Omaha City Council approves several liquor licenses, rezoning and $52,875 settlement; police and fire radio purchase discussed

The Omaha City Council on a unanimous vote approved multiple routine and individual items, including three Class C liquor licenses for businesses in Omaha, rezoning a city-owned lot for a four-unit development, and a $52,875 settlement in a civil claim. Council members also discussed a planned multi-year purchase of portable radios for the Omaha Police and Fire Departments.

The council granted Class C liquor licenses to Izumi Sushi & Hibachi at 4707 North 70th Street; Nosh Restaurant and Wine Lounge at 1006 Dodge Street; and Dundee Cork & Bottle at 614 North 50th Street. Proponents for the applications spoke at the meeting: John Wing spoke for the Izumi Sushi & Hibachi application, Jamie Costine and Blair Hartigan for Nosh, and attorney David Lehi and applicant Rob Severino for Dundee Cork & Bottle. The roll calls recorded for the individual license votes show each passed by a 7-0 vote.

The council also approved an ordinance to rezone property at 2415 Florence Boulevard from R4 to R5 to allow a four-unit development being pursued by a selected developer. Kelly Johnston Dorsey of the Omaha Planning Department told the council the city owns the property and rezoning to R5 was requested to align zoning with the developer’s proposal.

In a separate recorded action, the council approved a resolution to settle Britney Ford v. City of Omaha and Michael Bratcher for $52,875. The public hearing on that resolution was held and the motion to approve passed 7-0.

Several groups of items were approved as consent or grouped agenda items. The transcript records the council approving items listed as agenda 10–15 and later items 16–31 by roll call; those votes were recorded as passing 7-0.

Councilors spent more time on a proposal to purchase new portable radios from Motorola Solutions Inc. for the Police and Fire Departments. Deputy Chief Anna Colon of the Omaha Police Department and Omaha Fire Chief Kathy Bosman answered council questions. Council Member Melton said, “I was really surprised… how much radios actually cost,” and urged the city to proceed because current units are aging and may be out of service. Colon said the radios come with a seven-year warranty and that Motorola will stop servicing older radios once they are end-of-life. Bosman described the radios as “essential” and “a lifeline for both firefighters and police officers” for communications with command and dispatch.

Finance staff told the council the purchase is split across three fiscal years (2025–2027) so the cost is spread over time. Council members expressed support for replacing the aging equipment, citing safety and continuity-of-service concerns.

For several other items listed on the agenda (including transfer of easements to the Metropolitan Utilities District, a $35,593 transfer in the 2025 budget for the Fire Department wage adjustment account, and a purchase-and-sale agreement for Millwork District properties related to a planned parking garage), the public hearings were held and the record shows hearings closed; the transcript does not include separate roll-call details for each of those final votes within the excerpt provided.

The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to adjourn.