Votes at a glance: Omaha council approves multiple liquor licenses, rezoning and small TIF; lays over encampment ordinance 4–3

The Omaha City Council handled a batch of public hearings and routine items at its Sept. 30, 2025 meeting, approving multiple liquor licenses and land-use items and approving a small tax-increment financing request for infill housing. The council also voted to lay over an ordinance that would add sections to chapter 20 of the Omaha Municipal Code governing unauthorized encampments.

Key outcomes (by agenda item):

- Item 6 — Class I liquor license for iSpa Lash Nail Lounge, 14158 West Center Road. Applicant: Danny Pham (14158 West Center Road). Motion approved, roll call 7–0.

- Items 7–9 — Class K catering liquor licenses for Hy‑Vee locations at 5150 Center Street; 10808 Ford Street; and 9707 Q Street. Applicant on record: Chris Hamilton. Motion to approve all three passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 10 — Class C liquor license for Crafted Ramen Misláto, 7425 Dodge St., Suite 105. Applicant representative: David A. Houghton. Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 11 — Class A liquor license transfer for The White House, 7768 Cass Street. Applicant: Scott Adams (and partners). Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 12 — Class D liquor license for Bottles & Brews, 10745 Mockingbird Drive. Applicant representative: Matthew Stafford. Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 13 — Addition to a Class I liquor license for Philius Cat Cafe and Rescue, 5015 Dodge St., Suite 101 (indoor and outdoor area). Applicant: Brianna Phelan. Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 14 — Ordinance to rezone property at 3908 Chicago Street from R-3 to R-5. Planning board and planning department recommended approval. Motion passed (roll call recorded as approval).

- Item 15 — Ordinance to amend ACI overlay district boundaries to include several properties on N. 18th and Nicholas Street. Planning board and planning department recommended approval. Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 16 — Major amendment to PUR overlay at 3315 S. 70th Street. Planning board and planning department recommended approval. Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Item 17 — Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan (see separate coverage). Motion passed 7–0.

- Item 18 — Resolution approving the Charles Street Townhomes TIF redevelopment project plan (Justin Moore developer) for up to $247,563 in TIF support for four market‑rate rental units on vacant lots near N. 20th and Charles Streets; total neighborhood investment cited ~ $1,600,000. Motion passed, roll call 7–0.

- Consent and grouped items — Items 19–23 (matters previously noticed) and items 24–34 (public hearings) were taken as presented; council votes recorded as unanimous where roll calls were held (various items passed 7–0 as noted on the record).

- Item 35 — Ordinance to add sections to chapter 20 of the Omaha Municipal Code concerning unauthorized encampments on public property. Councilmember Tim Harding moved to lay over the ordinance until Oct. 21; the motion passed 4–3 on roll call (Harding, Hugg, Melton, Roe voted yes; Festersen, Goodwin and the council president voted no). The ordinance was not adopted and was rescheduled for further consideration.

Items 36 and 37 were the subject of public hearings at the meeting but were not decided during the session. Item 37 (Builders District parking purchase and related agreement) drew substantive discussion and public comment; city law department staff and developer representatives described a proposed city purchase of a publicly operated parking facility to support Builder’s District development, to be funded through the city parking enterprise fund and not by property taxes. Planning staff and opponents raised transparency and conflict-of-interest concerns during public comment; no final council action on item 37 was recorded in the transcript.

Vote tallies recorded in the meeting transcript matched the roll-call outcomes reported above for items that were decided on Sept. 30.