Omaha City Council Meeting May 19, 2026: Proclamations, Licenses, Subdivisions, and Fundraising Ordinance
Omaha City Council Meeting – May 19, 2026
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and remarks by Councilmember Pete Fesserson about the upcoming Memorial Day ceremony. The council approved several liquor licenses, subdivisions, and tax assessments. A lengthy public hearing was held on an ordinance to allow city employees to fundraise for nonprofits during work hours, with many supporters speaking. No final vote was taken on that item.
Consent Calendar
- Items 16–20 were approved unanimously (6-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Proclamation: Bernard Edenbosh Day was declared for the retiring city attorney. Council members praised his service.
- Item 6: Paul and Rachel McCray, owners of Corner Kick, spoke in favor of a new Class C liquor license. Councilmember Melton praised their tacos.
- Item 7: Michael Polk and Peter Cool for Rhino Supermarket and Liquor. Peter Cool stated neighbors supported the license. Councilmember Goodwin asked about overconcentration of liquor licenses in North Omaha; Cool noted the store will offer African foods.
- Item 8: David Houghton for Good Life Sports Bar and Grill outdoor area addition.
- Item 9: Todd Stevens (via Zoom) for Grover Inn outdoor concert special license.
- Items 10–12: Joe Foley and Scott Bellon for Elkhorn Hills subdivision.
- Items 13–15: Jim Boosier and DJ Hinman for Preserved Second Edition subdivision.
- Items 21–31: Proponents for item 29 (City Sprouts, Family Housing Advisory Services, Community Land Trust, Holy Name Housing) spoke in support of funding for affordable housing and community programs. Dan McDowell spoke for item 22 (liquor license manager changes).
- Item 36: Extensive public comment. Trevor Towie (Omaha Professional Firefighters Union President) spoke in favor of allowing firefighters to do “Fill the Boot” for MDA. Clarence King (Serve Nebraska), Nick Kohler (Nonprofit Association of the Midlands), Darren Caster and his son Derek (MDA families), Sandra Day (mother of a child with Duchenne muscular dystrophy), Christy Starmer, and Heather Miller (MDA senior director) all spoke in support. They emphasized the tradition and impact of the program.
Discussion Items
- Item 36 (Ordinance to amend city code to permit city employees to fundraise for nonprofits during work hours): Councilmember Bagley, who introduced the ordinance, asked City Attorney Matt Coozy about legal considerations, the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC) opinion, and safeguards. Coozy explained the narrow window of legality and that department directors have discretion. Councilmember Melton expressed concerns about transparency, cost (up to 5,600 hours of city time per year), and potential for picking winners and losers. She suggested requiring council approval via resolution. Councilmember Hugg argued the ordinance is overcomplicated and that firefighters should be allowed to do what thousands of other departments nationwide do. Councilmember Roe questioned the mission of city government and whether fundraising aligns with department missions. Councilmember Goodwin suggested considering a framework like NAM’s best practices and a public-private advisory committee. No vote was taken; the item will likely return on a future agenda.
Key Outcomes
- Item 6: Approved 6-0 (Class C liquor license for Corner Kick).
- Item 7: Approved 6-0 (Class D liquor license for Rhino Supermarket).
- Item 8: Approved 6-0 (outdoor area addition for Good Life).
- Item 9: Approved 6-0 (special designated license for Grover Inn).
- Items 10–12: Approved 6-0 (Elkhorn Hills subdivision).
- Items 13–15: Approved 6-0 (Preserved Second Edition subdivision).
- Items 21–31: Approved 6-0 (including item 29 for City Sprouts and others).
- Item 32: Approved 6-0 (litter removal tax assessment).
- Item 33: Approved 6-0 (weeds tax assessment).
- Item 34: Approved 6-0 (amendment on unauthorized ticket reselling).
- Item 35: Public hearing held; no vote recorded in transcript.
- Items 37–40: Approved 6-0 (interlocal agreements with Big Red Keno).
- Non-action items 41–53: Noted for future agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Festerson. Here. Good one. Harding is absent. Hug. Melton. Here. Roe. Mr. President. Here. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for opening remarks by Councilmember Pete Fesserson. I just wanted to note this is our last council meeting before this Memorial Day holiday this year. That's a time when we think about, of course, all of our loved ones and all of those that have served our country. We will, of course, have a ceremony memorial park for those that are interested on on the Monday at 10 o'clock for skydiving and pancakes and 11 o'clock for the actual ceremony. So all are invited, and I hope and wish all of you a health, healthy, happy, and safe weekend with your friends and family. An affidavit of publication is on file, and a current copy of the Open Meeting Act is posted in a white binder on 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. 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.org. Council members receive these emails 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. So we're at now, therefore, let it be resolved that the city of Omaha officially designates Friday, June 5th, 2026 as Bernard Edenbosh Day in Omaha, Nebraska. And in witness whereof we have set our hands and caused the official seal of the city of Omaha to be affixed on this 19th day of May, 2026. And Bernard, if I may add to that proclamation, just a couple words, because not only have you been a source of knowledge, advice and guidance for your co-workers in the law department and city departments. You've actually been a source of knowledge and advice for lawyers, private lawyers all over the city who call you, and lawyers who work for other cities who call you and look to advice. You've provided service to more people than just those of the citizens of Omaha, but to people all over. And I just want to thank you for always being there and always providing that to anyone that calls a NAS. Thank you. My wife Johnny, my son Mitchell, my son Tanner, uh, my two granddaughters were able to make it, Ellie and Evie, and my daughter-in-law, Lauren, who's not able to make it. Uh, I also want to thank the mentors that I had with the city attorney's office. Uh, people that provided a lot of information to me on how to demonstrate the balance of representing the city legally, but also serving the public, because I think there is an obligation that we have that we don't see in other places for other attorneys. We have an opportunity and obligation to ensure the attorneys are the public is aware of what's occurring. In particular, Joe Cavill, Bob Hamer, Tom Mumgard, Kent Winnery, Wendy Hahn, and Alan Thielen. Um, and the city attorney or federal who hired me, and the city attorneys that I've served for that. So, and I also want to thank all the employees that I've served with in city government. Uh, frankly, made it a place that I wanted to show up every day. So that's all I wanted to say. I thank you once again, appreciate the honor. I'll try to get out of your way so you can proceed with business. Thank you, Bernard. Granddaughter is so cute. Council member Goodwin, you're recognized. Mr. President, I just wanted to say to Bernard, I first met him in 2018. Uh, prior to me sitting on the council, he helped us uh countless nights in the community to form the North 24th Street Business Improvement District. And I can say that he was always pleasant, although sometimes the room was a little uh hostile uh and always made himself available to to answer questions in a timely and and and and in a kind and yet informative manner.
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