Fasterson Goodman is absent.

Harding.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Here.

Please stand for uh we have opening remarks by Councilmember Pete Fasterson after the Pledge Allegiance.

Why don't we take a minute?

The reason why our colleague uh Miss Goodwin's not with us today is because she's at the funeral for her father-in-law, Dan Goodwin Sr.

A couple of us had the opportunity to attend that service just now, along with Mayor Ewing.

We want her to know that our thoughts are with her and her family and uh with the good ones.

Dan Goodwin, as you may know, is a longtime committed citizen to Omaha, uh, civil rights champion, a business owner, a barber, and leaves a great uh a great um tradition and a great legacy to all of their family and to our community.

So we want to recognize them here today and um and have our thoughts be with the family.

And lastly, this being the first meeting of two thousand twenty-six, I want to say happy new year to everyone, and we look forward to doing great things for the city of Omaha this year.

Thank you.

An affidavit of publication is on trial, and our current copy of the Open Meeting Act is posted in a white binder on the East Wall of Legislative Chambers.

Okay, we're gonna skip around.

I appreciate everybody's patience.

Um, I got a proclamation I like to read for the Omaha firefighters today, if Trevor and your members want to come down.

Well, not all of you, but as many as you want.

Whereas Omaha firefighters serve our community by putting our safety above their own, working in toxic environments containing smoke, soot, and other carcinogens, and whereas studies have found a direct correlation between the chemical exposures firefighters' experience on the job and their increased risk for cancer, with firefighters having a nine percent greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer, and a 14% greater chance of dying from cancer than the general population.

Early detection through routine screening leads to earlier treatment and better disease outcomes, including improved survival and reduced morbility.

In witness whereof we have set our hands and caused the official seal of the city of Omaha to be a fix on this 13th day of January 2026.

Thank you, Mr.

President, uh members of the council.

I'm Trevor Towey, President of Omaha Professional Firefighters 6005 Grover Street.

Not only for this proclamation, but for honoring firefighter McDonald's service of over 18 years to the citizen of Omaha.

As you can see, he was very popular, very good firefighter.

He's done great things over his career.

And you know, we're a little less of a department with in his absence.

But I also want to just thank you for your continued support on uh the issue of cancer among firefighters.

The city of Omaha has invested a lot of resources in reducing that number of cancers, and without your support and your approval, that wouldn't happen.

So again, I want to thank you.

Um I look forward to continuing to work with you.

And with your permission, Mr.

President, I know Mrs.

McDonnell had some prepared remarks that she'd like to make.

Thank you.

And I as you're coming up, I apologize I wasn't able to greach in person ahead of time.

I wanted to say hello to each and every one of you that are here today, but thank you and please take as much time as you want.

Okay, thank you.

Do I need to say my name and address?

Please.

Okay.

Stacy McDonald, Matthew McDonnell, 423 North Sixth Street, Plattsmith, Nebraska.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Thank you for taking the time today to recognize Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month and for honoring my husband Matt.

On behalf of our family, we are greatly deeply grateful for this proclamation and the acknowledgement of what firefighters and their families face every day.

Thank you for seeing him, not just as a firefighter, but as a person whose life and service matters.

Firefighters accept risk as part of the job.

They run towards danger when everyone else is running away.

What many don't realize, the danger doesn't always end when the fire is out.

Long after the gear is hung up and the shift is over, they're facing a silent battle.

Cancer has become one of the most serious and silent threats facing firefighters today.

Matt didn't ask for recognition.

Like most firefighters, he showed up to work to serve his community, protect his brothers and sisters, and come home to his family.

Cancer was never something we expected to be a part of his story, but it's now a reality for us and far too many firefighters.

Matt's cancer is terminal.

Saying those words out loud is something no family ever expects to do.

We never imagined the job he loved.

The job he was so proud to do for this city would one day take so much from him and from our children.

Our kids know their dad as a firefighter.

They know the uniform, they know the long shifts, the missed birthdays and school programs, waking up on Christmas morning with dad at the fire station.

What they didn't know, and what no child should have to understand is why cancer was his biggest threat.

They're growing up watching their dad, knowing he ran into danger for others, and he now sits at home fighting a battle he never signed up for.

Behind every diagnosis is a family.

Spouses, children, parents, who walk through fear and uncertainty with strength they never knew they had.

Children asking hard questions, spouses trying to stay strong, and homes forever changed.

Our home is forever changed.

These are not rare stories.

They're happening across departments and across this country.

Firefighters accept risk, but cancer should not be their cost of service.

Awareness matters, prevention matters, early detection matters, clean gear policies matter.

Ongoing support for firefighters and their families matter after the fire is out, after the shift is over, and after the headlines fade.

Continued support from leadership like you matters more than you may ever realize.

Nebraska legislation has a law supporting families like ours, LB 432, the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Act.

The only catch, the small print, it's voluntary for cities to provide this benefit to their firefighters.

Since it was implemented, zero dollars have been paid out to support firefighters like Matt and families like ours.

The current Omaha fire contract that gets final approval from this city council does not currently provide long-term health insurance for dependents of line of duty deaths.

The same month that our children lose their dad, they're gonna lose health insurance.

Today's proclamation is more than words on paper.

It tells our children that their dad's sacrifice is seen.

It tells other fire families that they are seen.

It tells firefighters that their lives matter beyond their service.

And it tells this community that honoring firefighters means more than protecting them on the job, but after the fire is out.

Not only while they serve, but after.

Thank you for recognizing this month for your willingness to stand with firefighters and their families facing the hardest days of their life, and for honoring Matt.

We're proud to be a part of this city and thankful for your support.

Please continue to remember behind every statistic is a family, our children, and is a firefighter that showed up for this city every day without hesitation.

Thank you again for honoring Matt, and thank you for helping to ensure the next generation of firefighters has a safer future than the ones today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes.

Item six to consider a class C liquor license for State Bridge Suites, Omaha, located at 7825 Davenport Street.

I will open the public hearing on item number six.

Before I call for proponents, is the applicant here?

On Zoom.

What do we got?

Oh thanks.

Ms.

Stewart, can you hear us?

Say yes.

Yes.

Can we get thank you?

Can we get your name and address, please, for the record?

Jessica Thomas Stewart, 8217 Wilson Drive, Apartment 1, Ralston, Nebraska, 68127.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here today in item number six?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Got a motion.

Get a second.

Second.

Row call.

Melton.

Row.

Festerson.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

Item seven to consider a class IK liquor license for Benson Theater located at six zero five four Maple Street.

I will open the public hearing now on item number seven.

Is the applicant here today?

Yes.

Please.

Your name and address for the record, please.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

I'm Christina Camler.

I am an attorney with Baird Holm here today, representing Abraham Catering Services.

My address is 1700 Farnham Street, suite 1500 Omaha, Nebraska.

And I'm joined here by Chad Morford, who is a representative of Abraham Caterings.

Chad, do you want to tell them your address?

Yeah, Chad Morford 2437 South 48 Ave, Omaha, Nebraska, 68106.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here today for item number seven?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Feterson, you're recognized.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

Thank you for being here.

Um I know that Benson Theater has had a liquor license, but this is Abraham Catering taking over that license to operate that portion of the business, right?

That's correct.

Great.

Thanks.

Well, I look forward to supporting it here today.

And uh a big support of the Benson Theater, and I wish you well.

Thank you very much.

Motion to approve.

Got a motion and second roll call.

Melton, Rowe, Festerson.

Yes.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Item eight to consider a class side liquor license for a courtyard Omaha downtown located at 101 at South Tenth Street.

Public hearing is now open on item number eight.

Is the applicant on Zoom?

Yes.

Good afternoon.

Can we get your name and address for the record, please?

Yes.

It's Lacey Bailey, 166-25 Elm Street, Omaha, Nebraska, 68130.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item number eight?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Second.

Got a motion and second.

Roll call.

Melton.

Row.

Festerson.

Yes.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Hi.

Motion passed six to zero.

Item nine, a resolution to approve the preliminary plat for two key heights, replat one, along with a waiver to section 5384A, La Depth, located west of 36 and Brown Streets, Planning Board and Planning Department.

Recommend approval.

Before I call for proponents, the applicant, good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

My name's Joe Flaxbeard, 14710 West Dodge Road.

Engineer with Lamper Nearson here on behalf of the applicant, Holy Name Housing.

I'm also joining with Matthew uh Kavanaugh, Executive Director of Holy Name Housing.

Uh, we're excited about this project to provide some affordable housing in the neighborhood, and we're here to answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here today?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Motion approved.

Got a motion and second roll call.

Melton, roe.

Fasterson.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

Items 10 through 12 can be considered together for Avenue 1, Replet 7, located northeast of 192nd and Burke Streets, Planning Board and Planning Department.

Recommend approval.

Items 10 and 11 resolutions to approve the preliminary plat and final plat.

Item 12, a resolution to approve the subdivision agreement.

Public hearing is now open for items 10 through 12.

Before I call for proponents, the applicant.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mr.

President.

Council members, Jim Boucher, 10250 Regency Circle here on behalf of the applicant.

Be happy to answer any questions today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here today?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

One word here, Hardy.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Too late.

Day late and dollar short, huh?

Uh good afternoon, Omaha City Council.

Donnie R.

Johnson of Johnson Equation Foundation and Northern Hawaiian Titicen Foundation.

Uh we just had a couple of questions about this development.

Is this close to the county line?

And if it is, can we also look at this as uh as we told the uh delegation once before President Bush is going to win the election?

Would you please ask him for some land, some soil?

So from East Texas, because we knew he was gonna win.

Donnie, we we gotta stay on topic, and I need to get your address for the record.

I didn't need to.

Oh, yes, sir.

4928 and all 52nd Street.

We're just hoping Mr.

Fretz is gonna step in here and negotiate Benson Park while we negotiate getting the code.

You're off topic today.

Yes, sir.

All right, thank you.

It's approved.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Melton, row, festerson, Harding, yes, hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six 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 the consent agenda and the order in which they were removed unless otherwise provided by the city council rules of order.

The public hearing on agenda items 13 through 17 were held on December 23rd, 2025.

Any council discussion?

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Melton.

Rowe.

Festerson.

Yes.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

The public hearings and agenda items 18 through 43 are today.

If you wish to address the city council regarding these items, please come up to the microphone.

Indicate the agenda.

Item number you wish to address.

Identify yourself with your name, address, who you represent, and if you're a proponent or opponent.

Are there any proponents?

Omaha City Council.

Uh Donnie R.

Johnson, the Johnson E.

Question Foundation, and Northamar Conservative Tittson Foundation, 49, 28, and 052nd.

Uh number 20 and number 23.

We we'd like to ask a couple of questions to the council, even though Mr.

Fretchison still hasn't told us if we have that land at Benson Park when they close it.

But number 20, uh we want the mayor also, these young men who are from the Caucasian African American community, we need another van added to that because they're going to be going from the correction center to the Peace Corps at Fort Omaha.

We need a van to transfer them so they can get back here as they sign up for the Peace Corps.

And number 23, uh is that the one with the mayor buying them vans?

No, that's number 20.

So Hawkins Construction.

We want them to be added to the HDR of this building of this new bridge they're gonna be building in Cairo, Egypt.

So we had to get some of that money.

And then number 27.

Uh what is that one here at Nebraska Department of Transportation?

No, that's still them cars.

We want the heavy equipment operators, union to start paying for somebody's streets they've been tearing up and give that money to black Blackstone to help the city.

Because I'm having noticed all this heavy equipment around the town.

It ain't if it's over one ton, they supposed to be taxed.

Or no, not taxed.

We'll figure that one out later.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents?

Um Larry Store, 5015 Lafayette Avenue, Omaha 68132.

I'm in favor of number 40.

All right.

Mr.

Timothy Reader.

He's very interesting.

Party Urson knows an awful lot about the history of Omaha and the housing in Omaha.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here on items 18 through 43?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Motion approve items 18 through 43.

Okay.

Can I motion and a second roll call?

Melton.

Row.

Festerson Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

6 to 0.

Item 44, a resolution to approve the settlement agreement for Kerry Salon versus City of Omaha and William Kresovek in the amount of 112,500.

Public hearing is now open on item number 44.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Melton.

Row.

Festerson.

Yes.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

6-0.

Item 45, an ordinance to approve, vacating a portion of sleepy hollow lane, right of way east of 29th Avenue to its terminus.

Planning board and planning department recommend approval.

Public hearing is open.

Are there any proponents on item 45?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Item 46, an ordinance to accept the bid of Chopper's lawn service in the amount of $55,550 to provide for cleanup and turf maintenance services for Ramble Ridge Subdivision.

Public hearing is open on item number 46.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

One public hearing can be held for items 47 through 53.

Ordinances to approve school resource officers for the 2025-2026 school year at Omaha Public Schools, Elkorn Public Schools, Millard Public Schools, and West Side Community Schools.

AIS Communication and Opposition.

Public hearing is now open on items 47 through 53.

Are there any proponents here today?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Donnie R.

Johnson, the Johnson Equestron Foundation, North Omaha Concerned Citizen Foundation.

I think this is a wonderful program.

We just wanted to add it.

We got to stay on topic for the resource officers.

Yeah, but the police, which home should we have?

Police or engineers.

47 through 53.

I rather have the engineers as well with the police.

Thank you.

Any other opponents on 47 through 53?

Public hearing is closed.

Item 54, an ordinance to approve a budget transfer in the amount of 2,924,667 from the wage adjustment account to the city departments.

Public hearing is now open on item 54.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Item 55, an ordinance to approve additional fuel storage at an existing class B flammable combustible liquid storage district number B-225.

B flammable combustible liquid storage district number B two five.

Okay, that five zero one eight Ames Avenue.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Mr.

President.

I motion passed six to zero.

I will state for the record the purpose for the executive session is to only discuss labor negotiations.

We have to do two separate Melton.

Yeah.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

There we go.

Motion passed six to zero, meaning is adjourned at three twenty-five.