Mr.

President.

Here.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Remain standing for opening remarks from Councilmember Amy Melton.

Everybody, please be seated.

It's probably one of the hardest days to give remarks that I've in all my years on city council, but the Omaha City Council staff lost one of one of the members of our family over this last week.

Liz Burkle Letty was our city staff assistant.

If any of you have ever done anything or had a parks complaint that you sent to any one of our council members, and you got it fixed.

She always talks so highly highly of them, so proud of them.

One of her boys is on the honor roll, I think just this last year, and um, and she was just so very proud.

She's going to be uh severely missed.

She's actually a lifelong resident of Omaha.

She graduated from Bryan High School.

Um, she went to Cornell College, and then she got her master's degree in urban studies from the University of Nebraska, Omaha.

But Liz was not just a wonderful person for the work she did for the citizens of Omaha for everybody that's sitting up here on our staff, but she was also a volunteer.

Uh, she cared a lot about her community, and she did a lot in the community, uh, including teaching Sunday school, which she enjoyed um quite a bit.

And even in the end, Liz was still giving to others, and she was an organ donor, and her organs were able to be used, and we're someone else is able to live because of Liz.

Um, so I I just wanted to take this time to number one remember Liz.

She was just here last Tuesday.

I mean, the family was getting ready to go on a big trip to Hawaii, and she was extremely excited about it.

Umfortunately had uh a heart, something happened with her heart uh last week on Tuesday night, and she was not able to recover.

So it's with great sadness that we announced that today.

Um, but also I think we should remember Liz and Liz would want us to remember her for her humor, her generosity, um, and everything she's done.

So to Mike, Aaron and Ryan, and the whole Burkle Letty family.

Um you're in our prayers, and we will always remember your wife and your mom for the wonderful woman that she was.

And Mr.

President, unusual that I the council member has remarks, but I would like the rest of my remarks.

Um, I would like to allow other council members to say anything if they would like to.

Thanks, Councilmember Milton.

You struck a chord with beautifully remembering Liz for the great public servant that she was, and our hearts go out to Michael, Aaron, and Ryan as well.

And you're in our prayers.

And Councilmember Melton summed up beautifully.

There's a lot of people her, not only you guys, but also the the staff for the city council.

Liz was family to us, and although her heart failed her, her heart lives with you forever, and her legacy is that of a happy, decent, wonderful public servant, mom, daughter, wife, and she will be deeply, deeply missed, and we grieve with you today and going forward for this.

Councilmember Goodwin, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you, Councilmember Melton, just for your eloquent words.

I think that I can speak for the council and say that we're still wrestling with the fact that this time last week, Liz was in our presence working very diligently, and that's something that I want to express not just to the community and to her family, but how kind and warm and easy to work with Liz was.

You know, her office sits somewhat toward the back of our our council uh offices, and my last interaction with her was her busily working.

I could see the top of her head, busily working on something for all of us.

Um, and it just struck my heart to say, hi Liz, even though the first thought was, oh, she's busy.

But uh we exchanged that last um, you know, interaction, and it just reminds you how you never know the last time you may interact with someone who you just take for granted seeing on a regular basis.

I also wanted to say that Liz always went the extra mile in her role as a liaison with parks, code enforcement.

Um, you know, we were working on a project to really tighten up how all that works internally and externally, and she brought to the table that she was working on a capstone that was really part of her own professional development, but was going to bring to the forefront to do extra research and extra work to ensure that our our work here was going to be more successful.

She'll she was bridging the gap between her personal time and her professional time to ensure that we all could not only internally work toward better internal processes, but also that citizens would have better outcomes as we we seek to remediate issues like you know, overgrown reeds and litter.

Um, and so she was always thinking about how to serve, and so um I know her family won't mourn her most, but this council I always remember diligence, kindness, and a person who was willing to go the extra mile and to her family.

I say, you know, may God comfort you in this time and and may her memory always be a blessing.

Thank you, Councilmember Fesserson.

You're recognized.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

Those are very eloquent words from my colleagues.

I would just add that she was a very dedicated public servant, a dedicated mom.

We had the opportunity to tour one of her sons through city council just a few weeks ago.

She was always looking to better herself.

She was currently pursuing an additional certification through the public administration program at UNO.

Um did great things for our citizens, great things for us, great things for her colleagues and fellow staff members.

And I do want to recognize those staff members too for how they handled a very shocking um and difficult situation this week for their professionalism and how they continue to uh serve the citizens even in light of this really difficult time for all of us.

Uh thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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

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

We ask that you 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 City Clerk at City of Omaha.org.

Council members receive these emails and read them.

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

I would like to remind council members who speak clearly into their microphones, so audience members in attendance and at home can hear.

And the same as well if you're coming up to speak, make sure you're between the two microphones so everybody can clearly hear you speaking today.

Thank you.

We now have a proclamation by Council members Fesserson and Goodwin for Sharon Kate Olson today.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'm glad to be able to offer this proclamation on behalf of Sharon Olson and to honor her life.

We lost her district recently too.

Services were just earlier this week.

For those of you who may not have known Sharon, she was a Minnelousa neighborhood association president for many, many years.

Always involved there.

A force of nature as it applies to her neighborhood and interacting with city council members in the city itself.

I worked with her on a number of different things, including the Good Good Neighbor Ordnance and Saving Florence Library.

Two of her main accomplishments, I would say.

I know we have her family here.

We'll give you the opportunity here to speak in a minute.

We also have many many of her colleagues from her neighborhood here from Minneloosa, and also the North Omaha Commercial Club.

I also want to recognize uh former mayor Jim Suttle, who's here in honor of her life.

Uh Jim was my predecessor on the City Council before he came mayor and worked with Sharon for many, many years too.

And it's appropriate we have Mayor Ewing here today as well.

Um, as you all know, he has called uh 2026 the year of the neighbor.

And for Sharon, that was like every year for about 50 years.

So I want to read this proclamation on her behalf, and I'll share um share it with uh Councilmember Goodwin, who now represents that area, and then we'll have the family up.

Whereas Sharon K.

Olsen was born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 24th, 1942 to George and Catherine Olsen, and spent her life planting deep roots in her cherished neighborhood of Minneloosa, building lasting friendships, preserving its rich history, and working tirelessly to make life better for those around her.

And whereas in her youth, Sharon broke boundaries as an accomplished marksman, embracing her passion for hunting and trapshooting with a fierce independent spirit, and later followed in her mother's footsteps, giving decades of dedicated service to the telephone company until her retirement.

And whereas Sharon's loyalty and generosity to her family were legendary, whether traveling across the country to cheer on her cousin's son Jeff at rodeos, cultivating a lifelong love of reading by taking Stacey's children to the bookworm to select armfuls of books every birthday, or teaching children how to play blackjack by insisting it was an engaging way to learn math skills.

And whereas for more than two decades, Sharon served as the heartbeat of the Minaloosis neighborhood, co-founding the Minneloosa House on Mary Street, establishing neighborhood traditions of Halloween on the Boulevard, the annual craft fair, the neighborhood golf tournament, and numerous projects in support of Minneloosa Elementary School.

And whereas Sharon's tenacity and love for her community was instrumental in saving the Florence Library from budget cuts, restoring historic neighborhood homes, and establishing the Minaloosa Boulevard Pollinator Garden, which now stands as a beautiful living tribute to her vision and proudly bears her name and whereas Sharon approached life with boundless love, selflessness, sharp intelligence, and a quick wit that brought joy to all, including her devoted caregiver, Cynthia.

And she lived by the belief that communities thrive when neighbors watch over one another.

Families are anchored by generosity and children should always have a good book in hand.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, the City Council of Omaha, honor the memory and remarkable life of Sharon Olson.

We celebrate her strength, kindness, and perseverance, and recognize her beloved Minaloosa community, is forever cherished because of her legacy of service and love by demonstrating and designating Tuesday, July 21st, 2026, as Sharon K.

Olsen Day in Omaha, Nebraska, and witness thereof.

We have hereto set our hands and caused the seal of the City of Omaha to be a fixed on this 21st day of July, 2026.

Dick, if you'd like to come down, you're welcome at the podium.

I'm Dick Flynn, Sharon's cousin.

I would like to thank the City of Omaha and the City Council for the proclamation.

Sharon would be extremely honored.

As a member of our family, we knew Sharon, we knew Sharon, what compassion and generosity she had.

She was also there to help one of us when we needed.

We knew it, expanded out to her neighborhood, but we had not realized that she touched the whole city.

Thank you again for this honor for Sharon.

She will truly be missed.

Thank you.

Item six, Mayor Ewing will present the 2027 recommended budget.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Council President Begley, Vice President Harding, City Councilman Pete Vesterson, City Councilwoman LaVanya Goodwin, City Councilmember Ron Hug, City Councilman Don Rowe, and City Councilwoman Amy Melton and Citizens of Omaha.

Budgets tell a story.

We have just handed you a big one, a 479-page book for 2027.

It's called The Story of Us, One Omaha.

Rest assured that I am not going to read the entire 470 plus pages to you.

But this is an opportunity to break down that budget into 10 chapters.

So don't think that we're going to have the same amount of information through all 10 chapters.

But first, the spoiler, for the city of Omaha, a city of nearly 500,000 people in a metro area twice that size, Omaha continues to deliver on essential city services while investing in the future.

For the second year of my term, we are presenting a budget that keeps the property level property tax levy flat while going big on parks and boosting police and fire.

The overall budget, including capital expenditures, is about one point seven billion dollars.

Before I get to the what of our collective story, I want to ground everyone in the why.

It starts 50 years ago in 1976 in my family's new home in North Omaha.

I'm 15 years old, the oldest of three kids.

There's Eric, my much younger brother of a year and 16 days younger, and my sister Crystal, who is 11.

Our parents, John Sr.

and Dolores have just moved us out of a rental home where you didn't dare turn out the lights at night in the kitchen.

We moved to a home they bought and owned today.

It was a game changer for me.

It was a game changer for us.

Having a house meant having a home that was safe, decent, and affordable.

Kids played outside.

Parks were my refuge.

Coons Park at our first address, then Fontenelle Park at our new house.

The park meant freedom.

The park meant new friends, the park meant safety and exercise.

The park later meant a paycheck.

Back in 1976, a federal jobs program called CETA placed me at Spring Lake Park in South Omaha, where I was paid to pick up the trail, repair park benches, and otherwise spruce up the park.

A couple summers later, through CETA once again, CEDA paid me to help at the Omaha Police Department.

There I got to be around police officers and to get to know them and to break down any stigma or distrust I might have had.

This paved the way for what would become a nearly 25-year career at the Omaha Police Department.

I share this to show how the city's story is my story.

It is all of our stories.

We all bring to Omaha our personal stories.

Every hotline call is a story.

The calls are more than this pothole, that weed or those abandoned cars layered in each call is the personal story of a neighbor who cares, who wants better, and whose hard-earned dollars pay for the city services that they deserve.

Our personal stories shape what we value and prioritize.

At the end of the day, that's the story a city budget tells.

The story of us, the story of one Omaha.

It is also our how.

Keeping with our theme for this day, this will be 10 chapters, but not long chapters.

Maybe more like a short story.

Let's start with chapter one.

Parks.

Installing a new butterfly valve on the pool filter at Oak Heights Pool in Southwest Omaha.

For 2027, five plus five equals 10.

We are putting $5 million more into our parks budget, a 20% increase in general fund spending from 2026.

These dollars will help fund a combined 14 new full-time equivalent positions in parks.

Two of the 14 are in management.

We are creating an assistant director in the parks department, a project manager position to help oversee renovation and maintenance.

Two also paid for by state funds are at the soon to be open Levi Carter Park.

It opens in October, and I can't wait for you to see what dedicated intentional focus can do for a park.

The next $5 million comes again from the philanthropic community and will be focused in 27 on capital needs.

This pledge was made with the caveat that the city put in $5 million first.

So five plus five equals 10.

Omaha benefits from a vast parks and rec system.

You don't have to go back 50 years to my personal story to see value at Coons Park or Fontenelle Park.

Omaha operates 250 plus parks, 16 pools, 12 community centers, eight golf courses, 130 miles of trails, and a wide range of other amenities.

Of those 250 parks, however, 144 of them are in poor or fair to poor condition.

Recall that report from last year, and that explains why.

Aging infrastructure, staffing limitations, insufficient maintenance, geographic inequities in access.

We have been spending way less on our parks than comparable cities.

We spend proportionately less on parks than we do for police, fire, and public works, which combined account for most of city spending.

In 2027, we will turn this around by spending a combined 10 million dollars extra on parks.

This is historic.

This is transformative.

The city, this will affect Omaha's in all parts of the city.

The city cannot do this alone, however.

The city cannot deliver to the residents of Omaha the level of parks that they expect.

Partnering with donors to offer state of the art parks will help.

These are incredible investments in our youth, our neighborhoods, and our city as a whole.

Best of all, we can pay for it, something I'll explain in chapter 9, so stay tuned.

Chapter 2, police.

After losing staffing in recent years, we have stabilized and are holding now at 835 sworn staff out of a budget or authorized strength of 906.

Upcoming lateral class in September, as well as January and July classes in 2027 will allow us for the first time to achieve full staffing at 906 members of the Omaha Police Department.

We are lucky to have the steady hand of Omaha Police Chief Todd Smoderer leading this effort, and I am grateful for the partnership that we have.

I like to say he's the best chief in America.

So I hope you all appreciate him as much as I do.

We have a strong, well-managed and community-facing department that is keeping us safe.

Omaha is the safest large city in the United States of America.

We want to continue that.

We are investing in technology, about 10 million for IT infrastructure.

We are investing in the workforce, additional men and women in positions to support a variety of functions from forensics to education.

And for the second year of our contract with sworn officers and leaders, we are paying 5% more in salaries than what the highest pay is in Nebraska.

And we did this very intentionally to be able to ensure that we would reach our goal and keep our promise to deliver a fully staffed police department to the people of this community.

Chapter 3 is about the fire department.

Our fire department is running smoothly under the very capable leadership of Chief Kathy Bossman, a strong advocate for her department.

We are investing for the first time in over a decade to the authorized strength of the fire department, adding nine new firefighters.

This will be the first time that we've added firefighters without adding more territory or putting more apparatus in service.

We believe this is necessary to continue to provide excellent fire response as well as EMS services by the Omaha Fire Department.

And so we are doing that.

This will reduce callback.

This will reduce stress and strain on firefighters who are often called back to staff on their days off or held over so they stay an extra day in order to make sure we have the adequate staffing that we need.

We are going to continue this investment till we get the fire department to the right size.

We also are continuing to invest in health screenings.

Chapter 4 is the library.

That can be summed up as more staff and more books.

The story of us, one Omaha includes the Central Library, which we opened in April, and is full all of the time.

We are adding seven grant funded positions to help staff that library.

We heard you, Omaha, that some books take too long to get.

It recently listed 874 holds for the audio book, 610 holds for the ebook, and 451 holds for the physical book.

It's a great thing that this many Omahans like to read, but that's too long to wait.

This investment will shrink average wait time for materials from 35 days to 20 days.

Chapter 5 is planning.

When I think of that house we moved into I remember feeling so proud.

Look for their We Make Omaha comprehensive plan for the city early next year and look for their most recent report on building permits and development of 1.3 billion dollars in building permit valuation, the second highest in rec on record since 2006.

Chapter 6 is human rights and relations.

This work fits into a larger economic development ecosystem we are building in Omaha.

Chapter 7 is public works.

The new positions would accentuate water recovery, water resource recovery, parking and mobility, and vehicle maintenance.

Much of the general fund increase is going to higher solid waste collection costs associated with inflation.

The department is also requesting $3.5 million to bring four additional parking facilities online at the dual, the Beacon, Millwork, and Builders District at 15th in California.

The four garages will add 3,836 spaces to our growing downtown.

We're building smart.

We don't want to waste and use precious real estate for large parking lots.

Chapter 8 is capital improvement.

Our budget also includes a six-year look ahead on major construction activity called in our called for in our capital improvement program or CIP, which covers 2027 through 2032.

For 2027, we are making big investments, starting with the proposed public safety headquarters at the Crossroads Development.

Let me be clear.

We cannot kick the can down the road anymore.

We must get this done.

This public safety headquarters at the new crossroads development is a tremendous need for our community to replace that aged facility as well as a fire headquarters that was built in 1966 and is far too small for the personnel that are in the fire department today.

We have leaders in that department who are stationed off-site in other places rather than having all of the leaders of the fire department housed in one building.

We also can gain synergy when we have police and fire who work closely together every day on every major event that we have in this city, being able to be housed together and have the ability to plan and partner as they carry out their very important public safety duties.

This 181 million dollar facility will add a crucial crucial anchor in the central part of our city.

Combining police fire headquarters, as I mentioned, will facilitate better coordination, education, and customer service to the citizens of Omaha.

One of the things I have preached in my leadership in government is that we must look at government as a customer service organization, not just government as usual.

This moves us along that path.

Pending public approval for bonding authority in November of 2026, we would anticipate a spring 2030 opening.

The future addition of Fire Station 70 in Northwest Omaha will help ensure Omaha's protection and safety throughout our fire jurisdiction.

The city is also planning on how to organize police and fire services downtown.

This would serve the growing population of the urban core.

We will seek bond authority this fall also for tranquility parks transformation into a soccer magnet.

We are increasing the number of turf fields to 16 to attract regional and national tournaments.

We will have natural surface trails and trails for mountain bikes as well.

And let me just say this is a tremendous investment that will have tremendous returns for the city of Omaha and give us an opportunity to take part in the very profitable youth sports opportunities that are out there.

The Omaha Streetcar will hit a significant construction milestone in 2027 with the completion of all underground utility and bridge work.

The streetcar maintenance facility will be completed in 2027.

That leaves only mainline rail work a hopeful sign as this project nears its fall twenty twenty-eight goal.

The CHI Health Center Omaha is undergoing a two hundred million dollar expansion.

The project will add twenty-five new breakout rooms with sweeping riverfront views.

This expands our capacity to welcome even more groups to Omaha.

Chapter nine.

For our general operating fund, the city relies primarily on sales and use tax, which is tracking higher for 2027.

Service charges and investment income are tracking higher as well.

Property taxes are a fifth of the general fund budget.

We are holding the line again on the levy and not increasing the levy for the city of Omaha.

We can balance our spending plan.

Following this presentation will be a public hearing on August eleventh.

Then there will be a vote on August twenty sixth.

It goes into effect on January first to close budget to close budgets tell stories.

I open with my story.

Then I told you about our 2027, our story.

Thank you for your time.

And with that, that is the presentation of the twenty twenty-seven budget.

Okay.

Yeah.

Just a notification for the public.

The budget and CIP hearing will be held on August 11th at 630 PM.

Item seven to consider a class I liquor license for forest game time pub and grill located at 15350 Weir Street.

Public hearing is now open on item seven.

Is the applicant in attendance today?

Yes.

Good afternoon.

Name is Kevin Forrest, uh 15350 Witter Street, uh Forest Game Time Pub and Grill.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item seven?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Motion and a second row call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Melton.

Melton.

Melton.

Yes.

Oh, row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

Seven to zero.

Okay.

Thank you.

Item eight to consider a class EK liquor license for Ipoca Cantina located at one zero eight zero capital Avenue, suite one fifty.

Public hearing is now open on item eight.

I believe the applicant is by Zoom, Mr.

Magana.

Yes, sir.

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

One Magana 6322 South 100 Street.

Omaha Nebraska 68127.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item number eight?

Uh good afternoon.

Omaha City Council.

Uh Dona Yard Johnson, the Johnson Dequeston Foundation, North America Concerned Citizen Foundation, 4928, North 52nd Street.

I support this young man, but I was at the liquor commission yesterday at the hearing, and I asked him, can we have someone from North Obaha or Umhaw on a liquor commission?

They're taking it under consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item eight?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Council member Goodwin, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Just had a few questions for the owner here.

Uh what will your operating hours be?

So technically we're open from 11 to 10, and on the weekends we're from 10 to 2.

Okay.

And uh it says you're here at uh 1080 Capitol Avenue suite 150.

Uh what uh location are you is currently there or that you're replacing.

No, so we're not replacing anything, ma'am.

We're I'm I've been in business there since twenty eighteen.

Um we're I'm just uh adding to my license.

I guess um amendment.

That's all I'm doing.

Thank you for that clarity.

All right, I motion to approve.

Festerson.

Good one.

Harding, hug, Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

Thank you.

Items nine through eleven can be considered together for Walvoard subdivision located southeast of two hundred and thirty-fourth street and West Center Road.

Planning board and planning department recommend approval.

Items nine and ten resolutions to approve the preliminary plat and final plat.

Item eleven, a resolution to approve the subdivision agreement.

I will open the public hearings on agenda items nine through eleven.

Applicant, good afternoon.

My name's Claims Peterson, two six three seven south 158th plaza, suite one ten.

I'm here today with the applicants.

Um the Walberts here.

Um this is a 58 uh lot uh RV park that they have planned.

This is we are here just for the preliminary and final plat.

The conditional use permit has been approved, but I want to be available to answer any questions that you guys have on on either of those items.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here that wish to speak on items nine through eleven?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Second, got a motion and a second roll call.

Fasterson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

Seven to zero.

Items 12 through 14 can be considered together for state and highway 133 edition, located northwest of State Street and Blair High Road.

Planning Board and Planning Department recommend approval.

B is communication.

Item 12, an ordinance to rezone this property from AG district and GI district to GI district.

Item 13, a resolution to approve the final plat.

Item 14, a resolution to approve the subdivision agreement.

The public hearing is now open on items 12 through 14.

Applicant, good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Brad Weckerlin with HDR, 1917 South 67th here on behalf of the client.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here that wish to speak on items 12 through 14?

So you would HDR.

I heard you guys went to Egypt.

Yes.

Good afternoon, Omaha City Council.

Donna Yard Johnson and Johnson Dequestion Foundation, North Omaha Concerned Citizen Foundation, 4928 North 52nd Street.

Item number 12.

I also told the Likor Commission that I was a farm kid before I was a city kid.

I can Omaha 1963.

We want access to this medical marijuana program.

Donnie, we got to stay on the items 12 through 14 today.

Number 12 agriculture.

It's for rezoning and the platform plat.

Can we grow marijuana there?

Donnie, thanks.

Is there any other proponents here today on items 12 through 14?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Seeing none, public hearing is closed.

Have a motion and a second roll call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

Seven to zero.

Items 15 through 20 can be considered together for Lake Street Grocery Store Edition, located southwest of Lake Street and 25th Street.

Planning Board and Planning Department recommend approval.

Item 15, an ordinance to rezone this property from R7 District and GC district to MBD district.

I'm 16 in ordinance to amend the boundaries of the ACI 1 overlay district to incorporate this property into that district.

I will open the public hearings in items 15 through 20.

Applicant, good afternoon.

I'm Terry Morris with Erhard Griffin Associates 3552 Farnham Street here on behalf of the owner to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents on items 15 through 20?

Uh Eric Westman, Ali Puerto Mikato Architecture, 1516 Cumming Street.

Also here to answer any questions if you should have them.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here?

Hello, my name is Annette Silence.

I'm with Sparks DDI, but I'm also a North Omaha resident.

So we are in support of the Lake Street grocery store for many reasons.

It'll provide the solution to the food desert that's in North Omaha.

I'm not sure.

Okay, sorry.

And not only that, it'll provide uh convenience for the seniors that live in that area who may have a hard time with transportation, getting to decent groceries uh for fresh produce, and I'm all nervous.

I don't know why.

You're doing great.

Okay, I should have just stuck to the script.

But yes, we are in support of this project just for the fact that it will uh it'll add value to the neighborhood, and it'll also help us to keep dollars in the neighborhood circulating.

So that's all like that.

Thanks.

The only one that felt nervous was you.

You did terrific.

I had it written down, but I should have just stuck to the script.

You're a pro, you did fabulous.

Thanks for coming down today.

Are there any other proponents here that wish to speak on items 15 through 20?

Okay.

We'll go to the Zoom.

Uh Zeke Rouse.

Are you there, Zeke?

Yes, hi.

Uh good afternoon.

Uh, I'm Zeke Rouse, Policy Fellow at Spark 1111 North 13th Street, suite 311.

Uh echo everything that my colleague previously said in support of the Lake Street grocery store edition um and all related ordinance and resolutions.

Um Sparks Fabric Lab, which is also our community hub, sits just around the corner of the proposed Lake Street grocery store.

So every day we work alongside residents and neighborhood community leaders to imagine and build a stronger North Omaha.

This project's very unique and exciting because we know that Hartmanistry Center has worked directly with the community to design something that reflects what residents actually ask for.

Not just a place to buy groceries, but uh a community asset that will help drive future investment along the 24th and Lake Corridor.

Um and that conversation will continue with the next uh community vision meeting on July 29th, uh, which gives neighbors another opportunity to help share uh what this store will become.

And we appreciate the planning department and planning board's recommendation for approval and ask that you vote yes on all items related to this project.

Uh thank you for your time.

Thank you.

I believe we also have one more by Zoom, Ethel Mitchell Rock.

Can you hear us?

Hi, my name is Yes, hi, my name is Ethel Mitchell Rock.

I own the historic property located at 2502 Lake Street, the Broomfield Row House, 113-year-old building that will be located directly across from this proposed um grocery store less than 400 feet from this from this site.

And I am for bringing it in the grocery store.

However, there are other issues, other concerns that I do have.

Uh traffic congestion and safety.

I know that I could I don't live in Omaha, Nebraska, but my property is there.

So I come home periodically and I see especially during rush hour, lots of traffic on that street.

Something has got to be done because when you add a grocery store into the mix of an already crowded Lake Street, it's gonna be nightmarish.

I sit there and watch the traffic build and build and build, particularly during rush hours.

There, and it's gonna be making noise.

And I do believe that crime is probably going to increase because that's just that's just what happens.

You have transient, lots of transients in that particular area.

They're gonna come and hang around this particular grocery store, uh peddling or doing whatever they need to do to try to get food for their for themselves.

And I believe that there's also going to be parking concerns.

I have residents that live there, and they're gonna have to be fighting for parking spots.

And I I think you need to look at the parking that's available, even though they're gonna have a parking lot.

I still believe that they're gonna have to parking issues with that.

So if you can take a look at the parking, that would be greatly appreciated.

Those are the concerns that I have for now.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here to wish to speak in attendance?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Goodwin, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um I am thrilled at the announcement of this Lake Street grocery store here in the heart of District 2 because again, I echo the um affirmations of of the proponents today that not only is it desperately needed, uh, but it also uh for the access to fresh produce and groceries, but it also means jobs.

Uh it's also a in field development project right now.

Um this is going to be uh built on what's currently vacant land.

Uh now I actually know Miss Ethel.

So we appreciate your uh concerns that you brought to the table.

Uh but I can tell you that we're actively uh addressing those issues, not just with this developer.

Um, but just two weeks ago, I had 24th Street developers just uh at a round table so that we could talk about development holistically, uh talk about challenges, but also talk about uh solutions.

And so I do want to uh address one thing before I uh bring up um Terry and um Eric uh to discuss a little bit more uh about a few questions.

I actually don't believe that this project is going to increase crime.

Uh not only because there's a concerted effort within that uh North 24th Street uh stakeholders, residents, organizations, churches to uh not just address and prevent crime, but just two weeks ago, um, again, another meeting, but uh in reality, uh we talked about how we can even secure uh the various businesses, um, incoming businesses uh to ensure that we're uh strategically working together to prevent crime, but also to to work in in unison to to build awareness and collaboration.

OPD was in that room, as was Heart Ministry Center, um, and even one of their liaisons came through, and I had the opportunity to just even walk her through just some of the visual uh not concerns, but things to be aware of.

Um and so uh I I think that you'll be proud to know, Miss Um Mitchell, that um uh Mitchell Rock, excuse me, that um there's quite it's not quite a bit.

Um I think you'll be pleased as a former resident of North Omaha to know that um there is concerted coordination for the revitalization and redevelopment of the North 24th Street area as well as many other parts of district too uh that um we're working strategically.

We're working to not only uh address uh all the things you mentioned, but we're we're ahead of the game in a lot of ways.

Um so would love to uh have you look me up because I'd be happy to give you more information about that.

Uh but I think you'll be well pleased to see how how uh just development overall is coming along uh for this North 24th Street corridor and how this project is well dialed into it.

So I thought if I could bring the development team up and I'm sure you have some photos for us.

I'd love to see uh because we talked a little bit about she talked about traffic and parking, but we know that there will be a parking lot and even a street closure that should um you know help to you know alleviate parking problems, but could you talk a little bit about just the project overall, but then let's dial in a little bit to to parking um and and we I may have other questions as well.

Yes, you bet.

Thank you.

Uh-huh.

Um see if that shrinks up for me there.

Uh from the beginning, I know we addressed that Heart Ministry Center will be operating this, and Dom couldn't be here today with us.

So I don't know if that can zoom out.

So from the beginning of this process, we've been focused on their core values, and uh we believe that the whole design team and their management team will be focused on that.

So bringing community compassion, accountability, and excellence throughout the project has been one of our core focus and missions, and I think that goes a long way to address, and I agree with you that this these upcoming projects will do a lot to reduce the things that the that she's concerned about.

Uh and I'm really excited that there's a we all know there's a lot of people.

I'm sorry, uh it doesn't sound like your microphones are on, or maybe you need to be speaking a little more directly into it.

Okay, is that that better?

It it is.

Okay.

So uh we know there's a lot of projects that are on the planning boards right now for this area, and we're really excited to bring one online and actually start construction because I think that'll be a catalyst that will move some of those other projects forward.

Uh and then along the lines of what you mentioned, you know, well, this has been dedicated to the idea of food access and elevated shopping experience complementing the neighborhood and really becoming a community anchor.

Uh we know it will have a workforce development aspect that's great and tied to the Heart Ministry Center.

And so we do think there's going to be a lot of pride in the neighborhood around this project, but also within the operator and the and the people that are working there.

Uh to address some of the concerns that that we're discussing.

We do currently have a significant parking lot that we believe will more than serve this facility.

Uh and also we're pulling the loading completely off the street into an inter internal external loading area so that can be completely concealed from the neighborhood on off hours.

Uh on the north side on Lake Street, we're actually providing parallel parking and traffic nodes, and there will actually be working with Spark and North Omaha Trail, the bike trail that goes 10 feet along the west side of the property.

And that will come with what we're still developing as a crosswalk that goes with a signal across Lake Street to provide some additional pedestrian safety.

So we do believe this block in this development is going to do a lot to calm traffic in the area and prevent safe passage for bicycles and pedestrian traffic to the north.

I did mention that this project has been designed with an angle of excellence for the community.

And uh we have worked together with the Hart Ministry Center and other stakeholders to make sure that not only is this representative of the neighborhood, but this is something that is truly an elevated shopping experience and a dignified approach to shopping.

Thank you.

And I think that you make some very good points.

Can we talk a little bit about timeline?

Although I know that a lot of this information is being disseminated in the community engagement avenues.

Yeah.

Pending making it through all the due diligence we're anticipating October to November groundbreaking with heavy construction starting in the spring.

Awesome.

I think it's important for people to realize with economic development that we often have to consider what comes first, the people or the amenities.

And I think a grocery store is an I don't think we know grocery stores are essential amenities to thriving communities.

And when we're trying to bring populations back, you've got to have basic amenities to draw them back.

And further, uh, you also have to have density, meaning the rooftops, in order for some of those traffic calming measures like traffic signals that we love.

You gotta have people in place that are actually using those roadways before federal guidelines will say, hey, you might need a traffic stop here or a crosswalk there.

And so this is just the project that helps catalyze so much more of what's already transpiring within this this uh lake and 24th street area.

I also want to admit uh or let folks realize that Lake Street is a truck route already, unfortunately.

And so I think we do have to look about at how traffic moves throughout the area.

The North 24th Street Streetscape Master Plan Phase 2 will also help to address at least traffic coming east to west, north to south, right on 24th and lake.

And so um there is so much in the works.

I mean, it is such an awesome time to be in not only the the business of of city government and how we support um these projects, but also being on the ground and help to collaborate with with entities like Heart Ministry Center, like Spark, like the MXDG development, like NOMA, like OEDC, like the union.

And I can go on and on all the wonderful projects and people who are working endlessly, the North 24th Street Business Improvement Districts, shameless plug.

I mean, um the entities that we're we're in, we're making the soup to make North 24th Street, North uh 24th and Lake uh just a thriving community uh once again.

Um let me just look at my list real quick, and I see my colleague has his light.

Um you talked about jobs, I talked about truck route, we talked about density, and we talked about timeline.

Can you just give us another um plug on that July 29th uh community engagement meeting for anybody else who might want to write down that?

Yeah, so so we we already held one that was more of a workshop session.

Uh and they're gonna move some of those ideas forward with another workshop presentation on the 29th.

Uh I unfortunately will not be at that one, but we're gonna give some material for them to present and the community really gets to engage and talk about what they want to see, not only from what you can shop for, but to what the experience is.

Yeah.

And where is the what is the time and the location?

I I would need to check on that.

I but I know it's in the evening, and I believe it's at the accelerator building again.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Festerson, you're recognized.

Thanks, Mr.

President.

My colleague asked all the important questions there.

I just want to say I'm very supportive of this project, too.

Um it's an incredible partnership.

I think all of us can think of an area in our districts where we'd love to have a project like this.

I'm really pleased to see it happen with the Hart Ministry Center uh operating this new uh location.

They've been a strong partner with the community for years, providing food and nutrition and workforce development, which this will certainly do.

Um it's also unique in that I believe it does not intend to have a liquor license.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

That's also very unusual for a supermarket or a convenience store these days.

Uh so I appreciate that aspect of it as well.

Some may be asking how is this possible?

Why can't this be done in many other places in the city?

I think part of that answer is because there's strong philanthropic support behind this project, but I really appreciate that.

Uh I think it is needed here badly.

Uh it is a documented food desert.

Um, as council member goodwin uh observed, there's a lot of really positive things happening here at 24th and Lake with the streetscape and the business improvement district and the North O'Maintrail that comes right through this property, and this will be a wonderful addition to that uh momentum.

So if my colleague wants to move approval for these items, I'll be happy to second them.

I'd like to move to approve.

Second, got a motion and a second, no further lights.

Row call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding, yes, hug, Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

Item 21, an ordinance to amend section one of ordinance number four four five eight five to correct the legal description for rezoning located at 5073 Kansas Avenue Planning Board and Planning, our planning department recommends approval.

I will open the public hearing on item 21.

Are there any proponents here today?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Got a motion and a second row call.

Festerson.

Yes, good one.

Harding, yes, hug, Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

Item 22, an ordinance to rezone property located at 6024 P Street from DR district to R 4 district.

Planning Board and Planning Department recommends approval.

Public hearing is now open on item 22.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

I'm Halloween City Council.

Uh Donnie R.

Johnson, the Johnson Equation Foundation, North America Citizen Foundation.

I was thinking about my professor at UNO.

I took three years at public speaking.

But I've seen this council, you council folks wouldn't hear when we seen the council screw up the Albertson deal.

We've seen the council screw up other deals.

So maybe you want to be a little bit open-minded.

Thank you.

Are there any other pro I'm sorry, we're on opponents?

Any other opponents on item 22?

Seeing none public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Hug, you're recognized.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Got a motion and a second.

No further lights.

Roll call.

Festerson.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Yes.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed.

Seven to zero.

Item 23, an ordinance to rezone property located at 5228 Ames Avenue from R3 district to R5 district.

Planning board and planning department recommend approval.

Public hearing is now open on item 23.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Got a motion and a second row call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion pass seven to zero.

It's a twenty-four, an ordinance to amend the boundaries of the MCC overlay district to incorporate into that district.

The property located at 4801 Q Street Planning Board and Planning Department.

Recommend approval.

Public hearings now open on item 24.

Are there any proponents or the applicant here today?

Good afternoon.

I'm here on behalf of Evelma CS.

We're the applicants for 26129 4801 Q Street.

I'm here just respectfully asking for your approval.

Um this project will allow us to operate our dealership in compliance with the city's regulations.

Thank you for your consideration.

Can you give us your address for the record too as well?

4801 Q Street.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents on item 24?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Hug, you're recognized.

Uh this is a question for Mr.

Fanslaw.

Mr.

Fanzel, are we approving the this property to be used for dealership today?

Uh Dave Fanslow City Planning.

No, the only thing on your agenda is for the approval of the MCC overlay district.

And not for auto sales.

Okay.

All right, motion to approve.

Got a motion and a second row call.

Festerson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

Items 25 through 28 can be considered together for property located at 2715 and 2723 Q Street.

Planning Board and Planning Department recommend approval.

Item 25, an ordinance to rezone this property from R7 District to GI District.

Item 26, an ordinance to amend the boundaries of the ACI district to incorporate this property into that district.

Item 27, an ordinance to repeal the MCC overlay district for this property.

Item 28, an ordinance to approve an amendment to the future land use element of the city's master plan from high density residential to industrial.

The public hearing is now open on items 25 through 28.

Is the applicants here today?

Good afternoon.

Terry Morse with Air Hard Griffin Associates 3552 Farnham Street, the civil engineer on the project here as well as the architect and representatives of the ownership.

Thank you.

Dan Dolezhell with Alley Pointer McKeddo Architecture 1516 Cummings Street.

Also here to answer any questions.

Shannon McNeil with the Stevens Center 2723 Q Street.

Also here to answer questions.

Also, Chris Kunoff here on behalf of the Stephen Center, uh 2723 Q Street here to answer any questions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents 25 through 28?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Professorson.

Yes.

Good one.

Harding.

Yes.

Hug.

Melton.

Row.

Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

Item 29, a resolution to approve the 7630 Pacific Apartments Tax Increment Financing Redevelopment Project Plan located at 7630 Pacific Street in an amount up to 1 million 513,578 dollars.

Public hearing is now open on item number 29.

Ms.

Hadley, good afternoon.

Good afternoon, M.

Good afternoon.

Uh members of the council.

Bridget Hadley City Planning.

All right, before you is the 7630 Pacific Apartments.

Uh TIFF project.

This project involves a single lot located here, Pacific Street here, 78th, South 78th Street there.

Um single lot located at 7630 Pacific Street.

Um an existing uh single family home will be demolished, and a new five-story apartment building with 34 uh market rate apartments will be constructed.

The developer is parkway development LLC managed by Ryan Spellman.

Total investment to the neighborhood is about 14 million, and the TIFF support is about 1.5 million.

The project meets the retire uh required require uh criteria for TIFF and is appropriate for the land use for this location and complies with the city's uh master plan.

Here is a rendering of the site, and with that I'd ask for your approval.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item 29?

Good afternoon.

Uh Will Spellman.

Um 216 North 117th Street.

I'm here on behalf of Ryan who couldn't make it today, he's out of town.

Uh, and I can answer any questions.

Thank you.

Are there any other proponents here on item 29?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Thank you.

My name is Leslie Myers.

I reside at 637 Beverly Drive in Omaha, just a couple blocks away on Beverly Drive in Leavenworth from this development.

Um, we are not objecting our community that of the several neighbors I am here on the benefit of to the proposed use of the property.

We are objecting to the extreme size of the apartment building and the number of apartments.

This is in the middle of a block with offices on both sides.

From the rendering, it's a little larger than uh two, three width driveway.

You're exiting in the middle of an extremely busy street.

It's an underground parking, which I applaud you for, having had the opportunity and many hundred years ago, can appreciate.

But you've got potentially 34 people who are going to be trying to get out of there and rush hour traffic and get back in at rush hour traffic.

That can be a real big problem.

Lower this the height of the building, take into effect of the neighbors that that building would tower over.

It will diminish our property values in old historic Loveland district.

And it's a very upcoming and many people are coming in and buying lots and adding on and extending and proving properties.

To my knowledge, I don't think that was done.

I know I was never contacted.

So and the first time we saw the rendering of this was when Channel 3 presented it to us, where we would have probably all said something sooner.

Also, I do know that through the area being rezoned and etc., which I can understand, that house would never be uh sold or used for residential property, uh, just due to what has already been done.

Um, but that being said, there are uses for it, and I think maybe through some more consideration of our area, it would be done as far as people coming to park there that are visiting residents in that apartment.

Where are they gonna park?

There's there's no off-street parking anywhere.

The closest off-street parking would be the uh Leavenworth and Beverly Drive, which is approximately 7 to 8th in Pacific, a block north and then west.

And there's limited, I gotta ask you to you're finished within three minutes.

Thank you for coming down to the house.

Do that, sir, and thank you for your time.

Thanks for coming down today.

Are there any other opponents here that wish to speak on item 29?

Larry Storer, 5015 Lafayette Avenue.

Omaha 68132.

I am opposed to this for many of the same reasons that that lady mentioned.

It is extremely ugly.

Does not fit in that neighborhood at all.

And I'd like to stop you from doing it to my neighborhood, so I try to stop you from doing it to that one.

I go by that area for a while.

I guess when you guys aren't satisfied, you find one way to drive people out of there or another.

One of those ways is to put a posted uh sign on a property from somebody that decided to leave or was pushed out by the city, and then the homeless come in and set a fire to it.

So watch for that young lady.

Uh I want to stop it in your area too.

I can sense it close to my area because uh one of the inhabitants in that area has owns a lot of property, and he's never required to clean it up.

So I know you're getting ready to do it in my area too.

So stop it here, please.

Thank you.

Are there any other opponents that wish to speak on item 29 today?

Seeing none public hearing is closed.

Mr.

Spillman, some questions for you, please.

Yes.

I know when your brother reached out to me, um, he had mentioned that he was going to hold meetings with Loveland and the neighbors.

Can you tell me about that outreach that was done?

Yes, so we uh sent out uh letters, uh invitations to a virtual town hall uh to residents within a certain uh radius of the property.

Uh determined by I think the planning department.

Um we had two attendees, uh excuse me, three attendees, uh the business owner directly west of our property, the business owner directly east of our property, uh the John DeWare building, and then across the street, um one of the owners from the retail over there attended as well.

And what were the issues brought up by the people that attended that meeting?

Because you heard Miss Meyer today what she said.

Can you speak to what was brought up not only by her but also in that meeting that you held?

Yeah, so the the members of the meeting that did attend, uh there were it was it was all supportive.

Uh we didn't have any issues raised, uh, like Miss Meyer said.

So um again, it was very low turnout for that meeting.

Um but we did send out the the letters and whatnot that were required.

So one of the questions Miss Myers brought up was the size and the the height of the building.

Yes.

When you guys went through this development, how did you arrive at?

I think it's is it 37, 34 apartments, and you're gonna have 34 stalls for parking as well, correct?

Yes.

We'll have a one-to-one parking uh for our our one-bed units and our parking stalls um 34 and 34.

Uh, in terms of the the size of the building, the height, uh we did follow, I think it's the planning board's recommendation uh to maintain a height um below four at or below 45 feet on the north end, which is the end that overlooks the uh residential lots.

And where when they're pulling in is the parking garage on the east side of the building, or where's that gonna be located?

The parking garage is on the south face of the building, directly the curb cut right off Pacific Street.

And in one of the Miss Meyer brought up several points.

One was the traffic.

Um how did you take into account did you work with the public works department on traffic counts and how that would work with an apartment unit of 34 units and parking stalls?

Sure.

Uh that I would have to speak with my architect to check on that and and other engineers involved in that.

Uh, you know, westbound you do turn directly off Pacific into the garage, and then eastbound you have uh a turn lane that takes you into the garage.

Okay.

Mr.

Okay.

Uh Rauser.

Can I can you comment on the when an item like this goes through the planning board?

What do you look at with traffic with the number of units in the street that on Pacific there that cars will go in and out of?

Austin Rouser Public Works.

We have staff that uh work with the developer and their engineers and to evaluate essentially what the use is going to generate in terms of the number of cars that we expect at certain times of the day.

Uh look specifically at peak hour.

Uh with the nut with the unit count, it's a still relatively low trip generator, uh, few cars coming off.

One one concern we did ask questions about was with the uh entrance off of Pacific Street.

My understanding and what we were told is that the uh the parkers will have the ability to remote access that that gate so that that doesn't um you know there's no stacking there at the entrance as cars come in and out.

We did have the developer push the the face of that that garage back off of Pacific Street enough to stack a couple of cars there so that there is space there without uh cars uh bleeding back into Pacific Street.

So that that was definitely a concern that we looked at, and uh the developer and their engineer were able to accommodate that.

Okay, so from a public works perspective on traffic engineering Pacific's a busy street, but you're saying that the 34 apartments here will be able to accommodate the vehicles that'll go in and out, because is that true?

That's correct.

And one thing I learned of many things on this council, the 34 people that are gonna live there, all 34 are gonna come out at the same time.

That's kind of common sense, right?

That is correct.

Okay.

Um I don't have any other questions.

Let me close the public hearing.

Okay.

This in my district, I'm gonna be supportive of this.

Umks.

We got a motion and a second, no further lights.

Roll call.

Pasterson, good one.

Harding, yes, hug, Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

Item 30, a resolution to approve the 1053 Park Avenue tax increment financing redevelopment project plan located at 1059 Park Avenue in an amount up to 660, 785 dollars.

Public hearing is now open on item number 30.

Is the applicant here today, Miss Hadley?

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Members of the council, Richard Hadley, City Lannings.

Yeah.

Okay, hopefully you can see this.

So this is uh 1053 Park Avenue Senior Apartments TIFF project.

Um this is Park Avenue right here, and this is Pacific Street.

And of course, the yellow hot shaded area is the proposed project site.

The project involves a single vacant lot at the northeast corner of Park Avenue and Pacific Street.

It will be a new four-story scene senior living apartment building with 50 affordable one bedroom units that will be constructed.

Uh there the rents are targeted to households at or below 60 percent AMI.

The project includes LITEC credits, uh front porch uh dollars, and and I'll just make a note that this is the first project TIFF program project that also uh includes the project owner applying to front porch for some of the UC or Urban Core bond proceeds.

So that was part of the 40 million.

So this is one of the first TIF program projects that also includes some of the 40 million for the purpose of affordable housing, so doing exactly what that was intended to do.

So that helps this project move forward.

The developer is 1053 Park Avenue LLC, managed by Rob Woodling.

Uh the total investment in the neighborhood is approximately four point excuse me, 10.5 million dollars, and the TIFF support is about 661,000 dollars.

The project meets the required uh criteria for TIFF.

It is an appropriate land use for the location, and it does comply with the goals of the master plan.

Um I have just a renderings more of the elevations, looking southeast here, uh looking northeast here, and looking northwest here.

So with that, I would ask for your approval.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents here on item 30?

Hello, uh Rob Woodling Foundation's Development will be the developer of the project.

Would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have uh about uh this and I'd also like to thank city staff for uh their assistance through this process as well as front porch investments and uh uh including uh Nebraska Investment Finance Authority and the Department of Economic Development.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Any other proponents here on item 30?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Mr.

Woodling, a couple questions.

This is down in the heart of my district on Park Avenue.

Um what's the rent going to be for these?

For this is a great project.

I I commend you for the efforts you put in with work with city planning and front porch and others.

I know these aren't easy projects.

Tell me what's the rent going to be for the seniors that are going to be able to live here.

Sure.

We'll actually have uh two different scales.

Um five of our units or or ten percent of the total units will be focused at um residents that uh the rent will be set at 40 percent of the area median income, and those rents will be roughly I think it's 768.

Uh and then we'll also have the remaining uh 45 units uh with rents targeted uh at or below uh actually it's 50 percent of for the rents itself, so those will be around 950 dollars.

Okay, and and what's um the time frame of groundbreaking when some good folks can start moving in here, what's your uh we hope to break ground this fall and then um have the building done approximately 16 months after that, so it would be probably spring of uh 28.

Okay, I'm certainly gonna be supportive of this item today.

Um again appreciate your efforts, and this is one of the ways that we address uh affordable housing challenges and certainly with seniors.

It's an it's an issue we're running into for our or fine senior citizens, and this is a step we'll keep taken to um have a project like this by supportive here today, so thanks for being here.

Thank you.

Got a motion and a second roll call.

Pasterson, good one, hardy, yes, hug, melton, row, mr.

President.

I think motion passed seven to zero.

Consent agenda.

Any member of the city council may cause any item placed on the consent agenda to be removed.

I'm 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 hearings and agenda items 31 through 33 were held on July 14th, 2026.

Got a motion and a second row call.

Fasterson, yes, good one, Harding, Hug, Melton, Rowe, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed seven to zero.

The public hearings on agenda items 34 through 42 are today.

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

And if you're a proponent or opponent.

Public hearing is now open.

Are there any proponents?

Good afternoon.

My name is Kyle Keith.

I'm here today regarding council agenda item number 39.

I am a proponent.

Um of Omaha Front Porch Investments and everyone who else was involved in this project.

And TIFF financing for the project.

And as well as Holland Bashman's Megan Gerose.

She was an indispensable partner and guiding us through this process.

While we were disappointing this chapter didn't end the way that we wanted to, I have great confidence.

What comes next for the project?

I believe that this commitment will lead to a stronger project and to a better future for the important corridor of North Omaha.

I also want to encourage everybody else in the North Omaha area to stay engaged with this project and every other project along the North 24th Street Corridor.

Thank you for the time.

And if you guys have any questions for me, just let me know.

Can we get your address for the record as well?

2210 Ward Street.

Thank you.

Thanks for being here today.

Any other proponents on items 34 through 42?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Good afternoon.

No, I'm all city council.

You know, I'm here for the Johnson E.

Question Foundation, Northern Hawaiian Certain Citizen Foundation, 49, 28 now 52nd.

I I think you guys think I don't know what I'm doing, but I've been doing this since the 70s.

I've I've seen many councils come and go.

So let's look at this thing differently.

We're I was in Lincoln yesterday.

We're fighting for jobs, not housing.

Of course, you can't pay for the place if you don't have a job.

Thank you.

Are there any other opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Councilmember Goodwin, you're recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just wanted to uh thank Mr.

Keith for his words and in and even your presence today to to speak to this project.

I think you can be assured that this transition is the right move for this property, and as we look at projects um like the um Minch group uh that's adjacent, as well as other development that's happening that uh you we're gonna see the right type of progress move uh for this project, and so we look forward to your continued uh development and community engagement.

Um and with that, if the public hearing is closed, I will motion to approve agenda items 34 to through 32, 442, excuse me.

We have a motion and a second, thank you.

Council member Melton, you're recognized.

I just have a question on agenda item 42, Mr.

Fenzley.

I don't know if you'd be the right person to answer, but do you know what we're purchasing that property for its property being purchased located at 1818 Leavenworth Street for two point basically three million dollars?

Um Dave Anslow City Planning.

Um, I'm not on the signature line.

Maybe I see sorry Jacqueline will tell you.

Oh, thank you, Jacqueline.

I don't know if I would provide this welcome to the city council meetings.

First time as director in the chair.

I um am actually speaking not as the parks director, but as a member of the mayor's office, if I'm able to speak from here.

Um we did um some design work when we were looking at the police fire headquarter building, and so we uh did design work for both a downtown fire station and the police fire headquarters.

And so when we looked at the downtown areas where we would be able to replace fire station one, this was the location that is um allows them to have the best amount of response times, access to uh a main road which is Leavenworth there, and then it's a 10.

If we when we replace fire station one, it would be a 10-base station, and so it also allows for um bays on both sides of the street for um Omaha fire to get in and out.

And so when we uh were looking at that, we identified basically did some programming, identified that location as the future um for fire station one, and so when we do replace it in the future, this is the site where it will go.

Well, that's a fabulous answer.

I didn't I really didn't know the answer to that, and I'm I'm glad I asked because that's kind of important, and I think that is a great location, and it's for a new fire station.

So thank you for sharing that.

Thank you.

No further lights.

We had a motion and a second roll call.

Festerson, yes, good one, yes, Harding, hug, Melton, yeah, row, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed, seven to zero.

Item 43, a resolution to approve the purchase order and facilities waiver with OPPD for the purchase of 48 Acorn Street Light Pull installation.

Public hearing is now open on item 43.

Are there any proponents?

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Public hearing is closed.

Motion and a second.

Councilman Hug, you're recognized.

Um who can speak to this?

I got questions.

Austin Rouser Public Works.

Okay.

So my question is, how did the city determine to replace the existing lights with these style lights?

So this this is part of the uh urban design retrofit program, which is in the capital improvement plan.

Uh the this location was identified as as a Dave can correct me, but I believe it's an area of civic importance uh where we are upgrading the lights to the acorn fixtures, which are consistent with those ACI locations.

Uh and so this is replacing the old Cobrahead style light fixtures with acorn lighting on Park Avenue from Mason to Woolworth.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Do we have it?

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

Festerson, yes, good one.

Harding, yes, hug, yes, Melton, row, Mr.

President.

Abstain.

Motion passed, six to zero, Bigley abstains.

Item 44, an ordinance to accept an authorized disbursement for a grant award agreement in the amount of sixty thousand dollars to implement a criminal justice internship program.

Public hearing is now open on item 44.

Are there any proponents?

Uh good afternoon.

My name is Bertney Stenzel.

I'm a police officer for the city of Omaha.

My address is 505 South 15th Street, and I'm here to answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you.

Are there any proponents?

Item 44.

Seeing none, are there any opponents?

Uh Daniara Johnson, the Johnson A question foundation, Northam Hall Concerned Citizen Foundation, 4928 and 052nd.

I really not opposed to what the police are doing, but I wanted to share this problem here we're having in North Omaha and the state or the city itself.

I remember they kicked me out of the United Nation program at the Security Council in the Bostonians put me back in.

So what we're writing papers for now, in order to put those folks to continue to move forward, we want more in information about this domestic violence recall uh calling.

But I I like these young folks, but in 1978, when I was at the United Nations Security Council, they said what are you folks doing, Nebraska?

I said we had this thing called Penny Say Pioneering.

Thank you.

Are there any other opponents here on item 44?

Omaha 68132.

I'm opposed to this, but I'm also opposed to it like Donnie, but I'm opposed to it because it's maybe my last chance for today.

Um I don't know why citizens have to put up with some of this.

When uh it's all not very clear, not very uh what do you call it in your legal terms?

Uh um transparent.

Uh I'm all for law enforcement and protection of law enforcement.

Some of our law enforcement has been told by people in this building that they don't belong here.

So uh I'd like a little more transparency with the city council by the city council, particularly in regards to police versus sheriff.

Because apparently uh somebody doesn't think the sheriff's people ought to be in this building.

So uh who's gonna be for who here?

Let's let's settle it.

Thank you.

Are there any other opponents here in item 44?

Seeing none, public hearing is closed.

Non-action items items 45 through 78 do not require a public hearing or city council consideration at this meeting, but will be placed on a future agenda for public hearing and or vote.

The reason for not on 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 to adjourn roll call.

Festerson, yes, good one, Harding, Hug, Melton, Rowe, Mr.

President.

Aye.

Motion passed, seven to zero.

Meeting is adjourned at three forty-five.