[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6466064,"mediaKeyId","5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22","parentId",5825971,"title","Omaha council holds extended public hearing on proposed ban on unauthorized encampments","audioSeconds",14520,"startMs",1997000,"endMs",16517000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22&start=1997&end=16517","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22/thumbnail_1997000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6466064/Omaha/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Omaha-council-holds-extended-public-hearing-on-proposed-ban-on-unauthorized-encampments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466064-906f0d6050dc7f9d627a0b4d4949a09e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775933092&Signature=VBlRY885T~EgulXMxTZ29nBRjYnbYROaFvQlkL0BP0f3qXtAjexK3JqJjjh~I71jmr7J1nC7mEBL5hy2fSOyEi5BswOldcLprQATW1b1vGH17qNVSolR-g6uVDC74XmbDostcO4V1niXp9oXpZMwc9oD6dVYj8strEY9JiOiYblrw~6RLq55tIfyKyVFDRRnmlsILkWGBYTI5Mu1vPtjlmKuuXa9BbjtkVEL2429O7D-9DFFjWbYqzGauji607d1t1yYxhOO~F4mppa72cAEa12pHjOhHBTeb~2cg0q4uNqLzoYx6QZxzMC2mvZRZ~u2hCaGU-YVm7L-ogmV8M0DUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Omaha, NE","date","2025-09-24T17:12:09.347Z","article","The Omaha City Council held a lengthy public hearing on an ordinance that would prohibit unauthorized encampments on city-owned public property and establish penalties and procedures for enforcement.

City Law Department attorneys framed the proposal as focused on conduct, not status, and said it is designed to give people in unsanctioned camps time to relocate or accept shelter before citations or removal. Max Kuzey of the City Law Department told the council the proposal follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision and is intended to be constitutionally neutral. \"What the Supreme Court said was no, they do not,\" Kuzey said, describing the court's finding that laws aimed at conduct — not a person's status — can pass constitutional review.

The law department said the draft ordinance would require a notice period before removal, preserve seized property for up to 30 days, and offer people an opportunity to go to a shelter before citing them. The draft sets a maximum civil penalty of $300 or up to 30 days in jail for violations; the city attorney's office said those sanctions are included so a court may appoint a public defender when an indigent person faces possible jail time.

Jeremy Welsh, speaking for Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, urged the council to adopt the prohibition. \"These encampments are dangerous,\" Welsh said, reading the sheriff's statement, and described repeated law-enforcement responses to camps that, he said, \"become hotbeds for crime, addiction, and untreated mental and behavioral health challenges.\" Welsh and other proponents told the council they view removal as a public-safety step that should be paired with shelter offers.

Public testimony that followed ran more than three hours. Supporters of the ordinance — including some residents and business owners — called for faster action when camps appear, citing trash, break-ins and a need to protect nearby families. Jerry Johnson, a resident, said the city needs immediate action and urged help from county and state agencies.

Opponents included service providers, people with lived experience, and local nonprofits. They argued the ordinance would criminalize poverty and make it harder for people to access housing, medical care and outreach services. \"This ordinance is not a solution. It is an act of punishment against people who are already suffering,\" said Nicole Sakas, who urged the council to invest in housing and services instead. Community providers — including representatives from the Stevens Center, Open Door Mission, Community Alliance, Threshold and Together — said shelters are often full or have barriers that prevent people from using them, such as limits on pets, separations of families, or requirements that people be sober.

Several speakers cited data and court rulings in their testimony. A number of opponents pointed to prior legal decisions and research showing sweeps and criminal enforcement can raise costs and prolong homelessness. A coalition of service providers urged a \"housing-first\" approach and asked the council to prioritize investments in noncongregate shelter, permanent supportive housing and expanded outreach.

Council members asked detailed questions about the draft's procedures — including the required notice period, how property would be stored, how shelters would be contacted, and whether the city can offer alternatives in real time. Multiple council members said they do not support criminalizing homelessness but also emphasized the need to respond to neighborhood safety and sanitation complaints. Several council members said they wanted more time for the mayor's office and service providers to refine a plan; Councilmember Festersen said he would vote no on the ordinance if it reached a final vote next week to allow the city's proposed alternative plan time to develop.

The hearing did not result in a final vote; the item remains under consideration. Councilmembers said they welcomed the mayor's outreach plan and asked city staff and providers to continue work on a collaborative, time-sensitive program to respond to encampments and connect residents to services.

If the council moves forward with the ordinance in a future meeting, the law department said the language could be adjusted to reflect state rules or changes in judicial interpretation.

The public record for the hearing includes written statements and dozens of speakers. The council did not take final action on the draft ordinance at this meeting; members said they expected further discussion and possible revisions before any vote.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Omaha Nebraska City Council meeting September 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Omaha City Council held a lengthy public hearing on a draft ordinance to ban unauthorized encampments on city property, hear testimony from law department staff, public-safety officials and dozens of residents and service providers, and debate whether enforcement or expanded housing and outreach will best protect public safety and the unhoused.","taxTitle","Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska","taxId",2556,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466059,"Omaha staff outline zoning plan for medical cannabis ahead of Oct. 1 state rollout",14933,1361000,16294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22&start=1361&end=16294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22/thumbnail_1361000.jpg","/articles/6466059/Omaha/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Omaha-staff-outline-zoning-plan-for-medical-cannabis-ahead-of-Oct-1-state-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466059-fb1c3a3ebc8581d265ddd4641ec99bf9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775933092&Signature=dmx1knqF9RZi3ZI1JtpKlopgPi6gxMPpoqLCdu-SzDJqBomywDFc8~GUAwYPZ50UOUlyvTzO1McpXsLtILqTcRFdoKeXDQxh6ff~2Zq0VWtEssqsBHK3vFhhSGbJfPGrE39~4CvYYAN3NYdb4h4Fsi3ZyVM6NoeI8RFmUtFtL9N4N6yOrqloWVwJqc8mzubO2Zp7KN8uMqTPh4-2jj3Bmvd0GBUq4WMQZ6~SQuz3gbCtJDoPLzslX6wvg63V-BlCiLTzTmDImxG1QsvruWZDQdQFFmBZbRrCGFp3add0fm-3cYjr3COGn74s8SoxbCEzRMiEBTSmmku2lHNN6zBYow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Omaha City Council held a public hearing on an ordinance that would create a new chapter in the Omaha Municipal Code specifying zoning classifications for medical-cannabis businesses permitted under recently passed Nebraska law.

City Law Department attorneys told the council the ordinance does not regulate whether medical cannabis is legal — that authority rests with the state — but would define where the four use types expected under state rules could operate in Omaha. David Grama of the City Law Department summarized the proposal: \"All this ordinance is doing is the council is saying where in the city can these establishments be located,\" he said, describing four categories identified by state statute and emergency regulations: dispensaries, cultivators, product manufacturers and transporters.

Planning staff explained how the use types would map to existing zoning categories. A planning official described dispensaries as \"general retail sales,\" cultivators as either an indoor commercial farm or, for large outdoor operations, an agricultural district, product manufacturers as \"light industry,\" and transporters as warehousing and distribution. The law and planning departments said they had tried to fit the new use types within chapter 55 (the city's zoning code) rather than change the zoning code itself. The presenters also said the ordinance would include provisions such as hours of operation and enforcement mechanisms to allow code enforcement to address illegal operations.

Attorneys noted that the state is still finalizing emergency regulations and that the city's ordinance might be revised if the state's rules change. \"If anything changes on the state side... we'll reevaluate and see if we need to change things,\" Grama said.

Public comment included a mix of residents seeking clarification and a few speakers expressing concern about how many licenses the state will authorize and where facilities might locate. Donnie R. Johnson of local community groups asked whether cultivators could operate on vacant Benson golf-course land if other revenue-generating uses were not feasible.

Councilmembers asked staff to confirm that the ordinance preserves the city's zoning structure and gives the city flexibility to revise rules if state regulations change. Councilmember Festersen described the city action as \"the practical thing to do prior to Oct. 1\" and said the measure was necessary regardless of personal views about medical cannabis.

No final vote was taken at the public hearing. Staff said they will return with any technical edits needed after the state finalizes permanent rules and the council will take up the ordinance for a vote at a future meeting.

","City lawyers and planners told the Omaha City Council a proposed ordinance would add a new municipal chapter to specify where state-licensed medical-cannabis businesses may locate; council took public comment and deferred any final action",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6466055,"Votes at a glance: City Council approves property-tax request, multiple liquor licenses and plats",709,575000,1284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22&start=575&end=1284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825971-59a41e1ea30ce9012943df717b0b4a22/thumbnail_575000.jpg","/articles/6466055/Omaha/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Votes-at-a-glance-City-Council-approves-property-tax-request-multiple-liquor-licenses-and-plats","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6466055-ee05e1320cc0591d8994453653d9657d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775933092&Signature=WFYSgzAb8ZVGqmwoY7aJVI8kQwsLEM1CkPjs1iTaj4kmuocqqH7ffd7pBl6iMMMjqapq~nF3preaWlAz1Kcn3lOMH2DiuovoR4P6HeOZjynS-wREKzVo5pug~iaR2YaPDh3f6bhaTF7LAWD7XxRhTpUQ~p2nlda35H1Wc9OLnm3fCJ~yf8CM-Xwdlmcdpx0ho5g6OL3TNKzaCIIHxj0gY8glbp5NpmpLULF3r3--pjU4HdS3uGu1ITPCFjFktRlzelnKWakQbMjbkykdRMg17B1JOF0ulsEt1ZNM55b4rLteke8nxDKdzhet9907ddmL3qDlpUhDnQp4R-6T2Fw7eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Omaha City Council recorded a series of procedural and approval votes during the meeting, including the city's 2026 property-tax request, multiple liquor-licensing items and preliminary plats. Several contested policy items — including a proposed ordinance on unauthorized encampments and an ordinance on medical-cannabis zoning — were the subject of extended public hearings and will be considered in later proceedings.

Key votes and outcomes recorded on the floor:

- Item 6 — Resolution to approve the City of Omaha 2026 property tax request: Motion passed, roll call 7 to 0.
- Item 7 — Motion to lay over the class I liquor-license public hearing for iSpa Lash Nail Lounge to Sept. 30: Motion passed, roll call 7 to 0.
- Item 8 — Class I liquor license for Coniglia Field (6201 Maverick Plaza): Approved, motion passed 7 to 0.
- Item 9 — Class K catering liquor license for Ancho and Agave (17110 Davenport St., Suite 114): Approved, motion passed 7 to 0.
- Items 10–12 — Class K catering licenses for Hy-Vee locations (three addresses): Motion to lay over to Sept. 30 passed, roll call 7 to 0.
- Item 13 — Class I liquor license for Mediterranean Bistro (1712 North 100 & Twentieth Street): Approved, motion passed 7 to 0.
- Item 14 — Addition application for Class C liquor license (Corner Kitchen, 4218 South 50th Street) to add indoor area: Approved, motion passed 7 to 0.
- Item 15 — Resolution approving the preliminary plat for Cala Rosa Replat 1 (Southeast of 200 & Thirteenth / Kansas Avenue): Approved, motion passed 7 to 0.
- Items 16–17 — Resolutions for MUD State Street preliminary plat and waiver to development-zone boundary: Approved together, motion passed 7 to 0.
- Items 18–23 (consent agenda): Motion to approve passed 7 to 0.
- Item 24 — Trax Lounge (Keno at 1810 North 97th Street): Motion passed 7 to 0.

Several other public hearings (items 45–48) were opened and closed with no public opponents recorded; the council did not take final recorded roll-call votes for every hearing item during this session. Item 49 (medical-cannabis zoning) and Item 50 (unauthorized encampments) were opened for public hearing and drew substantial public comment; neither resulted in a final vote at this meeting.

What the votes mean

Most approvals were routine land-use and licensing matters, including liquor licenses and preliminary plats; each passed unanimously where a roll-call result was recorded. A number of license hearings were continued to Sept. 30 at the request of applicants or council members. The more policy-sensitive items (medical-cannabis zoning and the encampment ordinance) drew sustained public comment and are expected to return to the council for further consideration.

","The Omaha City Council approved a set of routine resolutions, preliminary plats and liquor licenses with unanimous votes during the meeting; several hearings were held and some items were laid over for Sept. 30. The council also opened public hearings on medical cannabis zoning and a proposed encampment ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

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Omaha council holds extended public hearing on proposed ban on unauthorized encampments

Omaha staff outline zoning plan for medical cannabis ahead of Oct. 1 state rollout

Votes at a glance: City Council approves property-tax request, multiple liquor licenses and plats