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.

So thank you for your service.

I I'm truly a witness that you're true public servant in and not only with your knowledge but in the nature in which you serve.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Fesserson.

You're recognized.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

Okay, I'll pile on a little bit.

I kind of remember the last the first time I met you, Bernard, but it's been a long time of working together.

Uh I've always trusted you.

Um, and you've been a great source of knowledge and impartial information to all council members and mayors and to the public.

And that's a rare quality these days and an important one in your job uh representing the city law department.

So I've always appreciated um your guidance and your friendship.

And I know uh it's been neat for us to share that my daughter is a graduate of your college as well.

Uh so we have that that bond also.

We look forward to continuing our work with you in the future, and thank you so much for your service to the Substance of Omaha.

What I'll make a comment, Bernard.

Um, you're the epitome of what a good, humble, decent public servant is about.

Your counsel to this council to me when I got on here, you absorbed your measured in how you approach things and looking at your kids and your grandkids up there.

You need to be super proud of that guy because he's humble and doesn't crave attention.

He passes his knowledge and counsel on, and it's been nothing but a joy to work with you, Bernard, and I wish you a long, happy, healthy retirement.

And I think we'll be seeing you around a little bit.

So thanks for all you've done.

All right.

Thank you.

Item six to consider a class C liquor license for corner kick located at 2295 at South 67th Street.

Public hearing is now open on item number six.

Is the applicant here today?

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Your name and address for the record, please.

Paul McCray, 17057 Weir Street, Omaha.

Rachel McCray, 17057 Weir Street, Omaha.

Thank you.

We might have a few questions for you.

Are there any proponents here on item six today?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Melton, you're recognized.

Yeah, I just want to say congratulations on opening another corner kick.

There's a current corner kick at 132nd Dodge in my district.

I can tell you their tacos are awesome.

And so I think it's great.

Just make sure you're not gonna close the one by my house to open this one, right?

It's gonna stay open.

Yes.

My mother will be very happy to hear that because she likes to stay close to home and they enjoy their evenings at your place.

So she was just having lunch with us.

Yes.

They have uh grandma's grandmas also do ladies' nights, and they like to do um ladies' lunches at the corner kick.

So congratulations on the new location.

Thank you.

Thanks.

And I you're in my district.

I can't make a motion to support this, but I'm is this the old voodoo taco spot?

It is okay.

And there's a new establishment right next to your opening.

Correct.

Um when are you planning on opening and tell us briefly about what Councilmember Melton has already experienced from her district?

So ideally June 8th as a soft open, and then uh because World Cup starts on the 11th, so we want to be open for that.

So we are a Midwest Mex uh restaurant.

Uh we've got a tequila bar, we've got about 130 tequilas, we've got phenomenal food.

We may do everything.

We're scratch kitchen.

Um, this would be our third location in town.

Uh and I very excited to be in the Xarbin village and just being part of that that thriving area there.

With Red Door coming in next door and us, I think that's good it's gonna change that whole dynamic there.

Well, we're we're glad to have you here in exorbitant.

I'll look forward to supporting this and and trying those uh homemade from scratch Mexican food.

I can't wait.

So welcome.

Got a motion and a second.

Councilmember Rowe, you're recognized.

Mr.

Hug just stole my thunder.

Um I want to do uh thank you as well.

Uh we love having you in Millard as well for your location down there on the corner.

And uh we love going by there too.

So I'll be voting to approve.

Thank you.

No further lights.

We had a motion and a second, correct?

Yep.

Roll call.

Fasterson.

Yes, good one.

Yes.

Hug, Melton, yeah, row.

Mr.

President.

Hi.

Motion passed six to zero.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Item seven to consider a class D liquor license for Rhino Supermarket and Liquor located at 6501 Ames Avenue.

Public hearing is now open on item number seven.

Applicants, good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Michael Polk appearing with the owner, Peter Cool, 2712 South 87th Avenue.

We're here to answer any questions.

Um I really appreciate being present of being your president.

And I kindly need your support, uh, all.

Uh, we've spoken with three of my neighbor, the daycare, the auto, at the repair, and also the big building.

That all okay with it.

And I have the name.

Uh Walker, the gilding, and the men on auto worker and Akron on a daycare.

So everybody's in support.

And I kindly add your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can can we also get your address for the record?

Amy's thank you.

Thank you.

We might have some questions for you.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item number seven?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Fesserson, you're recognized.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

And thanks, Peter, for coming back.

Uh I enjoyed meeting you and discussing this with you last week.

I know you were here with the group uh from the Omaha Chamber of Commerce that we welcomed.

And uh we've talked about this location in the past.

Like you say, um, I wanted to make sure you had contacted your neighbors because it is very close to an apartment building right behind you, and then a daycare across the street.

I think a convenience supermarket of some type, but that does not have a liquor license right across the street there, too.

So you've said you've been in contact and no concerns from them and catch.

I appreciate that.

I haven't received any either.

Can you talk a little bit about I think it's a former um used car sales lot, right?

Or your property.

I think is what's uh for the air before, and they make it also as for the I think it's a weight type.

They use a sell kind like a wood or something.

Medic, some kind of that from the purpose owner.

Okay.

And what's been operating there up to this point?

No, it's been named for sin.

I bought it in 2022.

Okay.

Nothing been shut up.

Okay.

Um and so you'll have uh you're seeking a liquor license and we have other um offerings too?

Yes.

I'm taking a legal license.

I will be selling a food in there also.

And I took my training for uh uh Sure Saloma, so uh training for selling uh liquor and wine.

You take the class?

Yeah, I did class.

Yeah, good.

And you're operating on hours?

Uh I will defend how can it start from seven to eleven or seven to twelve if that is a business there.

If that's no business, then we may yeah, we may start later like eight.

Okay.

Thank you.

Let's do my questions for now.

I think I see there's another light on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Goodwin, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And this is in Councilmember Festerson's district, but I'm not a few blocks away, and so I although I've not received protest about this license.

We do hear from the community about over concentration of liquor licenses in North Omaha.

Um, can you tell me just will this uh supermarket cater to specific maybe foods, uh ethnic foods?

I know uh that is something that we're seeing emerge on Ames Street, and I can appreciate that when you're providing uh an amenity or a service uh to to the area.

Yeah, it's the food that uh you come on by and on cookie home, like internal food, local food, you know, give it a diverse food.

But also ships and all other things, you know, that people can can eat.

Yeah, I will have some African food, yes.

Yeah, okay.

No, that's this again.

I'm always talking about how we're bringing services and amenities back to North Omaha, so it's good to see that there'll be some type of niche product that benefits a broader group of people.

Thank you.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Got a motion and a second, no further lights, roll call.

Festerson, yes, good one.

Yes.

Hug.

Yes.

Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed 60.

So Michael.

Thank you so much.

Item eight to consider a liquor license addition application for good life sports bar and grill located at 1501 Mike Fehey Street, suite 150 to add an outdoor area.

Public hearing is now open on item number eight.

Mr.

Houghton, good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mr.

President, members of the council.

David Houghton, 2804 South 87th Avenue, here on behalf of High Life Downtown LLC, which is doing businesses, Good Life Sports Bar and Grill, located at 1501 Mike Fehey Street, suite 150.

Uh Good Life Sports Bar and Grill is requesting um an addition for an outdoor area on their pending Class C license.

Any of the council members have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item number eight?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Goodwin, you're recognized.

Okay, Mr.

President.

So this is in District 2, Mr.

Houghton.

How are you today?

I'm good, thank you.

Um, how does the outdoor patio expand capacity for the bar itself?

So, how many people will they be able to add through this outdoor capacity?

Um, I don't have numbers on the uh amount of people.

The outdoor area is going to be 95 by 15.

Um so they will stay within any municipal limits on capacity.

Uh may look through the application.

I don't think that there's a number designated for the outdoor area in the application, but I'd be happy to find out and email your office.

Absolutely.

I it's more so I I do appreciate outdoor seating during the the warmer weathers, and it looks like uh will this be in time for uh CWS?

That is the hope.

Good.

Well, I'd like to motion to approve.

Got a motion and it's second, no further lights, roll call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug.

Melton?

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

Thank you.

Item nine to consider a special designated liquor license application for Grover Inn located at 3505 South 42nd Street for an outdoor concert on June 5th from 12 p.m.

to 2 a.m.

with music until midnight.

Public hearing is now open on item number nine.

I believe we're on Zoom, correct?

Applicant on Zoom.

Mr.

Stevens.

We can hear you.

Good afternoon.

Can you hear us?

You might have muted your both.

There you go.

Can you hear us okay?

Yeah, can you hear me?

We hear you perfect.

Loud and clear.

If you want to give your name and address for the record.

Todd Stevens, 3410 South 43rd Street.

Hear you perfectly.

Thank you.

We might have a couple questions for you.

Okay.

Are there any proponents here on item number nine?

Seeing none, or there are any opponents.

Public hearing is closed.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Fasterson.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug.

Yes.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

Six to zero.

Items ten through twelve can be considered together for Elkhorn Hills, located southeast of 203rd Street and Veterans Drive.

Planning Board and Planning Department recommend approval.

B is communication and support.

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

Item 12, a resolution to approve the subdivision agreement.

The public hearing for items 10 through 12 is now open.

Applicants, good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

I'm Joe Foley, one of the engineers working on the project.

Along with the applicant, Scott Bellon, if you have any questions.

Pretty simple project, basically carving out three residential lots from the church lot, along with cleaning up some kind of historic survey issues around the around the property.

But I think with that, we'll just leave it for any questions you might have.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on items 10 through 12?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Motion to approve.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

Items 13 through 15 can be considered together for the preserved second edition, located southwest of 222nd and I streets.

Planning board and planning department recommend approval.

Item 13, an ordinance to rezone this property from AG district to DR district.

Item 14, a resolution to approve the final plat.

Item 15, a resolution to approve the subdivision agreement.

Public hearing for items 13 through 15 are being held right now.

Applicant, Mr.

Boozer, good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mr.

President.

Uh Jim Boosier, 10250 Regency Circle.

Here on behalf of the applicant, Jasper Stone.

I also have with me DJ Hinman, uh, who's a representative of the developer?

And we'd be happy to answer any questions you might have today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on items 13 through 15?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Second.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

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 16 through 20 were held on May 12th, 2026.

Any council discussion?

Motion to approve.

Got a motion and a second row call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Yes.

Hug.

Yes.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

The public hearings on agenda items 21 through 31 are today.

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

Indicate the agenda item you wish to address.

Address who you represent, and if you are a proponent or opponent.

Public hearing is now open.

Are there any proponents on items 21 through 31?

Seeing none.

Okay, I'm sorry.

Senator Blood, good afternoon.

Carol Blood, 2812 Jack Pine Street, Bellevue, Nebraska, representing City Sprouts as the executive director.

We are, of course, in full support of item number 29 on your agenda.

City Sprouts has been serving this community for 31 years.

Both our uh community center and our farm are located within the Omaha City limits.

Unfortunately, the House will we how house everything is over a hundred years old.

Um if this is approved, we will be able to to regenerate our building and also hopefully make it more safe for the people in North Omaha who come to learn about sustainability, grow sustainability, and live sustainability.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

Are there any other proponents on items 21 through 31?

Good afternoon, Mr.

President.

Uh Dan McDowell, 1125 South 103rd Street.

Uh in this is in regards to item 22, appearing on behalf of the applicants, Global Spirits LLC and Sun Spirits LLC.

Um happy to answer any questions that the board may have regarding this agenda item.

Um see these are requested changes to uh the manager on two proposed liquor licenses that were previously approved.

So happy to answer any questions council may have.

Thank you.

Any other proponents to speak on items 21 through 31.

Good afternoon.

I'm Denise Parker with um the homeownership department in our homeownership education program with family housing advisory services, 2401 Lake Street.

Our mission is to improve housing opportunities and eliminate poverty.

And we achieve this as a head certified agency through head certified counselors to minimize or to maximize our impact.

We build strong partnerships and the homeownership program has partnerships, our strong ones with Holy Name Housing, Home Woven, JSU housing, and many more.

But we also partner with lenders because we want to know about specialized loan products, grant funds, down payment assistance, so that we can keep homeownership as affordable as possible.

And then those those who go through those special programs, then we'll take our education to be educated home buyers.

Our tenant services program.

Uh I want to also mention has some good partners with New Style Development, MP Dodge Selden Company, Excel Development, the Nathan Limited Partnership, and others.

Educates councils and supports those with housing needs.

So we provide all those services.

But number one is that education, because that helps educate them and you know make them wiser.

Uh we have the home um housing matters program, uh education program for two hours long.

We have a rent-wise education that goes six to eight hours.

We provide pre-purchase, post-purchase, and financial education.

Uh nine hours for pre-purchase, three and a half hours for post-purchase, and four hours for financial education.

But um we want to thank you because last year's investment that you made in homeownership education and our tenant services program, which helps with rental assistance.

It resulted in 61 folks who are interested in uh down payment loan programs, as well as over 50 home buyers and 938 individuals were supported with our tenant service program.

So thank you very much.

I'm a proponent of item 29.

Thank you.

Open for any questions.

Thank you.

Hi, Cheryl Gars and Common Housing Development Corporation 1340 Park Avenue.

I'm also a proponent of item 29.

It will help launch uh Omaha's first community land trust program.

So it's only starting with uh small two units, but it will help about 40 families over the hundred-year period.

So uh appreciate your consideration and support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other proponents on items 21 through 31?

Good afternoon, Leisha Goodwin, Holy Name Housing 4324 Fort Street.

Um coming as a proponent for item 29.

We are recipient of home funds and CDBG that will help us with some infrastructure as well at as well as advancing affordable housing.

So thank you for your support of this um ordinance and resolution.

Thank you.

Any other proponents, items 21 through 31.

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Motion approve items 21 through 31.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Fasterson.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed, six to zero.

Item 32, an ordinance levying a special tax assessment for litter removal group 2026-04.

Is amendment of the whole requested by the parks department.

Any council discussion, item 32.

Is there a motion?

Motion is president of the whole.

Got a motion and a second.

No lights.

Roll call.

Okay.

Who is a second?

Um thank you.

So did I.

All right.

Roll call.

Thanks.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

6 0.

Item 33, an ordinance loving a special tax assessment for weeds group 2026-05 is amendment of the whole requested by the parks department.

Council discussion.

Got a motion and a second, and I'll third it.

Roll call.

Festerson.

Good one.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

6 0.

Item 34, an ordinance to amend section 20-162 of the Omaha Municipal Code entitled Offenses Against Property to Update Language Regarding the Prohibition Against Unauthorized Ticket Reselling.

A's amendment of the whole requested by the law department.

Council discussion.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Faster son.

Yes.

Good one.

Hug?

Melton?

Row?

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed six to zero.

Item 35, an ordinance to authorize payment to Skywork Aviation for Aviation Fuel for the Omaha Police Department Air Support Unit Helicopters.

Public hearing is now open on item 35.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Item 36, an ordinance to amend section 23-127 of the Omaha Municipal Code entitled personnel to permit city employees to fundraise for nonprofit organizations during working hours, is communication and opposition.

Public hearing is now open on item number 36.

Are there any proponents?

Mr.

Towie, good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Mr.

President.

Afternoon, members of the council.

My name is Trevor Towie, President of Omaha Professional Firefighter 6005 Grover Street.

And you might remember them too, but it's uh Jerry Lewis telethon.

It's muscular dystrophy, which was highlighted on that telethon all day long, all weekend.

And it was firefighters filling the boot.

And those three things came together.

They kind of made a tradition that spans decades of like a 72-year relationship that firefighters have with MDA.

So I was fortunate enough as a younger firefighter, much younger.

In 99 when I started, I got to participate in that.

And I remember myself down on 50th Street and Center, holding a boot, collecting a couple dollars throughout my shift.

And I I really wasn't sure what the impact was.

You know, as I was new and I didn't quite understand it.

Uh, until I got to see the impact uh with the families that that money served, and that fill the boot project served.

Some are with me here today because they become lifelong friends of mine and and friends of our uh fire family, and that's the impact that the fill the boot program had because I got to see a young man Derek that you're gonna hear from later, have his 30th birthday party in our union hall.

Now I don't remember my 30th birthday party because it was a long time ago, but a 30th birthday party for a kid with muscle disease is a big deal, and that's the impact that the fill the boot program has.

Now the facts are this.

This isn't a new concept.

Firefighters have been doing fill the boot for lots of decades until we couldn't.

But there's still 700 departments across this country.

That that's how they do it today.

They fill the boot on Labor Day weekend.

We got a whole group of Omaha firefighters that are just generous people, okay?

On and off the job.

We commit our our whole life to assisting people that need assistance, especially those that are most vulnerable in our community.

This fill the boot program does that.

And here's what I've heard over the years from citizens around Omaha.

We miss seeing the firefighters out on the streets.

We miss seeing you holding your boot up high on Labor Day weekend, and they expect us to do that.

I feel like Omaha is a generous community, and I feel like the city of Omaha should represent that.

They should want their employees to be generous as well to take care of our neighbors, take care of our fellow citizens, and this is a way that we can do that.

So I'm hopeful that you'll see that generosity and help us reinstate this fill the boot program so we can continue to make a difference in the lives of families affected by EMDA.

So I thank you, Mr.

President, for bringing this ordinance.

I thank you for the time allowing me to address that today, and I'll be around for any questions that you might have.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents on item 36?

Good afternoon, Clarence King, 602 North 85th Street.

Many of you might know I'm the chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party, but what you may not know is I'm also a commissioner with Serve Nebraska.

We're the uh grant writing arm for a lot of the fun of a lot of the nonprofits uh to fall into Vista AmeriCorps.

And we like to brag.

Uh I was appointed by pres uh by governor Governor Ricketts and a reappointed by uh Governor Pilland.

We like to brag in our state, we're the third best state and and volunteerism.

And this is something that impacts volunteerism.

These folks that are doing it, like like Trevor said, they're not gonna be uh gonna be forced to do something like to volunteer to do, and it's great that we have the opportunity to do that.

I I also uh I am like Trevor old enough to remember Labor Day and Jerry Lewis and telling Ed McMahon to spin the wheel and crying at the end when he raises 50 million bucks.

Um everyone in the front row has done some fundraising, you know, fundraising is about trust and having a rapport and knowing where the money's going.

And I I maybe I'm a bad person, but I go to Walgreens and it comes out to 1891 and they say do you want to round up?

And I won't give them nine cents because I don't trust them, I don't know where the money's going.

But a firefighter standing there with a boot, um I you can't stop me from reaching my pocket, getting a $20 bill out and helping MDA.

And that's part of what you're gonna do is you're gonna help the cause.

So let's keep that in mind.

The end product on this is the cause.

I know it's not limited to MDA, but it's only gonna be for great causes, and let's make sure that that doesn't get lost in any of the translation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents left to speak on item 36?

Nick, good afternoon.

Hey, good afternoon.

Thank you for holding a public hearing on ordinance 044689.

My name is Nick Kohler.

My address is 4806 Dodd Street, though I'm here today representing the nonprofit association of the Midlands at 1111 North 13th Street.

I'm the public policy and communications manager for the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, otherwise known as NAM, as the only statewide nonprofit membership um uh association in Nebraska, also serving uh Southwest Iowa.

NAM represents more than 800 nonprofits, uh Nebraska nonprofits across the state, including 474 member organizations in Omaha alone that provide essential programs and services to thousands of Nebraskans each year, including many residents and nonprofits in the Omaha area.

NAM strengthens the collective voice, leadership, and capacity of nonprofit organizations, enriching the quality of community of life throughout Nebraska and Western Iowa.

We recently released our economic impact report showing that one in ten Nebraskans are employed by a nonprofit, while every single Nebraskan is impacted by a nonprofit on a daily basis.

Nonprofits are foundational to this to the success not only of our state, but to Omaha as well.

We are here today in support of the ordinance.

At a moment of great challenge for many in the nonprofit community, we are thankful for city leadership that takes the initiative to find creative and collaborative methods for highlighting the critical work of nonprofits and helping to bring much needed additional resources to our community.

While we are supportive of this effort, we do have several implementation recommendations that we believe will lead to a better outcomes for the city for nonprofits and for our community.

First, drawing on the success of similar structures regarding other city initiatives, we recommend that the city create a public-private advisory committee to guide the selection process for nonprofits who will be beneficiaries of this ordinance.

Second, as one criterion for selecting nonprofit beneficiaries of this ordinance, we would recommend using utilizing a screening tool that NAM has already created and implemented for the purpose of identifying and uplifting nonprofits dedicated to best practices and excellence, known as NAMS Best Practice Partnership Program, which you can find on our website, nonprofitam.org.

This outside nonpartisan third-party seal of approval will help remove personal bias from the selection process and provide additional assurance regarding the nonprofits.

Again, thank you for supporting nonprofits and uplifting their essential work.

This is a time of uncertainty, and nonprofits are of no exception.

I'm happy to fill any questions, and we will continue to be there for our community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents on item 36?

Good afternoon.

Uh first I want to say thanks for taking the time to listen to us.

Uh Trevor pretty much killed what everything I had to talk about in here.

Um he did a much better job than I did.

But my name is Darren Caster, uh, 2351 Glacier Drive in Papillion, but born and raised in South Omaha.

And this is my son Derek.

And this is my son Derek, as Trevor mentioned.

He was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2001, just after his sixth birthday.

At that time, they told us that he wouldn't make middle teens.

And as Trevor mentioned, he celebrated his 30th birthday last year, 31st this year.

So he turned 31, and we've been blessed that he's that he's still with us and he's fighting, as you can see, things have changed for him.

Derek was the state goodwill ambassador for muscular dystrophy two different times, 2004 and 5 and 2016 and 17.

During that stint, we traveled the state talking to various people.

And one of the groups was the firefighters.

After that time, we we started working with them on all their events.

We would attend what we could, help them out, you know, get get it out there, and we would talk to the firefighters about volunteering for doing fill the boot.

So we become friends with them.

They actually made us honorary union members in 2015.

Uh the only civilians to get that honor so far, so we're pretty proud of that fact.

Money raised for muscular dystrophy goes to various things, one of them being equipment fixes for wheelchairs, stuff like that.

Another very important one is uh clinic visits to specialists, which is no cost to the families.

Uh, but the big one is uh the uh research that they do.

Uh they're very close to finding cures and treatments right now.

When Derek was first diagnosed, there was nothing there.

Um, but now they've got a bunch of different drugs that they're treating some of these younger kids and stuff who are still walking and it's actually working.

So fill the boot, raising that money, doing that stuff is is awesome.

But the other thing is MDA Summer Camp.

Uh Derek will tell you that's the one week of the year that he used to love going.

First couple years a little shy.

Then after that, as soon as we get there, open the door, he was gone.

Didn't even get a bye love you or anything.

He was so excited to be there and see his friends.

So that was one week of the year that he would be normal being with other kids like him.

We wouldn't have people staring at his wheelchair and stuff like that.

So those are huge things, part of this fundraising effort.

So that's why we're here to support the firefighters uh as they have supported us over the years.

So Derek, I don't have a microphone for you to talk, but uh, but I respect no yellow.

Yeah, yeah, just it's important that uh we pass this because it'd be good to have our firefighters back on the streets doing what has been a tradition for 75 years with muscular dystrophy association, and we we've done a okay job adapting to not being able to do that with this group of local 385.

We've still found a way to raise money, but being on the street corners is part of the the big part big part of the fundraising.

And if we can combine that with what we've been doing, I think the money raised will increase tenfold.

And word like my dad said, the that goes to the research, and the research is they're close and they're treating younger kids faster and faster every every couple of years.

So it's that money is going to a good place.

And I think we should yeah, just that's all I got.

Derek, thanks for the record.

Can you give us your address to Derek?

2351.

Glacier Drive, Derek Caster.

Thanks.

So thank you for you guys for taking the time to listen to us, and hopefully we can get this ordinance passed.

Thank you very much.

Thanks for coming down.

Are there any other proponents on item 36?

You bet.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Uh may I move this down a little bit?

Sure.

I'm a little short.

You're all right.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Sandra Day, and I live at 4705 North 80th Street here in Omaha.

Um 68134.

Kent Day, 4705 North 80th Street, Omaha.

Not only is he my husband, uh, he is also the amazing father of five remarkable human beings.

This is our youngest.

This is Brian.

He is no longer with us.

We lost him 13 years ago.

Honey, can you hold this?

We lost him 13 years ago uh to complications of his Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

And he was diagnosed in 1994 when he was just four.

And as a parent, if you're given that diagnosis by a doctor, you can kind of project what some of your physical challenges will be for years going forward.

But it never occurred to me this social and emotional and psychological issues that are connected with that.

Um, case in point, um Brian was playing with his friends in the neighborhood one summer day, and you know, I'd see him off and on, and they'd you know, swing by the house, grab uh popsickle or whatever, and then they'd go back to playing.

When he came in for the night, he was kind of down, and then we went into the bathroom to get ready for a bath, and he got, I mean, literally sad, y'all, and he said, Mom, I can't even tell you how hard it was to keep up with my friends today.

And he listed instance after instance where he was unable to keep up with those friends and where he was literally left behind.

And at the end of the conversation, he just kind of slumped his shoulders, started to cry, and said, Mama, I just want to be like everybody else.

That is one of the things that he never was, like everybody else.

But what he was was a young man who was able to connect with IAFF members across this city.

He became a goodwill ambassador for the state three years in a row from 95, 96 to 97.

He made more firefighter friends than you can shake a stick at.

I'm not kidding you.

My husband and I are both teachers.

The number of times we'd come home from school and see Station 41's ambulance and fire truck in front of our house with the lights on, getting Brian all excited one day.

Kent said, Would you please have them stop that?

I have a heart attack every single time I come down the street.

So, but my point is that that event of fill the boot was so important to him.

It helped him get a relationship with people going forward that he otherwise would never have had.

He was even given the um fallen heroes honor uh of burial thanks to Mike McDonnell, our fire captain at the time of his death.

Thank you very much.

Really appreciate your support of this important issue.

Thank you for being here today and for showing the picture and the story of your son.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I told you I can't make it back.

I'm Christy Starmer.

My address is 12921 Jane's Circle.

Um, I moved to Omaha 12 years ago.

My ambition was to watch the firemen raise money, and one of the best friends and community, coming from a small town of 3,000 people, have been the firemen.

Um personally, I've chosen not to have children because I do not want to pass that gene on genetically, even though I have a very, very rare gene.

But when I see the firemen out filling the boot, and I have family all across the nation that are firefighters, I see my nieces and nephew go, what are they doing?

And I say, they're brightening your future.

They're making sure that your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren will have the money and the funding to make sure that this is a cure in the end.

And so just even seeing them on a street corner is so much faith and hope.

And just a learning experience.

Because I mean, you all know what are those guys doing?

And then they learn.

And so I definitely think seeing them back on the street corner would be a great way to bring awareness all around and help the future.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here today on item 36?

Zoom right now.

Okay.

We have a uh Miss Love.

Can you hear us?

I'm sorry, Miss Miller, I beg your pardon.

Yeah, I can hear you guys.

Can you all hear me?

We hear you just fine.

Great.

Um, uh, thank you all for taking time to listen um to us uh today, uh, Mr.

President and members of council.

My name is Heather Miller.

I am a senior director for firefighter partnerships at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, or MDA.

My role is exactly what it sounds like.

I work with firefighters across uh 13 states to support and grow the fill the boot program.

And for those of you who don't know, fill the boot began as a grassroots fundraising campaign in 1952 when a desperate father knocked on the door of his local fire station asking for help.

He had two sons who needed wheelchairs, and he didn't know how to pay for them.

There was a Lieutenant Grainy who answered the door that day, but not only did he answer the door, he answered the call.

He rallied his shift to head out to collect funds to help that father get his son wheelchairs through though the collection vessel back then was a coffee can.

Uh what started on street corners has become one of the longest standing and most impactful charitable partnerships in American history.

In 1954, firefighters made a promise to fight muscular dystrophy until a cure was found.

And because of that commitment, lives have changed forever.

Over the last 70 plus years, MDA has championed more than 30 FDA approved therapies across numerous neuromuscular diseases.

We fought for the expanded newborn screening programs, advanced groundbreaking research, and help families gain access to life cap life-saving care and support.

Today we are also standing beside firefighters in a new and urgent way.

Recent studies have shown that firefighters are twice as likely to develop ALS, also known as the Garriggs disease.

MDA is actively working to better understand the link between firefighting and ALS because the people who have stood beside our families for decades deserve the same unwavering support in return.

Here in Nebraska, the impact of this partnership is deeply personal.

There are approximately 4,600 individuals and families in Nebraska currently living with a neuromuscular disease.

Families across the state rely on MDA Care Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for specialized medical care, access to clinical trials, and multidisciplinary support that simply would not exist without programs like fill the boot.

Nebraska has also made important progress through newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy and Pompeii disease.

And this matters because early diagnosis does change everything.

When these diseases are identified at birth, children can begin treatment before symptoms progress, giving them a chance to walk, breathe, grow, and thrive in ways that were unimaginable, even just a few years ago.

These advances are not accidental.

They are possible because of firefighters like Lieutenant Grainy, all those years ago continue to answer that call.

Across the country, on duty, on street boot drives are not unusual.

In fact, they are standard.

They also have the greatest impact on advancing our mission.

In 2025 alone, 77% of all fill the boot campaigns were conducted at intersections.

That represents over 800 events nationwide.

And the average on-duty boot drive raises two and a half more times than an off-duty event.

This reality is very simple.

Communities that are not participating are missing out on an important opportunity to support growth and advancement for their families.

On duty on street boot drives are what fuels progress that directly impacts thousands of Nebraska families.

They help fund research, they help families access care, they help children receive treatment earlier, and they help us continue pursuing cures.

Most importantly, they give hope to the families you've heard from today and to thousands of more.

Thank you for zooming in today.

Are there any other proponents on item 36?

No more in Zoom, right?

Okay.

Seeing none, are there any opponents for item 36?

Public hearing is closed.

I got a couple questions for Mr.

Coozy since this was an ordinance that I brought forward.

If you could walk me through a few things, please.

Matt Goosey Law Department.

Matt, good afternoon.

Hello.

Um, we worked on this for several months.

Um, just I'll I'll ask some questions.

I know we talked about one the importance of this to be a nonpartisan item to amplify what the nonprofits in our community do and the impacts.

We certainly heard some testimonies today on what that makes on our community.

And I know a lot of nonprofits in this this day are struggling financially.

So I first want to recognize all the great work they do, and that's part of the reason I brought this forward.

Can you talk, Matt, about the best practices that can be used with this ordinance?

In crafting this ordinance a lot of care had to be taken because there is one a statutory prohibition about using public resources, which the courts have determined that using employees' time that tax dollars or funding is a public resource.

Can be used.

That was one of the challenges.

The second challenge was also to evaluate how the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission would view this.

Um they had a chance uh 16 years ago to opine on this matter, and they they've given an opinion on that, which there can be plenty of disagreement about the opinion, how it came about, why it came about.

That really doesn't phase me.

The opinion is what the opinion is, but there was language, some flexibility in the language of the opinion that would make it possible to craft a very narrow tailored window to allow for the possibility, and and I and I want to stress that to the council, to the supporters in the room, that there is no guarantee that fire department employees will be able to participate in the fill the boot campaign in Labor Day.

I just I'm a little concerned that there's this expectation that it will, because the ordinance as it is written leaves the discretion for approving that to in this case it would be the fire chief who is in the position to evaluate whether the department can still do this.

So there's that fine line where one would have to be within the mission of the respective department, whether it's the fire department, police department, law department, and two, whether the operations of the department could be negatively affected, and that's kind of a broad term by engaging in the fundraising.

If the people of Omaha expect the firefighters to be conducting their business, this would be something ancillary to that.

So if the fire department was in a situation where the fire chief said that there's too many people out or sick or or there's too much things going on, whatever, whatever.

I mean, let's say there's a storm or something, and we need fire to be doing a bunch of stuff, you know, whatever the case may be, she can say no, we can't devote resources to that.

And I'm not picking on the fire department, it's just there has been a lot of talk about the fire department and the fill the boot campaign, so that's what the focus on.

So in order for this to be legally viable, defensible, if challenged with regards to the statute of the NADC, there has to be this very narrow window that would allow this to even possibly occur because generally speaking, there's a statutory um prohibition on it, and the NDA, NDAC, excuse me, has also given a specific opinion about this MDA campaign in the past.

Okay, and the directors is you c crafted this ordinance very carefully with the NADC.

That was an opinion, correct?

It was an ad uh advisory opinion, yeah.

Um which in NADC world uh carries more weight than some other opinions that the NADC can issue.

So this carries more substantial weight um than their other ones do, and like I said, it was specific, it was a very specific question that the city council of that time um asked the law department to make of the NADC where they gave their opinion on it.

So, yes, it's 16 years old.

There's Supreme Court cases that are older than that that you know should not just be discounted.

So I considered the language from that opinion and the message in that opinion in crafting this ordinance, the quote thread the needle plan.

Okay.

And that NADC opinion city law did send a request to them to look at the ordinance we have before us today, correct?

Yes, the background on that was that um the city council back in 2009, 2010, I don't have the exact date, asked the law department to seek an opinion from the NADC about it was specifically about the um firefighters' ability to engage in the MDA work on duty with taxpayer funds and using equipment, using their uniforms, et cetera.

So that opinion was the council at that time wanted that opinion.

Okay.

Thanks for clarifying that.

And in the conditions, correct me if I'm wrong when I've read this several times.

If this item before us today is passed in, I guess two weeks, and the mayor supports it in that case.

It does specify very clearly that it is at the sole discretion of the directors.

If employees come with a nonprofit they want to support, it's not they're just gonna hand out approvals for employees.

It's gonna be based on is there workforce, and I know we're we work hard every day that it's an issue of the directors have the discretion if it's snowing and public works employees want to go do something, they're obviously not going to be able to do it at the discretion of the director, correct?

That's correct.

One of the windows that the NDA and ADC's opinion gives where they talk about you know work being within the mission of the city of Omaha or of the department.

So there is going to be a reliance on the respective department directors to one, determine whether the requested fundraising activity fits within that mission.

I'll pick the law department, for example.

You know, if some people in the law department came and said, hey, we want to do these things for the Nebraska lawyers assistance project.

That would be something that would be more appropriate for the law department to do than something public works-ish.

So I would make that a first one, does this fit into what the mission of the office is?

Then two, it would be an assessment of who's out that day, who's got vacation, who's, you know, what's the workload, you know, what's going on to make that decision and talking with other managers and people in the office about whether this is a feasible.

And we're also not just talking about manpower, we'd have to make an economic assertion as well.

Would people have to come in and work overtime or something like that?

The directors are the ones who are most able and most aware of what's going on in their specific department and knows whether this could work or this would not work, and those are some of the factors that directors should take into consideration when making the decision to approve or deny this discretionary request.

This again, this isn't something that employees, city employees are entitled to.

Okay, and participation, if again this passes, it's not a required thing for a city employee to participate, correct?

Correct.

Nobody, nobody has to do it.

It's completely voluntary.

You you cannot do it, can't be forced to do it, can't be bullied into doing it, um, anything like that.

It's completely voluntary.

I know we got lights on.

I got a couple more questions that we can clear up.

Politicking on city time, can you speak to that?

I can, I just need one moment to get to my computer.

Um, with regards to any campaign work or, as you said, politicking on it, that's already prohibited by state law and not something incorporated into this ordinance.

The the law already prohibits a public official or public employees, they cannot use any city resources, and I'll read specifically from the statute.

And again, resources includes an employees time while they're quote unquote on the clock.

Cannot use those resources for the purpose of campaigning for or against the nomination or election of a candidate or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question.

So this ordinance would not give any city employee the ability to campaign for someone, campaign against someone, try to defeat a ballot question or support a ballot question.

So that is a separate statute.

Um, and that's not something that this ordinance is provided an exemption from.

So if any employees said, I want to go out there and campaign for Baguely for counsel, that request would be summarily denied.

Okay.

And if this ordinance interferes with city operations, this can be terminated without notice, correct?

That's also correct.

Just because a director has approved something, um, let's say there's an outbreak of flu in the office and multiple employees are gone, the director has the ability to pull the plug on it and require those employees to come back to work and do their job.

Okay.

Last question, I know there's lights, and I appreciate my colleagues' patience.

I know there's gonna be some questions.

The last one I have for now, and I'll probably have some questions for Nick or Trevor, maybe after my colleagues weigh in.

The weaponization of this ordinance, it was obviously you and I spent a lot of time on this with others, that there's always fear in public of weaponization that you can have pitting nonprofits against each other, or what I think is a nonprofit that I wouldn't pick.

There's hundreds of them in the state or thousands.

How do we address the weaponization of this ordinance or how would we avoid that?

I think how you avoid it is, and I'm aware that this question has come up from other members of the public who have sent in emails or made phone calls about this.

Is one, there has to be a level of trust in the directors.

All of the directors, whether they're a civil service director or not, still report to the mayor and still have a level of oversight from the council.

And if directors are making bad decisions, poor decisions, um, picking favorites, whatever the parade of horribles that you'd like to imagine are, I would expect the mayor, this mayor, future mayors, whatever, to hold those directors accountable.

And while I think the advice that using a website to look up these things are great, um, I think another tool, which I'm sure would happen is that any director would call the law department and say, hey, there, you know, whoever Bob Smith is asking to fundraise for this thing, is that something appropriate?

Because the law department would also need to make sure that we're avoiding making decisions based on viewpoints.

That the decisions should be based neutrally and not in regards to any type of conduct position, you know, whatever you want to call it.

Um, and again, I'll repeat myself that it has to be aligning and matching up with what the city's mission is and what the specific department's um mission is.

So while I hope weaponization doesn't occur if this ordinance passes, it's on the books until it's not um on the books.

I won't be city attorney forever.

Um so this has to last, you know, beyond my time as city attorney or any other director's time in the hopes that the you know system maintains the integrity that it currently has with the directors, the council, and the mayor.

Thanks, Mr.

Kuzi.

I will yield to council member hugg.

You're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Towie.

Yes, sir.

Trevor Burrus, 605 Grover Street.

Okay.

I'm gonna I'm gonna ask some questions.

I just want to be clear that I'm asking for your professional observation, not trying to imply that you're a uh professional health care provider.

Although you I you may be a certified paramedic, which technically since 1996, sir.

So in the course of the day-to-day duties and responsibilities of the firefighters, the men and women uh of the rescue teams, um they incurred incur and see uh a lot of hardship and uh some very traumatic situations.

Yes.

And in your opinion, you you've witnessed the negative impact in morale and their psychological well-being of the peers around you.

Yeah, I'd say that's accurate.

Okay.

Conversely, you were involved with the boot project in your early years.

Correct.

In your opinion, again, I'm not asking professional opinion, just as an observation.

Do you think that that provided a positive experience and that I won't say invigorated your coworkers, but provide an opportunity for them to experience a different aspect of their job to try to increase improve their morale, improve their psychological well-being?

Yeah, I'd say that's accurate because uh, like you say, most of the times when we're working as a group, um, we're going to somebody's, you know, tragedy, a really bad day.

And so um when we were able to participate in this type of work, it brings everybody together.

Uh you're doing good.

And I would also add that you know, we we work with a lot of individuals, not necessarily with muscle disease, but are just wheelchair-bound all the time, right?

And I know that those individuals uh would much rather do it by themselves.

Uh, but unfortunately they're forced to call us to help them all the time.

As somebody that sees that and to be able to raise money to provide resources to people that just want to do it to them by themselves, um, that's also very rewarding, and I think that's part of the mission of fill the boot.

Okay.

All right, thank you, sir.

Sure.

Thank you.

Councilmember Melton, you're recognized.

Thanks.

So I see on here on that the ordinance, um, it was entitled personnel, um, and it's amending section 23-127.

And typically, I don't know, I don't know if Bernard left or if he's still here, but typically any time employee policies are changed, it goes before the personnel board.

I don't believe this went in front of the personnel board.

Is that right, Mr.

Kuzi?

MacCuzi Law Department, you are correct.

This did not go in front of the personnel board.

It does not have to go in front of the personnel board as the council obviously is supersedes the personnel board.

But it's I'm glad that you mentioned that about the personnel board because there is an existing human resources policy that exists that prohibits the fundraising activity.

Should this ordinance pass, the HR policy will have to be changed because it conflicts with what the ordinance says that will have to go to personnel board and then ultimately to the council to approve that new HR policy.

But I haven't seen, I've been here in 13 years.

I haven't seen a policy change not go in front of personnel board first to at least get their recommendation.

Now we can get their recommendation, and the city council can still override it, just like the planning board.

Correct, but this is not this is an ordinance.

This is an ordinance, and since it's an ordinance, it doesn't, it's not required to go in front of personnel board um at all.

If the policy, the actual HR policy changes, that does have to go through personnel board, but there's no existing requirement that an ordinance of this nature um go in front of the personnel board.

Okay.

Um I mean, is there a reason why we wouldn't want to get their recommendation?

Since it's gonna affect their policy too.

I don't have an opinion necessarily on that.

I certainly don't want to speak for Ms.

Sander.

I have spoken to her um about this, and and her position has been if the ordinance changes, then the HR department will modify the HR policy accordingly.

Okay.

And I had also asked, I I know I wish Miss Sanders was here because I had some questions in regards to how it affects potentially HR and the costs.

So and here's my thing.

First of all, I think raising the boot is great.

I it have the firefighters continue to do it, like retired firefighters and firefighters that aren't on on their job, Trevor.

I mean, have firefighters that are off gone instead with their union shirts on, and sure you could get old boots and and still do it.

Yeah, Trevor Towy, 605 Grover Street.

Um, yeah, we've uh continued the practice in storefronts.

Um, and it's you know, members that are off duty and uh or anybody that wants to help, usually it's families and everybody that can participate, and we do it in uh selected grocery stores that will allow us to participate.

Okay.

Um, and I think you could still do it on corners, you can't do it on medians, even if this passes, because um can't that has that hasn't been the practice that we've participated in.

Okay, but you could because that's what you want to do here, right?

You want to go back to doing it on the corners?

We would uh it's been most effective if we can do it on the corners while we're on duty.

We have our safety vests, we have the trucks that people anticipate being there.

Uh it can be a more coordinated and safe um uh exercise if there's four people on the corners rather than just one random firefighter with a boot.

Okay, because I'm not I'm not against this, but I just wanted to know why why if it's such a great thing that firefighters wouldn't continue to do it on Labor Day, because I mean there's a lot more than just the ones on duty, and you'd have retired firefighters that apparently have been doing it for decades, you know, and you could have a sounds to me like a lot of people come out and do it.

So that that was my my question.

I I'm not against I think fill the boot is great.

And and by the way, that I mean musk raising money for muscular dystrophy, great cause.

I mean raising money for Parkinson's disease.

I mean, we by the way, I think we had NAM here who said there were and you can sit down, sorry.

Okay, I'm just talking.

Sorry, didn't mean to make a stand there.

Um, I think Nam said four they represent 478 nonprofits, and then actually said if this passes, yeah, we want to create an advisory board committee to start selecting the nonprofit so that we can start lining up for nonprofits to ask city employees and and directors.

Well, this ordinance passed, so we want you to do it.

And they're great.

I mean, you have Project Harmony that helps sexually abuse children.

We have um child cancer nonprofits, um, down syndrome.

I mean, they're we uh we are so lucky that we have so many awesome nonprofits in our city, but I did the math.

We currently have 14 departments: city council, mayor, clerk, CVB, planning, finance, fire police, HR, HR and R library, law parks, public works.

So, and then in this ordinance, I note in H, it says the city department is limited to five fundraising activities per year.

So you have 14 departments, they can do up to five per year.

So now this city is gonna have 70 different fundraising events activities that we can participate in.

Let's just say you had 10 people, which it sounds to me the firefighters are gonna have a lot more than that, but and I'm sure public works could probably come up with a hundred.

Um, but let's just say you had 10 people per event that did eight hours.

That's 80 hours of city time.

So if everybody participated in each department took five, as they're allowed to do under this, that's 5600 hours.

5600 hours.

Um I just did, I looked at kind of average pay of a city employee, and I think 40 an hour is kind of more at the low end, but I did, I think that's about average, about 75,000 a year.

We have people making less, we have people making more.

Um, and so that equates to about 225,000 um per year in expenses on city employees not working and doing this.

I think the difference between what the firefighters want to do is they're able to do their job, and then while they're on the corner, if they get a call, they can hop on their truck or hop on the ambulance and they can still go do their job.

There isn't one other department where they can actually do both jobs at the same time.

Firefighters are kind of an exception to how they work.

Um, so I would suggest if we can find a way to allow what traditionally has been fill the boot, I I would recommend that.

But I think trying to get fill the boot back for the firefighters, which is commendable, which is a great fundraising opportunity.

We now have we now have an ordinance in front of us that's gonna give all 14 departments five different fundraising activities.

And we already have nonprofit groups that are very excited about this because think of the opportunities that now the nonprofits are gonna have, trying to get city employees to then go to their boss and I don't want to speak for any of the department heads here, but I think what you're what the department heads are now gonna find is various groups of employees are now gonna come to you with things like Project Harmony with things that are gonna pull at your heartstrings.

I mean, you're gonna love them and love the groups, and they're gonna say, yeah, and you can do this five different times for us.

And and and really, I I think all of you actually do have big hearts, but you're also a good fiduciary of taxpayer money, and I think you're gonna be torn just like I am sitting here.

You guys are not gonna be torn between.

And I'm not asking you guys for an opinion.

Um, I think it's gonna put all of the directors in a very difficult spot.

Um, and I can say if all 14 departments do five a year, we're looking at now picking winners and losers.

We're gonna have over 500 different nonprofits wanting us to do stuff, and there is no oversight by the city council, by the way.

We won't have any idea actually how much is being spent, what groups are are being allowed because this particular ordinance does not require any notification to the city council whatsoever.

It's just a department head gets the mayor to sign off.

Um, so the city council has no oversight whatsoever.

I have a lot of issues with this.

Um I've talked to Trevor, I think fill the boot is great.

I think I I would like to find a way that we can still do fill the boot.

And again, firefighters are in a unique position in which they can do their job and kind of raise the money where no other city employee has that.

Um I think at the very least, there should be city council approval.

There should be a resolution that goes on our agenda.

Um, I think that might actually help the directors as well.

Um, and also we all talk about transparency, and then when it comes down to it, when it comes to things like this, there's a lack of transparency in here to the public.

So now we're using city resources over it could be up to 5600 hours of city employee time, yet the public will never know.

Not at all.

So at the very least, I would suggest amending this so that any department that is going to engage in a fundraising activity, they have to first get the approval, obviously, the director would have to get the approval of the mayor, and then I think it should go on our council for a resolution.

And by the way, for those of you that don't know, an ordinance requires three readings.

A resolution's just one reading.

So uh it needs to go on as a resolution.

But I think that is the only fair way, and for purposes of transparency, unless we're trying to hide something, that needs to be added here.

Um, there needs to be oversight.

And there's a lot of, there's a lot of nonprofits that may not be a political campaign, but they certainly engage in political activity.

Some on and they're on both sides that I could see people on both sides of the aisle having having problems with.

I think it's it's really putting our directors in a really bad spot.

But perhaps if you had the additional council approval, at least the public whose money and funds and resources and city resources are being used, at least the public should know which nonprofits um are being supported with city resources.

So again, I would like to see a way that we can just go back to the fill the boot because it's been tradition for decades and it's very kind of unique.

I understand, Mr.

Coozie, what you're saying.

You can't just let one department do something without letting the others.

So I see the lawyers' problems in this.

Um but I this ordinance has drafted.

I know everybody that came down thought this ordinance was about fill the boot.

Unfortunately, it's not.

If it was just letting people do fill the boot on Labor Day, I mean, kind of no harm, no foul.

That's not what this ordinance is, though.

This ordinance is is 14 different departments, five different fundraising, and now we have literally the nonprofits already came down going, oh, look, we have one too.

Look at all the nonprofits.

478 just represented by NAM.

And now we want an advisory committee.

I mean, we're almost creating this ordinance almost is creating like a new department for choosing nonprofits to allow city employees to fundraise for.

I just think we're we're taking it so far out there just in order to let the firefighters fill the boot.

It's too much for me to do that.

Find a way that we can do fill the boot, but this ordinance to me is is definitely not it with the amount of resources that can be used for it.

So I I I hope that there, I hope that there will be an amendment.

Um I'm not gonna be here for the vote of this.

I'm sure I would like to be here for the vote if you guys would lay it over.

Um I doubt that'll happen since I told you what I wanted, but I would say at the very least, I hope one of my peers um I'll make the amendment.

I won't be here.

I hope one of my peers will will support the amendment that I'm gonna make because otherwise that there's zero transparency in this ordinance, zero.

And I think it's our duty as council members to allow at least allow the transparency to the taxpayers and the citizens of Omaha who they're paying these employees.

And and by the way, I don't firefighters have no problem with that because they're making it known.

So I don't I don't think the firefighters are having any problem with the transparency piece.

They're gonna be out on the corners, so they're they're out there already transparent.

So I would assume there'd be no objection to that piece.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Goodwin, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And I want to thank the families and uh Mr.

Toey and Mr.

King who've come down and uh talked about the importance of not only this fundraising activity specifically tied to MDA and uh to my colleague uh Amy's point.

Our question here, and even what's before us is not about the worthiness of MDA.

Uh you know, I had an uncle die of um MS.

I know it's not uh the same disease, but it's a muscular disease, and another family member today who's struggling with a neurology, neurological disease, and so understand uh at least from a family member's perspective what uh disease like that can do um to not only the individual but the loved ones and um also happy birthday and congratulations on your 31st birthday.

Um, and also appreciate your your firsthand uh you know experience about it.

What we have to consider is the process, the fairness, the transparency here.

Um and so what I wanted to do is ask uh Mr.

Collier to come back up because he made some really good points.

You know, the one thing I would say, Amy, although I'm glad to discuss this with you.

I don't know that we have to create a new department, and I'm thinking, and I know today is not about sorting it all out, but it is to have the conversation to talk about questions and concerns.

Um I think about maybe how we do the fireworks stand where there's not everybody is chosen.

You there's a process involved that limits the number.

I'm not saying it would have to be exactly like that, but we've developed a process that works.

Um, and it limits the pro it limits how we go about this.

And so, Nick, you mentioned that NAM, who um in my nonprofit hat world, I'm a part of, and I do think they do provide a lot of resources for um nonprofits, both big and small.

You talked about um a public uh private uh potential guidance committee.

Um, can you tell us a little more about what that could potentially look like?

What is NAM thinking about?

Is there a framework around that already?

Certainly.

Uh Nick Kohler.

Everybody's thinking, NAM 111 North 13th Street.

Um, full transparency as well.

I've been in my role for six weeks, so I am still kind of learning the ropes with it all.

However, um, and I wanted to emphasize as well.

Um, the recommendations I brought forth certainly wasn't saying you have to do this, you have to do that, was more so just saying, hey, we have quite a few nonprofits in the Omaha area that do amazing work.

And as you all know, when you open up the chest, everyone wants a little bit, a little bit of the pie.

And so we are trying to find a way that we already have systems, trusted systems in place, being our best practice guideline.

It is around a two-hour assessment.

Um we make sure that the folks at least take the initial third, meaning it is all the legal requirements to show that your nonprofit is in uh legal good standing.

So you either have to vote yes or non-applicable for all of the um legal requirements for the best practices.

I will don't have an exact number, but I want to say with our best practice partners in the Omaha area, there's around 90 or 100, so that definitely whittles it down.

These folks um send in their application, we review it.

We are not the nonprofit police, but we certainly look and ensure that all the information is correct.

We let them give that, give them their best practice sort of seal, and they wear that with a badge of honor, meaning that they have completed all really the necessary requirements to be a uh nonprofit in good standing and more so in the Omaha area.

As for a public private um sort of committee or partnership, that is something we would be willing certainly to discuss.

But when it comes to nonprofits and deciding, you know, okay, especially longevity wise, let's say four, eight, twelve years from now, if this statute still stands, how do we ensure that nonprofits are being selected in a fair, unbiased, you know, way?

And I think that us being NAM, we represent nonprofits from Plant Parenthood's right to life in Nebraska.

Like we represent nonprofits all across the board.

So by us having the sort of outside perspective, working with the city, working with nonprofits to ensure that we can all kind of come together and have it be as fair as possible, something we'd really like to explore.

So thank you for that.

So I have another question then for our legal counsel, Matt Coozie.

Um here we talk about five activities per fundraiser for per department.

Is there any consideration that it could be a number of hours and there could be a limit, whether it's through the departments or through uh the city in general.

My thought is we know what MDA fundraising looks like.

Yes, I'm old enough to remember Jerry's kids too.

Um, and that was an all-weekend, you know, event as we've all talked about culminating on on Labor Day.

Um, but I I'm assuming that that wouldn't be what it would look like for every department anyway.

And so is there a way to frame it so that to Amy's point, um you can manage the amount of hours and you can say, hey, this is what's the times being spent, these are the dollars being occur occur, uh, so that we we can manage it in some kind of way.

Macouzi Law Department, certainly if you want to amend that would be subs that would be section H if you want to limit that um to hours instead of activities or days, certainly, yes.

I that is, I guess, somewhat contemplated in the section about the director's approval, you know, the director can also set the guardrails, like, okay, we have enough people where you can do this for four hours.

I don't have enough, we don't have the capacity to do this for three days or something like that.

But yes, certainly section H can be changed to include um or to be reflect hours instead of activities.

Um the number five came in just through conversations with councilmember bagley where some sort of limitation had to exist in there.

There's not anything necessarily magic or special about five that you know would satisfy some statutory or regulation requirement.

It was just some sort of number was uh was needed to be put in there so it wouldn't give the impression that it was unlimited.

Um but certainly if you want to amend submit submit an amendment for it to be ours instead of five activities, that's certainly something that um you and other council members can do.

Yeah, so thank you.

And I I want to be very clear.

I was telling someone else today about a separate situation as a as a person, I sit here and want you guys to have the greatest success and be able to continue with raise the boot.

Um because I'm a philanthropic, charitable, compassionate person.

I think of myself as that, right?

But as a council person, it's not about thinking about restrictions for MDA as much as it is managing the process across the entire city.

I also want to say I think our firefighters in in the way you fundraise with the raise of boots and on the corner is unique to you all, being inherently trained in public surf safety.

Uh I have kids in my district that stand on 24th Street and are running in the street to cars.

And that's not the firefighters, but I'm holding my chest every time because they're running out to cars.

And so I think that's another thing that when this, it's not for the firefighters because you all are public safety servants.

Um, but now you're opening this opportunity up, and people are going to look at it and say, oh wow, they raised this much money because that was that direct contact, which I get it.

Um, but now how does this play out even from a safety perspective to other nonprofits?

I I want this to happen just to be very clear, um, not just for MDA, um, although you all were the authors of it, if you will.

So I respect that as well.

Um it's just about um finding a solution that is is fair across the board, that we look, and I think that's what we're up here for, right?

To look at things, to consider them for every angle, and then try to make it work for everyone involved if we can, especially for a very worthy, worthy cause like MDA.

And so um I'd love to talk to Danny more about you know, just how we bring in NAM potentially.

I don't know if we have to, um, but I do think there's some or how we think about best practice to get this to a place where we can we can be supportive of it um in the long run for MDA and for other worthy nonprofits.

Thank you.

Thanks.

And before I go to Councilman Hugg, Nick, can you come back up?

Because councilmember Goodwin asked a good question, and that was I I could have rambled for two hours, but that was one of the things I wanted to cover.

Nick, when when you and I, and and I think I was calling a mic, but it's Matt, right?

I finally got that straight when I looked at it.

You're too nice of a guy to come up with that.

I got that from my dad, I get say the wrong name.

Anyway, when we met with uh attorney coozy, talk about what that would look like again.

We're jumping around, but it the best practices on you're not gonna say, hey, we represent 474 78 nonprofits.

Here's what you gotta do.

You guys were measured when you came in and we had that discussion on hey, what does this look like?

I read it and and how does this work?

And we're still we're still working through it.

But as far as an advisory committee, tell me how would that look like to NAM working with the city.

You're not gonna say you do this, but I I'm speaking for you, but you can certainly go to say, I think from what I heard from you when we met on Thursday or Friday was you have best practices, you guys are subject matter experts that you can tell us how that would work working with the city on how would you would go about that.

Certainly.

Um Nicole representing NAM 101 North 13th Street.

Um I appreciate you bringing that up.

And I will say um I will recommend or ask if you all are really curious about this.

I know it is not just a website, it is more than just a website.

It is uh the website does host the assessment, which anyone can take.

You all are welcome to take it as well.

It will take you about two hours.

And I want to emphasize as well, NAM has been around for over 20 years.

We have been in the nonprofit field for quite a while in the in the not in the area where also members of the National Council of Nonprofits represent 48 states, um, have not have non-council groups there as well.

We listen and learn with one another what's working well for nonprofits in their city, what's working well for in Nebraska, and one of the main things that we came up with and have been updating is this best practice guidelines and principles assessment that we have been talking about as well.

It is on our website and it is something that we recommend nonprofits take.

We like I said, we look at it, we then give them that seal, which is a badge of honor.

Imagine almost like a best in Omaha 2026 thing that restaurants put on their door or signs up on their door, showcasing and illustrating.

You know, we are upholding what we believe in, and we are serving the best that we can for our community, and I want to believe that our best practice guideline looks as that as well.

So what I would say, what we can see, what we would see as a partnership is I mean, it would be amazing if we had you know, however many folks asking for if everyone in the department was like, we want to fundraise for nonprofits.

Is that realistic?

Most likely no.

But we would love if that was the case.

What we would hope is that the city would then kind of come to us and say, hey, we are overwhelmed.

We don't necessarily know which nonprofits we should dedicate our time to.

We, being the outside unbiased third party, would say, Here are our list of a bunch of nonprofits of the nonprofits in the area that kind of serve what your department is looking for.

So whether it be law, whether it be um fire, we can work with you to create a curated list of these folks who have taken our best practice guidelines and principles document, have illustrated and shown not only to us but to the public that this nonprofit is in good standing and is worthy, and we will put sort of an unbiased um opinion forward.

We would like to have that conversation ongoing as things change as well.

We don't necessarily have to make the decision, but we would at least like to say, hey, we have 20 plus years of expertise in the nonprofit realm.

We know how nonprofits operate and should operate.

Here are the recommendations for ones that are illustrating that at the moment.

I I appreciate that.

Thanks, Nick.

Thank you.

And I a couple, this is for uh our directors, and I want to call on them.

I'll start with Director Kuzi.

Fair point by council member Melton that your heart strings get pulled at the potential of whatever we set Section H, if we amend it or if there's a set number of hours.

I don't mean to put you on the spot, Mr.

Coozy, but sometimes the answer is no to your attorneys at work for you when they come with you something.

Is that fair to say?

MacCousie Law Department, I'm pretty dead inside, so there are gonna be times when the I mean token aside, the answer is sometimes going to have to be no, and that will inevitably cause possibly a friction with the employee who's being said no to the nonprofit who may have been counted on it or hoping on it, whoever made the fireworks analogy is dead on with that analogy.

Um but yes, sometimes the answer is gonna have to be no, and that no is gonna have to stand because again, to constantly be repeating this for employees in the room, directors in the room, anybody else watching from the city is you're not you're not entitled to this.

This isn't something that you get because you want it.

It's something that the dis if the director feels that it's best for the department and will work within the department, the answer could be yes.

But sometimes and probably more often than not, the answer is probably gonna have to be no, either because the organization isn't a fit, or the current state of the department doesn't allow for it.

Again, it could depend on hours involved, days involved, things like that.

But sometimes the answer will just have to be no, and the employees and the nonprofits are just going to have to not gonna say they're gonna have to like it, but they're gonna have to accept it.

Because this is a very, I can't stress this enough, very tight window of what is legally permissible to do given the statute and given the NADC's position on it.

Thank thanks for that answer.

And I it was gonna be a yes or no answer, but I knew you would give a good explanation, and I I do appreciate that.

And I I know I I won't question the rest of the directors, I would assume the answer from them, and they're all compassionate good people, that maybe it could work if this passed, but also there's realities of the fiscal realities and the manpower and the workloads that if this were to pass, the discretion to the trusted people that are the directors, they would make that call, and maybe the answer would be no.

But also with with Trevor, I'll ask one quick thing if you could come up, Trevor.

As far as the firefighters, what impact would it have on the operations for your firefighters that you represent?

Yeah, good question.

Trevor Towy, 6005 Grover Street Firefighters.

Uh there is no impact.

Um in my experience, the way that we did this uh when we were allowed to do it.

Uh the crew, after they got done with all their you know, morning checks and their work and their you know, operational readiness, would find a uh an intersection in our territory that was centrally located, and we'd stand there on the corner and we'd all have our radio, and when a call came in, we said, Round up, let's we gotta go uh to that next run.

And so we get back on the fire truck, we go make our run, and if time allowed and we were ready to go back out and you know, do a couple another hour, we would do that.

Okay.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Council member hugged, you're recognized.

Um don't get too comfortable because I'm probably gonna call you back up here.

That this has been overlawyered, that we're overthinking it to death.

Thousand of firefighter departments across the country participate annually in the MDA fill the boot and have done so, as Ms.

M Ms.

Miller said, since 1954, when the International Association of Firefighters partnered with MDA.

Has Mr.

Towie has pointed out.

They used to be able to do this.

And now, first I I'm afraid to publicly ask why that changed.

I know the statutes haven't changed.

Firefighters are employees of the city of Omaha as long as as well as many other workers with the work of the city of Omaha, along with the Omaha Police Department.

But only the Omaha police officers can walk in this building on duty and off-duty with a firearm.

No other city employees can do that.

No other city resident can do that.

Firefighters may be citizens.

Well, I'm sorry, I correct myself.

Firefighters may be city employees, but they are not the same type of employee.

They are different than firefighters, they are different than the clerks.

They are different than the inspectors.

Their jobs are 180% different than any other position we have in the city of Omaha.

If you want to put a benchmark on this, then write a resolution that the firefighters can do this, and any other department that wants to come do it that wants a that's partnered with an organization for over 70 years, and is participated by a thousand other agencies that we'll approve them too.

Make that the benchmark.

So, you know, I the this is just common sense.

They used to be able to do it.

Again, I'm reiterating a thousand thousands, thousands of other fire departments across the country are doing this.

Why make it so hard?

Thank you.

Councilmember Roe, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Begley.

Um, I just wanted to just make a few comments.

I I think every everyone in this room has probably got uh nonprofit organizations that they hold dear to their heart.

I can't tell you the number of golf tournaments and dinners and fundraisers that I've been to for a lot of different nonprofits in the city.

And and I do hold them dear to my heart, and they are important to me, whether it you know, whatever that the association united way.

Um but I I think we need to look to what is the mission of the city, you know, what is our purpose?

And I look at the websites of each of our departments, and I didn't look at all of them, but I looked at public works, and there's no mention of fundraising being a part of the mission of the public works department.

What their mission is is to provide streets that are drivable that you know provides sewers that run and water and and those kind of the infrastructure, the kind of things.

I doubt that there's anything in the parks mission that talks about fundraising for nonprofits, and I think we need to think about that as to how is that gonna work.

And I I think I'm glad I'm happy that I've got a couple of more weeks to process this through my mind because I think it's important that we understand what is the mission of the city, what's our role as a city government, and then how do we um make sure that we don't drift in that mission and and take on something that's gonna cause us problems?

And if we're if we're trying to thread the needle, I think we should just do these nonprofit things on our own time and and get engaged and and do the work and raise the money.

But I don't know that we can do it as a city sanctioned uh activity and feel good about it.

I'm sure it's um I'm sure it's gonna cause stress um for our department heads.

It's gonna cause stress for people that have to make the decisions as to whether or not we deem this nonprofit worthy or not, uh, whatever the process.

But I'm I'm glad that we have a couple more weeks to kind of process through it, and I promise you I will do that.

Um but for today, I mean when I think about it, I I want us to understand what is the role of city government.

What is our what is our purpose?

And does this align?

Does this fundraising align with our work as city government?

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

No further lights.

One public hearing can be held for items 37 through 40, ordinances amending interlocal agreements for keynote to extend agreements for five years with Douglas County, City of Milford, City of Valley, and City of Bennington.

Public hearing is now open for items 37 through 40.

Mr.

Harvey, good afternoon.

Sneaking in over on me there.

Thank you, President and members of the council.

Thank you for your time today.

Um you have before you renewals of four interlocal agreements that the city of Omaha has with other uh municipal bodies and and the county of Douglas that have been in place for many years, and we're just asking the council today to renew those for another five years.

So I'm happy to answer any questions about those uh about these ordinances.

And uh that's about all I have.

Oh, I should have said my name, right?

I was I forgot that part.

I understand.

I I know you I I I apologize.

Bill Harvey, one one two four eight John Galt Boulevard of Montraska, I'm General Counsel for Big Red Keno.

Thanks, Bill.

And I get in trouble when they don't give the names.

Yeah, I blew it.

I that was totally my fault.

You bailed me no better.

Thanks, Bill.

Are there any other proponents on items 37 through 40?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Fesserson, you're recognized.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

Just wanted to note that uh the finance committee uh met this morning, which also serves as the keynote committee for the city and discuss these arrangements, and I believe it's accurate to say we're all supportive of what's being proposed here.

Um there is a benefit to us to managing these programs for other communities, which is a uh management fee essentially um that comes to the city of Omaha for our keyno operations as well.

So um I think it's a win-win.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I was just gonna bring up the same thing that that Councilman Fesserson brought up that we do get two percent of the of the revenues from those other cities.

So it's not just a fee, it's actually how well they do.

The better they do, the better we do, and it's I think it's a win-win.

Thank you.

Are there let's see?

Yeah, proponents, any opponents.

Did we close it?

All right, see, Bill, you got me all splistered up there, man.

Yeah.

No, it's just public hearing is closed, so we're ready to get out of here, I think.

Yeah, non-action items.

Items 41 through 53 do not require public hearing or city council consideration at this meeting, but will be placed on a future agenda for public hearing andor vote.

The reason for non-action is noted after the item on the agenda as well as the date the item is expected to appear on an agenda for consideration.

Motion and a second roll call.

Festerson, good one.

Hug, Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Motion passed, six to zero.

Meeting is adjourned at 34.