Heat. Heat. Row Fester >> here. >> Goodman is absent. Hardin >> here. >> Hug here. >> Mr. President >> here. >> Please stand for uh we have opening remarks by council member Pete Fester. After the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Just wanted to take a minute. Uh the reason why our colleague uh Miss Goodwin's not with us today is because she's at the funeral for her father-in-law, Dan Goodwin, Senior. Um, a couple of us had the opportunity to attend that service just now along with Mayor Euing. Uh, we want her to know that our thoughts are with her and her family and, uh, with the Goodwins. Dan Goodwin, as you may know, was a longtime um, committed citizen to Omaha, uh, civil rights champion, a business owner, a barber, and leaves a great uh, a great um, tradition and a great legacy to all their family and to our community. So, we want to recognize him here today and um and have our thoughts be with the family. And lastly, this being the first meeting of 2026, I want to say happy new year to everyone and we look forward to doing great things for the city of Omaha this year. 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. >> Okay, we're going to skip around. I appreciate everybody's patience. Um, I got a proclamation I like to read for the Omal firefighters today if Trevor and your members want to come down. >> Well, not all of you, but as many as you want. Whereas Omaha firefighters serve our community by putting our safety above their own, working in toxic environments containing smoke, soot, and other carcinogens. And whereas studies have found a direct correlation between the chemical exposures firefighters experience on the job and their increased risk for cancer. With firefighters having a 9% greater chance of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% greater chance of dying from cancer than the general population. And whereas firefighter occupational cancer is a leading cause of line of death duties in professional firefighters. Early detection through routine screening leads to earier treatment and better disease outcomes including improved survival and reduced morbidity. And whereas the International Association of Firefighters and the Firefighters Cancer Support Network have declared January is firefighter cancer awareness month with the Omaha Fire Department joining both organizations to participate in month-long awareness activities. And whereas each year the month of January is recognized as firefighter cancer awareness month. Now therefore, we, the city council of the city of Omaha, recognize and honor Omaha firefighter Matt McDonald, who dedicated 18 years of service to the citizens of Omaha until he was forced to separate his service in 2025 due to a cancer diagnosis. And be it further resolved that January 2026 is recognized as firefighter cancer awareness month in his honor. In witness whereof, we have set our hands and caused the official seal of the city of Omaha to be affixed on this 13th day of January, 2026. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, members of the council. I'm Trevor Tawi, president Omaha Professional Firefighter, 605 Grover Street. Uh, I just want to thank, uh, you, Mr. president and and all of you uh not only for this proclamation but for honoring firefighter McDonald's service of over 18 years to the citizens of Omaha. Um as you can see he is very u very popular, very good firefighter. Um he's done great things over his career and uh you know we're we're a little less of a department with in his absence. But I also want to just thank you for your continued support on uh the issue of of cancer among firefighters. The city of Omaha has invested a lot of resources in reducing that number of cancers and without your support and your approval, that wouldn't happen. So again, I want to thank you. Um I look forward to continuing to work with you and with your permission, Mr. President, I know Mrs. McDonald had some prepared remarks that she'd like to make. >> Thank you. And I as you're coming up, I apologize I wasn't able to greet you in person ahead of time. I wanted to say hello to each and every one of you that are here today, but thank you and please take as much time as you want. >> Okay. Thank you. Do I need to say my name and address? >> Please. >> Okay. Stacy McDonald, Matthew McDonald, 423 North 6th Street, Platsmith, Nebraska. Good afternoon, council members. Thank you for taking the time today to recognize firefighter cancer awareness month and for honoring my husband Matt. On behalf of our family, we are greatly deeply grateful for this proclamation and the acknowledgement of what firefighters and their families face every day. Thank you for seeing him not just as a firefighter, but as a person whose life and service matters. Firefighters accept risk as part of the job. They run towards danger when everyone else is running away. What many don't realize, the danger doesn't always end when the fire is out. Long after the gear is hung up and the shift is over, they're facing a silent battle. Cancer has become one of the most serious and silent threats facing firefighters today. Matt didn't ask for recognition. Like most firefighters, he showed up to work to serve his community, protect his brothers and sisters, and come home to his family. Cancer was never something we expected to be a part of his story, but it's now a reality for us and far too many firefighters. Matt's cancer is terminal. Saying those words out loud is something no family ever expects to do. We never imagined the job he loved, the job he was so proud to do for this city would one day take so much from him and from our children. Our kids know their dad as a firefighter. They know the uniform. They know the long shifts, the missed birthdays and school programs, waking up on Christmas morning with dad at the fire station. What they didn't know, and what no child should have to understand, is why cancer was his biggest threat. They're growing up watching their dad, knowing he ran into danger for others, and he now sits at home fighting a battle he never signed up for. Behind every diagnosis is a family. spouses, children, parents who walk through fear and uncertainty with strength they never knew they had. Children asking hard questions, spouses trying to stay strong, and homes forever changed. Our home is forever changed. These are not rare stories. They're happening across departments and across this country. Firefighters accept risk, but cancer should not be their cost of service. Awareness matters. Prevention matters. Early detection matters. Clean gear policies matter. Ongoing support for firefighters and their families matter after the fire is out, after the shift is over, and after the headlines fade. Continued support from leadership like you matters more than you may ever realize. Nebraska legislation has a law supporting families like ours. LB432, the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Act. The only catch, the small print, it's voluntary for cities to provide this benefit to their firefighters. Since it was implemented, zero dollars have been paid out to support firefighters like Matt and families like ours. The current Omaha fire contract that gets final approval from this city council does not currently provide long-term health insurance for dependents of line of duty deaths. The same month that our children lose their dad, they're going to lose health insurance. Today's proclamation is more than words on paper. It tells our children that their dad's sacrifice is seen. It tells other fire families that they are seen. It tells firefighters that their lives matter beyond their service. And it tells this community that honoring firefighters means more than protecting them on the job, but after the fire is out. Not only while they serve, but after. Thank you for recognizing this month, for your willingness to stand with firefighters and their families facing the hardest days of their life, and for honoring Matt. We're proud to be a part of this city and thankful for your support. Please continue to remember behind every statistic is a family, our children, and is a firefighter that showed up for this city every day without hesitation. Thank you again for honoring Matt and thank you for helping to ensure the next generation of firefighters has a safer future than the ones today. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. right here. >> Yes. >> Item six to consider a class C liquor license for Stbridge Suites Omaha located at 7825 Davenport Street. >> I will open the public hearing on item number six. Before I call for propon proponents, is the applicant here >> on Zoom? Who do we got? >> Oh, thanks. >> Miss Stewart, can you hear us? >> Say yes. >> Yes. >> Can we get Thank you. Can we get your name and address, please, for the record? Jessica Thomas Stewart, 8217 Wilson Drive, Apartment 1, Rston, Nebraska 68127. >> Thank you. Are there any proponents here today in item number six? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Got a motion. Get a second. Second. >> Roll call. >> Melton. >> Yes. >> Row Fester. Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. Yes. Mr. President, >> I >> motion pass six to zero. >> Item seven to consider a class IK liquor license for Benson Theater located at 6054 Maple Street. >> I will open the public hearing now on item number seven. Is the applicant here today? >> Please your name and address for the record, please. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. I'm Christina Cameler. I am an attorney with Beard Home here today representing Abraham Catering Services. My address is 1700 Farnum Street, Sweet 1500, uh Omaha, Nebraska. And I'm joined here by Chad Morford, who is a representative of Abraham Caterings. Chad, do you want to tell them your address? >> Yeah, Chad Morford, 2437 South 48th A, Omaha, Nebraska 68106. >> Thank you. Are there any other proponents here today for item number seven? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. Council member Feserson, you're recognized. >> Thanks, Mr. President. Thank you for being here. Um, so I know that Benson Theater has had a liquor license, but this is Abraham Catering taking over that license to operate that portion of the business. Right. >> That's correct. >> Great. Thanks. Well, I look forward to supporting it here today and uh a big supporter of the Benson Theater and I wish you well. >> Thank you very much. >> Motion to approve. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. Yes. >> Fester. >> Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass six to zero. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item eight to consider a classide liquor license for Courtyard Omaha downtown located at 101 South 10th Street. >> Public hearing is now open on item number eight. Is the applicant on Zoom? >> Yes. >> Good afternoon. Can we get your name and address for the record, please? >> Yes, it's Lacy Bailey, 16625 Elm Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68130. >> Thank you. Are there any proponents here on item number eight? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Second. >> Got a motion, a second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. Fester. >> Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President, >> I. Motion pass six to zero. Item nine, a resolution to approve the preliminary plat for two key heights replat one along with a waiver to section 53848 le depth located west of 36 and Brown Streets. Planning board and planning department recommend approval. >> Before I call for proponents, the applicant. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. My name is Joe Flaxbeard 14710 West Dodge Road engineer with Lampernerson here on behalf of the applicant. Holy Name Housing. I'm also joined with Matthew uh Kavanaaugh, executive director of Holy Name Housing. Uh we're excited about this project to provide some affordable housing in the neighborhood and we're here to answer any questions that you might have. >> Thank you. Are there any other proponents here today? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. Melton, row, Fester, yes. Hardin, yes. Hug, >> Mr. President, >> I. >> Motion pass six to zero. >> Items 10 through 12 can be considered together for Avenue 1, replat 7 located northeast of 192nd and Burke Streets. Planning board and planning department recommend approval. Items 10 and 11, resolutions to approve the preliminary plat and final plat. Item 12, a resolution to approve the subdivision agreement. Public hearing is now open for items 10 through 12. Before I call for proponents, the applicant. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mr. President. Council members, Jim Ber 10250 Regency Circle here on behalf of the applicant. Be happy to answer any questions today. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any proponents here today? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. One more pardon. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Day late and dollar short, huh? Uh, good afternoon, Omaha City Council. Donny Rard Johnson of John City Question Foundation and North Hall Concerned Citizen Foundation. Uh, we just had a couple of questions about this development. >> Is this close to the county line? And if it is, can we also look at this as uh as we told the U delegation once before, President Bush is going to win the election. Would you please ask him for some land, some soil? So from East Texas cuz we knew he was going to win. >> Danny, we we got to stay on topic and I need to get your address for the record. I didn't get >> Yes, sir. 4928 North 52nd Street. We were just hoping Mr. fetches can step in here and negotiate Benson Park while we negotiate giving. >> Honey, you're off topic today. Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you. It >> approved. >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton. >> Row. >> Fester. Yes. >> Hardin. Yes. >> Hug. Yes. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass six to zero. Consent agenda. Any member of the city council may cause any item placed on the consent agenda to be removed. Items 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 hearing on agenda items 13 through 17 were held on December 23rd, 2025. Any council discussion? >> Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton Row. >> Fester. Yes. >> Harding. Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President, >> I. >> Motion pass six to zero. The public hearings and agenda items 18 through 43 are today. If you wish to address the city council regarding these items, please come up to the microphone, indicate the agenda item number you wish to address, identify yourself with your name, address, who you represent, and if you are a proponent or opponent. I will open the public hearing. Are there any proponents? Uh, good afternoon. I'm all city council. Uh, Donnie R. Johnson, the Johnson Equestion Foundation and North Hall Concerned Citizen Foundation. 4928 52nd. Uh, number 20 and number 23. We'd like to ask a couple of questions to the council even though Mr. Frederickson still hasn't told us okay we have that land at Benson Park when they close it. But number 20, uh, we want the mayor also, these young men who from the Caucasian African-American community, we need another van added to that because they're going to be going from the correction center to the Peace Corp at Fort Omaha. We need a van to transfer them so they can get back here as they sign up for the Peace Corp. And number 23, uh, is that the one with the mayor buying them vans? No, that's number 20. So, Hawkins Construction, we want them to be added to the HDR of this building of this new bridge they're going to be building in Cairo, Egypt. So, we had to get some of that money. And then number 27, uh, what is that one here? Nebraska Department of Transportation. No, that's still them cars. We want the heavy equipment operators union to start paying for some of these streets they've been tearing up and give that money to to Blackstone to help the city cuz them I've noticed all this heavy equipment around town, it ain't if it's over one ton, they supposed to be taxed or no, not taxed. We'll figure that one out later. >> Thank you. Are there any other proponents Larry store 5015 Lafayette Avenue Omaha 68132 I'm in favor of number 40 >> appointing Mr. Timothy Reer. He's a very interesting pretty person that knows an awful lot about the history of Omaha and the housing in Omaha. Thank you. >> Thank you. Are there any other proponents here on items 18 through 43? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Motion to items 18 through 43. >> Can a motion and a second? Roll call. >> Melton. Row Fester Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President, >> I >> motion pass six to zero. >> Item 44, a resolution to approve the settlement agreement for Kerry Salon versus City of Omaha and William Cresovc in the amount of $112,500. >> Public hearing is now open on item number 44. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. Got a motion and a second. Roll call. >> Melton Row. >> Fester. Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass six to zero. Item 45. An ordinance to approve vacating a portion of Sleepy Hollow Lane right ofway east of 29th Avenue to its terminus. Planning board and planning department recommend approval. >> Public hearing is open. Are there any proponents on item 45? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. >> Item 46, an ordinance to accept the bid of Choppers Lawn Service in the amount of $55,550 to provide for cleanup and turf maintenance services for Ramble Ridge subdivision. >> Public hearing is open on item number 46. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. When public hearing can be held for items 47 through 53, ordinances to approve school resource officers for the 2025 2026 school year at Omaha public schools, Elorn public schools, Millard public schools, and Westside Community Schools, A's communication and opposition. >> Public hearing is now open on items 47 through 53. Are there any proponents here today? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Uh, good afternoon. I'm Hall City Council, Donny R. Johnson, the Johnson Equestion Foundation, North Hall Concerned Citizen Foundation, uh, 4928 North 52nd Street. I think this is a wonderful program. We just want to add it. I got very lucky in 1967 to be a part of Mr. Keywit program and be an engineer. So can they also provide these program for junior high so they could add some more money so these young folks can start studying engineering because Mr. >> We got to stay on topic for the resource officers. >> Yeah but the police which one should we have police or engineers? >> 47 through 53. >> I I rather have the engineers as well with the police. >> Thank you. Any other opponents on 47 through 53? Public hearing is closed. Item 54, an ordinance to approve a budget transfer in the amount of $2,924,667 from the wage adjustment account to the city departments. >> Public hearing is now open on item 54. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. Item 55, an ordinance to approve additional fuel storage at an existing class B flammable combustible liquid storage district number B-225 located at 5018 Ames Avenue. >> The public hearing is now open on item number 55. Are there any proponents? Seeing none, are there any opponents? Public hearing is closed. Is there a motion to go into executive session to protect the public interest to discuss labor negotiations? >> Got a motion in a second. Roll call. >> Milton. >> Yes. >> Row. >> Fester. >> Yes. >> Harding. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Mr. President. >> I. >> Motion pass six to zero. >> I will state for the record the purpose for the executive session is to only discuss labor negotiations. It'll it'll include the following people. The city attorney, the city council, the city clerk, the city council chief of staff, and the human resources director. We have to do two separate. Melton. Yeah. >> Melton. >> Melton. >> Melton. >> Yes. >> Row. >> Fester. Hardin. >> Yes. >> Hug. >> Yes. >> Mr. President. >> Yes. >> Motion pass six to zero. It was Yeah, >> there we go. Mel Mel or Melton Row Fester Harding. >> Hardiner, you want to stay? >> Thank you. Hug. >> Mr. President, >> motion passed six to zero. Meeting is adjourned at 3:25.