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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Omaha City Council Meeting – September 16, 2025: Affordable Housing Plan Amendment and Other Business

City Council — Tuesday, September 16, 2025

BodyOmaha, Nebraska

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, September 16, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:59:30

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

1:04

Good one.

1:05

Harding is absent.

1:06

Hug.

1:07

Mr.

1:08

President.

1:08

Here.

1:09

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for opening remarks by me.

1:28

Good afternoon.

1:29

Please be seated.

1:33

There is a pretty big event.

1:35

I don't know if anybody noticed over the weekend.

1:37

I would like to yield my time to my friend and colleague, Lavanya Goodwin, Councilmember District Two for some comments today.

1:45

You got something to say, maybe?

1:47

Maybe just a little bit, Mr.

1:48

President, and thank you.

1:50

Good afternoon, fellow council members and citizens.

1:54

First, I would like to thank President Begley for ceding his remarks to me today for the recognition of Omaha's own Terrence Bud Crawford.

2:10

On behalf of the Omaha City Council, I want to extend an heartfelt congratulations to Terrence Bud Crawford for his historic boxing victory against Canelo Alvarez Saturday, September 14th.

2:24

Terrence defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision and became the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world.

3:09

Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Terrence is an everyday guy.

3:22

Terrence stopped to take a photo with us and to talk about North Omaha's story collection of world-renowned athletes, an exclusive club that he now leads.

3:42

Boxing under Carl Washington's tutelage was a vehicle for Car Crawford to rise above and discover his superpower as a giant slayer.

4:17

Please join me in another round of applause for the people's champ, Omaha's prime, and the greatest of all time, the GOAT, Terrence Bud Crawford.

4:36

A side note to that, the great victory that Bud Crawford have.

4:42

He had if you have a minute, look at when he returned the belts to Alvarez.

4:47

And he went up to him and he handed it those belts to him.

5:00

I mean, these guys deserved great recognition for their class in sportsmanship after 12 rounds of grueling punishment of each other they inflicted, that they still showed heart and compassion for one another.

5:09

That's a great message we can use in society today.

5:12

Thank you.

5:15

Good afternoon and welcome to the Omaha City Council meeting.

5:18

Is a courtesy to those in attendance and to facilitate and conduct our business.

5:23

We ask that you please silence or turn off all electronic devices.

5:28

A reminder that you will have three minutes to speak on an agenda item.

5:32

Please stay on topic.

5:33

If you would like your comments entered into the public record, you can email the city clerk's office at Cityclerk at City of Omaha.org.

5:42

The council members receive these emails personally and we read them.

5:46

Finally, council members may ask members of the audience back up for clarifying questions, but not for extra time to speak.

5:57

Council members and people in the public, when you're speaking, pull those microphones up.

6:02

Hearing impaired people at home find that if our we're off to the side, you can hear us as well.

6:08

So a little coaching for my colleagues and people when they come to the mic, so the audience members can hear us better.

6:14

Thank you.

6:16

Now we have a proclamation by Councilmember Hugg to read for Francisco Paco Fuentes.

6:22

Councilmember Hug, you're recognized.

6:25

Thank you, Mr.

6:26

President.

6:29

South Omaha is a small community.

6:33

Our lives are so intertwined, and our families are so intertwined that when one tragedy is experienced by one family, it's experienced by us all.

6:48

I have a proclamation recognizing France Francisco Paco Fuentes for his lifelong commitment to his community South Omaha.

6:58

Whereas Francisco Paco Fuentes began his lifelong journey with the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands in 1968 as a member of the South Omaha Boys Club, and through his dedication, passion, and leadership became an inspiring example for this generation.

7:17

I may add, about the same time I joined the South Omaha Boys and Girls Club.

7:22

Whereas Paco Fuentes honorably served our nation for 20 years in the United States Air Force before returning home to South Omaha, where he devoted his life to giving back to his the community that has shaped him.

7:37

Whereas in 2000, Paco became the director of the South Omaha Boys and Girls Club, where he served for more than 21 years, revitalizing the club and helping it thrive as a safe and supportive place for young people.

8:12

Whereas Mr.

8:14

Fluenta's unwavering commitment to youth was recognized through many honors, including the 2004 Midwest Youth Professional of the Year Award from Boys and Girls Club of America, and the 2005 William R.

8:29

Hinckley Distinguished Service Award.

8:34

Even after his retirement in 2001, Paco love for young people and the community drew him back in 2023 to serve once again as a mentor and support the staff at the club, continuing his legacy of guidance, kindness, and service.

8:52

Whereas Paco Fluentes will always be remembered not only for his extraordinary achievements, but also for his kind heart, warm spirit, and deep love of others and his family.

9:05

Now, therefore, we, the City Council of the City of Omaha, do hereby recognize and honor the life, service, and the legacy of Francisco Paco Fluentes, and call upon our community to celebrate his many contributions and to carry forward his example of dedication, compassion, and the service to others.

10:08

Thank you, Mr.

10:08

President.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing█████████████████████████████████████████████59%

Procedural█████7%

Community Engagement█████6%

Economic Development███4%

Youth Programs██3%

Zoning██3%

Transportation Safety██3%

Public Engagement██3%

Racial Equity██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Omaha City Council Meeting – September 16, 2025

The Omaha City Council met on September 16, 2025, at 1:41 PM (adjourned at 3:58 PM) to consider a wide range of items, including a major amendment to the Urban Core Housing and Mobility Redevelopment Plan to allocate $490 million in TIF revenues for the streetcar, affordable housing, and protected bike lanes. The meeting opened with a recognition of Terrence "Bud" Crawford's historic boxing victory and a proclamation honoring Francisco "Paco" Fuentes. The council approved a resolution authorizing the plan amendment and heard extensive public testimony on a related contract with Front Porch Investments for $40 million in affordable housing funding.

Recognition & Proclamations

Terrence "Bud" Crawford: Councilmember Goodwin recognized Crawford for becoming undisputed super middleweight champion on September 14, 2025, by unanimous decision against Canelo Álvarez. The council applauded his sportsmanship.
Francisco "Paco" Fuentes: Councilmember Hugg read a proclamation honoring Fuentes for his lifelong commitment to South Omaha, including 21 years as director of the South Omaha Boys & Girls Club, military service, and mentoring youth.

Consent Calendar

Items 14–18 (public hearings held September 9, 2025) were approved unanimously (6–0).
Items 19–28 (public hearings held on September 16, 2025) were approved unanimously (6–0) after a brief proponent testimony on Item 26 (Omaha Housing Authority voucher renewal).

Public Comments & Testimony

Items 12 & 13 – Urban Core Plan Amendment & Front Porch Contract:

Proponents (20+ speakers, including city officials, developers, and community leaders):
- Jennifer Taylor (City Law) explained the amendment authorizes $490 million in TIF bonds for streetcar construction, affordable housing, and bike lanes. The $40 million for housing would be funded by a private placement bond subordinate to streetcar debt, with no taxpayer risk.
- Steve Jensen (Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Development) noted $1.4 billion in development already occurring in the corridor, with projections of $4 billion over 15 years, supporting up to $150 million in TIF bonds.
- Jody Holston (Front Porch Investments) stated that Front Porch has deployed $35.5 million to 28 projects producing over 1,700 affordable units; 85% included deeply affordable units (30–60% AMI). The $40 million could support up to 1,900 homes in the urban core.
- Multiple developers (Rob Woodling, Michael Moroni, Darren Smith, Jake Hoppe, Jindai Fraser, Cheryl Garst, Amanda Brewer, Jeff Speace, Matthew Kavanaugh, Justin Tyree, and others) testified that Front Porch’s gap financing is critical to making affordable housing feasible, and urged support for emerging and small developers.
- Clarice Dombeck (Redress Movement) expressed support for the investment but urged that majority of units serve households at 50% AMI or below to prevent exclusion of Black families, noting the current 120% AMI cap ($136K for family of four) would price out many.
- Cheryl Weston (emerging developer supporter) offered cautious support, stressing that meaningful inclusion of minority and emerging developers must occur.
- Akeedra Hagens (Spark CODA program) shared her personal story of growing up in public housing and becoming a developer through technical assistance.
Opponents:
- Luis Jimenez opposed approving the contract before bond financing was finalized (expected November 2025) and raised concerns about concentrating poverty in the urban core and lack of citywide affordability tools.
- Larry Store questioned transparency and alleged conflicts of interest among proponents.

Discussion Items

Items 12 & 13 – Urban Core Housing and Mobility Redevelopment Plan Amendment / Front Porch Contract:

Councilmember Festerson led detailed questioning of Ms. Taylor and Jody Holston:
- Confirmed the $40 million is from private placement bonds bought by a philanthropist, subordinate to streetcar debt; taxpayers bear no risk.
- Front Porch will administer funds, targeting 30–60% AMI units, with 20-year affordability requirements (10 years for single-family).
- The fund will recycle over time, potentially supporting up to 6,000 units in 20–30 years.
- Applications will not return to council; city has representation on review committee.
- Funds are restricted to the urban core redevelopment area (Cuming St. to Woolworth, 50th St. to river) but will expand citywide upon loan repayments.
Councilmember Hugg questioned whether adjacent bike trail areas could be included; Ms. Taylor explained legal constraints under community development law.
Councilmember Melton expressed initial concerns about spending future TIF revenue but was persuaded by the no-taxpayer-risk structure and the need to secure land now for affordable housing. Emphasized that the bond documents will return for council approval in November, providing a second check.
Councilmember Goodwin highlighted the importance of small and emerging developers, noting that Front Porch’s fund is now open on an ongoing basis to support infill and missing-middle projects.
Councilmember Rowe advocated for broader affordability action beyond this plan, referencing the Housing Affordability Plan (HAP) and a new task force on decent and affordable housing.

Other Items:

Item 30 (Settlement for Catherine Belcastro Gonzalez – $500,000 plus $160,000 attorney fees) passed 5–1, with Councilmember Hugg voting no.
Items 29, 31–35 were approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

Item 6 (Class I liquor license for Revival House): Approved 6–0.
Items 7 & 8 (PSP Acres preliminary/final plat): Approved 6–0.
Items 9–11 (Cherry Creek rezoning, final plat, subdivision agreement): Approved 6–0.
Item 12 (Resolution to approve Urban Core Housing and Mobility Redevelopment Plan Amendment): Approved 6–0. The amendment authorizes up to $490 million in TIF revenues for streetcar, affordable housing, and protected bike lanes, and specifically allocates $40 million for affordable housing contingent on bond approval.
Item 13 (Ordinance to approve redevelopment contract with Front Porch Investments): No vote taken; council discussion indicated it will be voted on at the next meeting (September 23, 2025).
Item 30: Settlement approved 5–1.
All other consent and regular items (items 14–29, 31–35) were approved unanimously (6–0).

Meeting Transcript

Good one. Harding is absent. Hug. Mr. President. Here. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for opening remarks by me. Good afternoon. Please be seated. There is a pretty big event. I don't know if anybody noticed over the weekend. I would like to yield my time to my friend and colleague, Lavanya Goodwin, Councilmember District Two for some comments today. You got something to say, maybe? Maybe just a little bit, Mr. President, and thank you. Good afternoon, fellow council members and citizens. First, I would like to thank President Begley for ceding his remarks to me today for the recognition of Omaha's own Terrence Bud Crawford. On behalf of the Omaha City Council, I want to extend an heartfelt congratulations to Terrence Bud Crawford for his historic boxing victory against Canelo Alvarez Saturday, September 14th. Terrence defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision and became the undisputed super middleweight champion of the world. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Terrence is an everyday guy. Terrence stopped to take a photo with us and to talk about North Omaha's story collection of world-renowned athletes, an exclusive club that he now leads. Boxing under Carl Washington's tutelage was a vehicle for Car Crawford to rise above and discover his superpower as a giant slayer. Please join me in another round of applause for the people's champ, Omaha's prime, and the greatest of all time, the GOAT, Terrence Bud Crawford. A side note to that, the great victory that Bud Crawford have. He had if you have a minute, look at when he returned the belts to Alvarez. And he went up to him and he handed it those belts to him. I mean, these guys deserved great recognition for their class in sportsmanship after 12 rounds of grueling punishment of each other they inflicted, that they still showed heart and compassion for one another. That's a great message we can use in society today. Thank you. Good afternoon and welcome to the Omaha City Council meeting. Is a courtesy to those in attendance and to facilitate and conduct 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. If you would like your comments entered into the public record, you can email the city clerk's office at Cityclerk at City of Omaha.org. The council members receive these emails personally and we read them. Finally, council members may ask members of the audience back up for clarifying questions, but not for extra time to speak. Council members and people in the public, when you're speaking, pull those microphones up. Hearing impaired people at home find that if our we're off to the side, you can hear us as well. So a little coaching for my colleagues and people when they come to the mic, so the audience members can hear us better. Thank you. Now we have a proclamation by Councilmember Hugg to read for Francisco Paco Fuentes. Councilmember Hug, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. President. South Omaha is a small community. Our lives are so intertwined, and our families are so intertwined that when one tragedy is experienced by one family, it's experienced by us all. I have a proclamation recognizing France Francisco Paco Fuentes for his lifelong commitment to his community South Omaha. Whereas Francisco Paco Fuentes began his lifelong journey with the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands in 1968 as a member of the South Omaha Boys Club, and through his dedication, passion, and leadership became an inspiring example for this generation. I may add, about the same time I joined the South Omaha Boys and Girls Club.

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