OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Omaha, Nebraska/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Omaha City Council Meeting - September 22, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 22, 2026
BodyOmaha, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:46

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:47

Row call.

Speaker 2

0:48

Harding.

0:49

Here.

Speaker 1

0:49

Hug.

Speaker 2

0:50

Here.

0:50

Melton.

0:51

Here.

0:51

Row.

0:52

Festerson.

0:53

Good one.

0:53

Mr.

0:54

President.

Speaker 1

0:54

Here.

0:55

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or remain standing for opening remarks by Councilmember Amy Melton.

Speaker 3

1:08

Undergot.

Speaker 4

1:12

Everyone, please be seated.

Unassigned speaker

1:15

Um,

Speaker 4

1:15

I just wanted to take a moment.

1:17

Um, for September, um, it is National Suicide Prevention Month.

1:23

And I just thought it would be a good time

Unassigned speaker

1:25

to

Speaker 4

1:25

make a note that everyone is affected by suicide, not just the victims.

1:30

Suicide impacts family and friends long after the loss of a loved one.

1:35

On average, one person commits suicide every sixteen point two minutes.

1:40

Two-thirds of the people who come to suicide suffer from depression.

1:44

I just want everyone to know if you know anyone who may be suffering from depression or you fear maybe suicidal.

1:52

You can refer them to the National Suicide Prevention number one eight hundred two seven three eight two five five, or you can go to NAMI.org.

2:03

It's n-a-m-i.org, um, and that's the National Association for Mental Illness.

2:09

So if you know anyone, make sure you reach out to them and let them know that there are people that care and that everyone's life is valued.

2:18

So thank you for

Unassigned speaker

2:20

that.

Speaker 1

2:20

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

2:22

An

Speaker 2

2:22

affidavit at 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.

Speaker 1

2:29

Good afternoon.

2:30

Welcome to this meeting of the Omaha City Council.

2:33

Is a courtesy to those in attendance and to facilitate the conduct of our business.

2:38

We ask that you please silence or turn off all electronic devices.

2:42

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

2:46

Please stay on topic.

2:48

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.

3:01

Council members receive the emails and we read them.

3:04

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

3:22

And if you're coming to the podium to speak, please speak between the two microphones so we can hear you at home and in attendance here at well as well.

3:29

Thank

Unassigned speaker

3:30

you.

Speaker 2

3:31

Item six, the resolution to approve the City of Omaha 2027 property tax request.

Speaker 1

3:38

Council discussion.

3:41

Councilmember Melton, you recognize.

Speaker 2

4:37

Hug.

4:38

Melton.

4:39

Row.

4:40

Festerson.

4:41

Yes.

4:41

Good one.

4:42

Mr.

4:42

President.

4:43

Motion passed seven to zero.

4:46

Item seven to consider a class I liquor license for Medis located at 10317 Pacific Street.

Unassigned speaker

4:53

The

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Public Transportation████████████████████████24%
Racial Equity███████████████15%
Liquor Licensing█████████████13%
Mental Health Awareness█████5%
Zoning█1%
Summary of Proceedings

The Omaha City Council met and took the following actions and heard public testimony.

  • Opening: Councilmember Amy Melton recognized Suicide Prevention Month, noting that one person dies by suicide every 16.2 minutes, that two-thirds of people who die by suicide suffer from depression, and sharing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 and NAMI.org.
  • Item 6 – 2027 property tax request: Approved 7–0.
  • Item 7 – Class I liquor license, Medis, 10317 Pacific St: Public hearing held; applicant representatives Christopher Chafey and Leslie Dixon appeared by Zoom. No opponents. Approved 7–0.
  • Item 8 – Liquor license, Dozendig, 18010 R Plaza: Applicant Amanda Priority, owner, appeared. No opponents. Approved 7–0.
  • Items 9–12 – Chance Ridge replat, preliminary/final plat, and subdivision agreement: Considered together. Applicant Kyle Vole (EMAY Consulting) and developer Billy Douglas explained the minor replat and the future indoor soccer facility and commercial uses. No opponents. Approved 7–0.
  • Consent agenda items 13–18: Public hearings had been held September 15, 2026. Approved 7–0.
  • Consent agenda items 19–24 and 26: Public hearings held that day; no testimony. Approved 7–0.
  • Item 25 – Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program local match agreement with MAPA: Removed from consent agenda for discussion. Public hearing held. Opponent Larry Storr questioned the program. Councilmember Goodwin and MAPA Executive Director Mike Helgerson discussed the $1.5 million USDOT grant, the roughly $189,000 city match, community engagement, planning, and preliminary engineering phases. Councilmember Goodwin also highlighted historical highway-related displacement in North Omaha, including 1,100 families displaced by eminent domain in the 1970s and 1980s. Councilmember Melton asked about budgeting and supported the item. Approved 7–0.
  • Item 27 – Vacation of a portion of South 26th Street ROW: Public hearing held; no testimony.
  • Item 28 – Major amendment to the Gender Creek Mixed Use District development agreement: Public hearing held. Proponent Brendan Findle (Lamper Nearson) appeared for the applicant. No opponents.
  • Item 29 – Vinton Silos TIF redevelopment agreement: Public hearing held. Proponents included Bridget Hadley (City Planning), Larry Store, and Patrick Mason (DICON Corporation). Store said the area has been severely blighted and he strongly supported the project. No opponents.
  • Item 30 – Interlocal agreement with the City of Friend for keynote services: Public hearing held. Proponent Melody Simzac (Big Regino) spoke in support. No opponents.
  • Item 31 – Lease agreement with the University of Nebraska for parking near UNO/Nebraska Village/Baxter Arena: Public hearing held; no testimony.
  • Item 32 – Interlocal agreement with Metropolitan Community College for shared library automation services, May 2026–April 2031: Public hearing held; no testimony.
  • Non-action items 33–53: Placed on a future agenda for public hearing and vote; no action taken at this meeting.
  • After the non-action items statement, a roll call was taken and passed 7–0. The meeting adjourned at 2:26 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Row call. Harding. Here. Hug. Here. Melton. Here. Row. Festerson. Good one. Mr. President. Here. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance or remain standing for opening remarks by Councilmember Amy Melton. Undergot. Everyone, please be seated. Um, I just wanted to take a moment. Um, for September, um, it is National Suicide Prevention Month. And I just thought it would be a good time to make a note that everyone is affected by suicide, not just the victims. Suicide impacts family and friends long after the loss of a loved one. On average, one person commits suicide every sixteen point two minutes. Two-thirds of the people who come to suicide suffer from depression. I just want everyone to know if you know anyone who may be suffering from depression or you fear maybe suicidal. You can refer them to the National Suicide Prevention number one eight hundred two seven three eight two five five, or you can go to NAMI.org. It's n-a-m-i.org, um, and that's the National Association for Mental Illness. So if you know anyone, make sure you reach out to them and let them know that there are people that care and that everyone's life is valued. So thank you for that. Thank you. An affidavit at 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. Is a courtesy to those in attendance and to facilitate the conduct of our business. We ask that you please silence or turn off all electronic devices. A reminder that you will have three minutes to speak on an agenda item. Please stay on topic. For those not providing in-person testimony and would like your comments entered into the public record, you can email the city clerk's office at City Clerk at City of Omaha.org. Council members receive the 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. And if you're coming to the podium to speak, please speak between the two microphones so we can hear you at home and in attendance here at well as well. Thank you. Item six, the resolution to approve the City of Omaha 2027 property tax request. Council discussion. Councilmember Melton, you recognize. Hug.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com