Roe.

Festerson.

Good one.

Harding.

Hug.

Mr.

President.

Here.

Please stand for the Pledge Allegiance and remain standing for opening remarks by Councilmember Brinker Harding.

Please be seated.

Since we ran a little long on Board of Eek, I won't take too much time, I'll just say, and this is not self-serving, but I will say, please remember that next Tuesday, if uh you haven't had an opportunity or haven't done so yet, vote.

Um, but please make sure you do exercise your right to vote by next Tuesday.

Thank you.

Thank you.

An affidavit of publication is on file, and a current copy of the Open Meeting Act is posted in a white binder as well of legislative chambers.

Good afternoon.

Welcome to this meeting of the Omo 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 Cityclerk at City of Omaha dot org.

Council members receive these emails and read them.

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

Okay.

And whereas the ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of AL research globally and has committed more than 154 million to support more than 550 projects across the United States and 18 other countries.

And whereas the ALS Association is committed to make ALS livable and cure it for everyone and everywhere.

And whereas Amyothropic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month provides an opportunity to increase public awareness of the dire circumstances of people living with ALS, acknowledge the terrible impact this disease has on those individuals and their families and support research to eradicate this disease.

Now, therefore, we, the City Council, the City of Omaha, to hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month, and call upon all individuals to join in supporting ALS research, advocating for increased funding, and standing in solidarity with those affected by this relentless disease.

And witness whereof, we have set our hands and caused the official seal of the City of Omaha to be affixed on this fifth day of May 2026.

I don't believe that the gentleman was able to make it this afternoon, so we'll make sure that they get a copy of that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Goodwin, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And if we can have the members of the Economic Development Council come down to the podium, and I will read this proclamation, and we will then have a few words from our economic developers.

And I know we have others in the audience, so if you can please all come down and just stand up together.

So May 4th marked the 100th year for the International Economic Development Council, and so this week is Economic Development Week.

So our proclamation reads, whereas more than 100,000 economic development and related professionals worldwide are committed to creating, retaining, and expanding top-tier opportunities that foster long-term equitable community growth, and whereas for generations, the economic development profession has cultivated thriving neighborhoods, championed sustainability and resiliency, strengthened economic prosperity, enhance quality of life, and built robust tax basis, and whereas economic development professionals operate across diverse environments, including rural, suburban and urban communities, local, state, and national governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, institutions of higher education, and other similar organizations and associations, and whereas economic development professionals serve as stewards of progress, connecting residents, business leaders, elected officials, industry executives, and educational institutions to advance job creation, community investment, infrastructure improvements, and long-term opportunity, and whereas economic developers contribute to the continued strength and vitality of Omaha and the State of Nebraska, building on past achievements while shaping a resilient and prosperous future, and whereas since 1926, the International Economic Development Council and its preceding organizations have advanced the profession globally, marking 100 years of leadership dedicated to fostering growth, innovation, sustainability, and resilience in communities of all sizes.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, the Omaha City Council hereby recognizes May 4th through the 8th, 2026 as economic development week and celebrates 100 years of impact by reflecting on the progress achieved and celebrates 100 years of impact, excuse me, honoring the professionals who strengthen our communities today and inspiring the next century of economic opportunity and growth in witness whereof we have set our hands and caused the official seal of the City of Omaha to be a fixed this day of May 2026 and 5th, 2026.

And before we have some of our speakers today, I just wanted to say I am a member of the International Economic Development Council, and we are part of a national cohort cohort called the Economic Recovery Corps, the North 24th Street Business Improvement District sets as a host site.

And our fellow who is actually on a remote fellowship tour in Hawaii, Che Barnett has been with us for two and a half years, where she has held with technical assistance for economic development.

And so if we could have our speakers first, and then if we could just have each person here simply say their name in the organization that they represent today, Mr.

Gines.

Definitely.

Well, it's good to see everybody.

You know, exciting time to talk about economic development because I know you all like taxes and the ability to spend them.

And so I'm Dr.

Dell Gines, Chief Innovation Officer of the International Economic Development Council, but I am Omaha born and raised and still live.

Spent 50 years of my life off 43rd in Decatur, now live off 113th in State Street.

Um I wrote work remote in that role.

For those that are not familiar with the International Economic Development Council, we are the largest professional association of economic developers in the world.

Um we exist to celebrate and champion economic development.

Two of our primary strategies through our vision and mission is share prosperity across the globe and equitable development.

And we exist to empower economic developers to make places better for people to live, work, and play, by leveraging the economy.

And so in economic development week, I think it's important to celebrate what we have in Omaha.

Omaha has been a historically very strong economy.

Used to work right up the street at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for 12 years.

So I got to hear a lot of the economic reports.

Um and we have the opportunity now to move forward, even despite some of the headwinds that we've been talking about.