Omaha City Council Meeting – August 18, 2026

The Omaha City Council met on August 18, 2026, to consider a variety of items including liquor licenses, plat approvals, rezoning, tax increment financing (TIF), an ordinance related to towing fees, and a lease agreement. All votes were unanimous (6-0) except as noted. Public testimony addressed concerns about affordable housing, erosion, and government membership.

Consent Calendar

• Items 23–27 (public hearings held August 4, 2026) were approved.
• Items 28–45 were approved; one opponent spoke against Item 44.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Larry Store (5015 Lafayette Ave) opposed Items 10–12 and 13–16, arguing that public hearings lack meaningful discussion before votes. He also opposed Item 44, objecting to taxpayer funding for the League of Cities.
• Mark Dockin (2210 Skyline Dr) opposed Items 13–16, presenting photographs of severe erosion along the Elkhorn River bluff and expressing concern about future erosion risks from new construction.
• William Beerman (attorney, 10250 Regency Circle) opposed Items 13–16 on behalf of neighboring homeowner Heidi Donner, citing erosion and soil stability threats from adding 11–12 structures near the river.
• Brent Bellard (engineer, 1140 West Center Rd) spoke in favor of Item 9 (Cunningham View preliminary plat), noting plans for entry-level homes.
• Scott Lowes (engineer, 10836 Old Mill Rd) spoke in favor of Items 10–12 (Walnut Hill affordable housing PUD), describing a five-lot development with 1,500 sq ft homes priced $150,000–$200,000.
• Doug Street (engineer, 10836 Old Mill Rd) spoke for Items 13–16, explaining that the layout was adjusted from 12 to 11 lots and drainage directed away from the bluff to reduce erosion.
• Bridget Hadley (City Planning) presented Item 22 (Workforce Housing TIF) and Item 48 (senior housing TIF).
• Danielle Price (Spark, 1111 N 13th St) and Donnell Brown (developer, 4227 Wyoming St) and Alicia Goodwin (4113 N 18th St) supported Item 48.
• Several applicants appeared via Zoom for liquor licenses.

Discussion Items

• Liquor Licenses (Items 6–8): All approved after brief questions. Item 6: Bobo's Noodles and Dumplings (new Chinese restaurant, already open since April 7). Item 7: Tasty Pizza (taking over former La Sola Mio; another location on hold). Item 8: Alvarado's (existing Latino grocery, seven years in business, adding beer sales).
• Cunningham View Preliminary Plat (Item 9): 72 acres at 78th and State Streets, outside city limits. Plan includes 155 single-family lots, 73 townhome lots, and 100–130 multifamily units. Developer noted creative solutions for entry-level homeownership.
• Walnut Hill Replat 10 (Items 10–12): Five-lot PUD at 40th and Williams Street, affordable homes with garages, basements, and two stories. Councilmember Goodwin asked about financing and price; the applicant confirmed price point ~$150,000–$200,000, well below current market rates. Project had been in development for nearly two years.
• Serenity Estates Villas (Items 13–16): 11 lots on Skyline Drive, homes valued $1.2–$1.4 million. Developer reduced from 12 lots and rerouted drainage to mitigate erosion. Public Works confirmed traffic impact of 13 peak-hour trips. Council discussed previous planning and erosion concerns.
• Iron Bluff Replat 4 (Items 17–21): Rezone and mixed-use amendment; no public testimony.
• Workforce Housing TIF (Item 22): Six single-family homes (3BR/2BA, ~1,600 sq ft) at Fort and 24th Street, priced $245,000. $257,093 in TIF support. Construction expected to start September 2026 and finish spring/summer 2027.
• Towing Ordinance (Item 46): Councilman Hug placed proposed fee changes on file to develop a new comprehensive ordinance targeting non-consensual towing. He expressed dissatisfaction with the existing ordinance and noted an external draft that could serve as a model.
• Senior Housing TIF (Item 48): 73-unit senior housing at 2211 Douglas Street, with at least half of units affordable at or below 60% Area Median Income. Developer Donnell Brown (Spark Academy graduate) partnered with Hoppy Development. Wraparound services from CommonSpirit and other partners. Construction Q4 2026, completion 2027, rent-up 2028.
• Other Items: Item 47 (purchase order for fire prevention services) and Item 49 (25-year lease with Army Corps for dam site 16 at Standing Bear Lake) approved without discussion.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were 6-0 in favor, except Item 46 (placed on file with no vote on the merits).
• Item 46 will be replaced by a future comprehensive towing ordinance.
• Items 50–72 were placed on a future agenda for public hearing and vote.
• Meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM.