Omaha City Council Meeting - September 29, 2026

The Omaha City Council met on September 29, 2026, at 6:41 PM CT. The meeting opened with a moment of remembrance for Marilyn Rowe, a longtime advocate and mother of Councilmember Don Rowe, who passed away on September 23 at age 90. Councilmember Goodwin recognized Omaha by Design’s 25th anniversary and announced award winners. A proclamation was issued for Black Maternal Health Month (October 2026), presented by IB Black Girl, highlighting disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women. The council then considered several liquor license applications, rezoning ordinances, a major parking reform ordinance, tax increment financing (TIF) agreements, and a debated layover on a Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) designation for the Center Mall due to interest from the Veterans Administration (VA).

Consent Calendar

• Items 14–19: Public hearings held on September 22, 2026. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Items 20–33: Public hearings conducted on September 29. Only Holly Barrett, Executive Director of the Omaha Downtown Improvement District, spoke in support of Item 20 (a carriage business improvement project in the Old Market). All items approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 35 – Residential Parking Minimums Reduction: Sixteen speakers testified. Proponents (14 speakers) included: Eric England (Planning Department), Zeke Rouse (Spark, policy analyst), Kenny Okibo (Omaha by Design), Jonathan Spelman (MX Development Group), Sherry Arst (Common Housing), Todd Nichols (resident), Marsha Marshall (Front Porch Investments), Albert Pizzocki (Metro Omaha Builders Association), Lucas (resident), Noam Alberg (resident), and others. They argued reducing minimum parking from 1.5–2 spaces per unit to 1 space per unit would lower housing costs (citing $5,000–$50,000 per space), increase flexibility for developers, and promote density and walkability. They noted over 100 previous Planned Unit Redevelopment (PUR) overlays used a 1:1 ratio successfully, and that the change would not prevent developers from building more parking if desired. Opponents (2 speakers): Jerry Johnson (1753 V St) and Larry Store (5015 Loft Ave) argued Omaha is a “car town,” that affordable housing is a myth, and that reduced parking would lead to street congestion and enforcement issues.
• Item 36 – Workforce Housing TIF (Fort Circle): Two proponents testified. Lacia Goodwin (Holy Name Housing) described six new construction units at 24th and Fort Streets with a “narrow ranch” typology (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1-car garage) on 40–50 foot lots, noting that such projects currently require Zoning Board of Appeals waivers for setbacks and parking.
• Items 37–49: No public testimony. All approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Item 50 – CRA Designation for Center Mall (2002 S 24th St.): A layover motion was made by Councilmember Festerson to postpone the public hearing and vote from October 6 to December 8, 2026. Councilmember Harding opposed, arguing a willing buyer and seller had a purchase agreement and that the VA had only expressed informal interest, not a formal letter of intent—calling further delay “tortious interference.” Councilmember Melton requested the date be moved to November 24 to accommodate her schedule. After discussion, the motion was amended to December 15, 2026, to allow a full council vote. Councilmember Harding voted no.

Key Outcomes

• Liquor Licenses (Items 6–10): Approved 7-0 for El Castilla Lounge (1802 Vinton St), Bottles and Brews (10745 Mockingbird Dr), Hunan Fusion (2405 S 132nd St), Azure Cocktail Bar (11732-11736 W Dodge Rd), and Pizon’s Pizzeria (15605 W Center Rd).
• Rezoning (Items 11–13): Approved 7-0: Item 11 rezoned 3460–3464 Ruggles St from R-435 to R5; Items 12–13 rezoned 2646 Y St from HI to R7 with a PUR overlay.
• Consent Agenda (Items 14–33): Approved 7-0.
• Interlocal Agreement (Item 34): Approved without opposition — ordinance to approve interlocal with Ralston for sewer improvements.
• Parking Minimums Reduction (Item 35): Public hearing held; first reading ordinance. Vote scheduled for a future meeting.
• Workforce Housing TIF (Item 36): Public hearing held; ordinance to approve TIF redevelopment agreement for Fort Circle project.
• Parks Funding (Items 37–38): Approved 7-0: $4,529,600 from Omaha Parks Foundation for Jerry Parks Youth Football Complex, and change order #8 (guaranteed maximum price) for Levi Carter Park activity/sports complex.
• Business Improvement Districts (Items 39–46): Approved 7-0 for Benson, Blackstone, Alcorn, Little Bohemia, North 24th St, North Saddle Creek, and South Omaha BIDs.
• Administrative Items (Items 47–49): Approved 7-0: Title change for General Services Manager to Administrative Services Manager; $191,158 DEA forfeiture for OPD overtime; bid acceptance for library cleaning services.
• Item 50 – CRA Designation Layover: Motion passed 5-2 (Harding and Melton dissenting) to lay over public hearing and vote to December 15, 2026.