Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Omaha City Council met on October 27, 2026, with Councilmember Festersen absent. Councilmember Don Rowe opened by welcoming the Millard South debate team and urging attendance at the November 3, 2026 election, citing about 370,000 registered voters in Douglas County. The council approved routine liquor, rezoning, and TIF items, accepted the consent agenda, heard a lengthy public hearing on proposed Omaha Plumbing Code changes, deferred that vote to November 10, 2026, and denied a bid appeal.
Faster Son is absent Goodwin. Party Hug Melton. Row Mr. President. Here. Please stand for the Pledge Allegiance and remain standing for opening remarks for by Councilmember Don Rowe. You may be seated. So welcome to the Millard South debate team. Appreciate you being here. November third is the next election for the twenty twenty-six election. And it's going to be an important uh ballot for you to be a part. You need to make your voice heard, and you can do it on Tuesday. You know, there's a lot of there's a there's federal offices, there are county offices, state state legislators that are up for election, school board members, uh, utility members. Uh it's an important election, and you have an opportunity to make your voice heard. There are about 370,000 registered voters in Douglas County, and we need to have you turn out and vote. It's your opportunity, and it's an important right that you have. So I encourage you, November 3rd, be here to vote. And if you want to vote early, get it done because you're running out of time. 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. Is it 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 we read them. Finally, council members may ask members of the audience back up for clarifying questions, but not for extra time to speak. So audience members and attendance and at home can hear. And if looks like we got a lot of people here today, if you're coming up, get between the two mics and make sure you're speaking between them so everybody at home in attendance here can hear you clearly as well. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. If we can have the Worthingtons, please come up to the podium. This is a proclamation that should touch all of our hearts. Ramah Worthington in 2023 lost her life when she was neglected in a daycare van. Um it really is just to not only amplify her life, um, but also to acknowledge that November 2026 is Romia Worthington Child Vehicles Vehicle Safety and Product Protection Month. Um I'll read the proclamation, allow for the family to have a few words, and then we'll take a quick photo. Whereas protecting our children is our highest duty, requiring every parent, caregiver, leader, and community member to remain alert and take immediate action if they notice a child left unattended in a vehicle, and whereas on an extremely hot day in Omaha in 2023, one-year-old Ramiah Worthington tragically lost her life after being left inside a daycare van for approximately eight hours, a tragedy that exemplifies the catastrophic risk of leaving children unattended in vehicles and whereas young children cannot protect or speak up for themselves. Caregivers and transportation providers must strictly enforce loading, unloading, head count, and vehicle check protocols to prevent vehicular heat stroke and fatal abandonment. And whereas tragic incidents involving unintended children can be prevented through continuous public education, heightened community awareness, established routine checks, clear safeguards, and institutional accountability, and whereas Romia was far more than the tragic circumstances of her passing. She was a cherished daughter, a beloved sister, and a beautiful little girl whose life mattered deeply, and whose memory continues to be lovingly carried forward by her mother and father Cena and Rihan by her four sisters, her brother, and her extended family, and whereas by honoring Ramiah's memory and engaging in open community dialogue and educational initiatives can commit, we can commit as a city to strengthening protective safeguards, refining policies, and enforcing the absolute duty of care required to protect every child in our community. Now, therefore, we, the City Council of Omaha, do hereby proclaim November 2026 as Ramiah Worthington Child Vehicle Safety and Protection Month and call upon all individuals to practice child safety and accountability when transporting children and work together to ensure that no child is ever left behind or unattended in a vehicle so that no family ever experiences such a heartbreaking loss again.