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Public supports renewal of South Omaha Business Improvement District at council hearing
Summary
At a public hearing the council heard support for renewing the South Omaha Business Improvement District (BID). Business owners and volunteers told the council BID-funded cleaning, plantings and lighting upgrades helped the commercial district; council members signaled support and noted nonprofit exemptions can be addressed by amendment.
Dozens of business owners and volunteers urged the City Council to renew the South Omaha Business Improvement District (Item 65) during a public hearing.
Karen Peszek, a property and business owner on South 20th Street, said the BID's roughly $25,000 annual budget pays a contractor to clean the corridor for most of the year and supports partnerships for planting, lighting and beautification. "It has made a significant difference in our district," Peszek said, adding that the BID helped secure lighting grants through the mayor's office.
Other proponents described volunteer planting days, collaborative grant work and small grants that have helped South Omaha businesses remain competitive. Several council members, including Council Member Festersen and Council Member Goodwin, expressed support for BIDs as tools for revitalization and noted that the council can address whether tax-exempt nonprofits participate in the assessment.
The public hearing closed with council members signaling support for renewal and offering to work with the BID on outstanding structural questions such as nonprofit exemption and budget scale. No vote on renewal occurred at the meeting; the item will return for final consideration.
