guess we'll get started here. Um item number three. Just real quick, an affidavit of publication is on file, and a current copy of the open meeting act is posted in a white binder in the East Wall of Legislative Chambers. Item three, an ordinance to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Kearney controlling the distribution of keynote lottery proceeds. Council discussion. Any discussion? Is there a motion? For the amendment of the whole. Do we have any idea how much that might mean? Um based on their uh they've had a uh keto program for about 24 years, and based on their recent handles, we're estimating that'll be in the range. This the City of Almost portion. It's actually it's I think it's a one percent plus a one percent, so it ends up being two percent um that should amount to about 150 to 200,000 a year. Okay. Um hundred and fifty based on the old handles, and we're hoping we can grow that a little better. And that would start. Uh when we when would we see that start? Yes, and that and and thanks to your accommodations of this schedule, uh, that will start Friday, August fifteen. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. No further lights. Is there a motion? So move. Sorry. Motion and a second. Roll call. For the amendment of the whole, correct. Yes. Good one. Harding. Yes. Hug. Yes. Row. Mr. President.

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