Omaha City Council approves liquor licenses, rezoning, downtown budget and several property acquisitions

The Omaha City Council approved a slate of routine permits and ordinances, including two retail liquor licenses, multiple rezoning measures and the Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association's 2026''2027 budget, and moved forward property acquisitions tied to streetscape and sewer projects.

Council members opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a recognition of National Police Week by Council member Amy Meltton, who invited the public to an Omaha Police Department candlelight vigil on May 13 and a Douglas County Sheriff's Office service on May 15. The council then handled a succession of public hearings and roll-call votes.

On item 6 the council granted a Class CK liquor license to Cedar Creek Coffee and Art at 20603 Elkhorn Drive after applicant Joseph Kaplan appeared and told the body he was "happy to answer any questions anybody has." The motion passed by roll call 7''20.

Item 7, a Class D liquor license for NP Mart 37 at 4122 Ames Avenue, was presented by David Hton on behalf of 42nd Street Petroleum LLC, doing business as NPAR 37. Hton said the applicant plans interior improvements and to add a food amenity; Ann Gordon, described in the record as the store's general manager, was present. The council approved the license 7''20.

The council approved two related land-use items for 3757 North 37th Street (items 8 and 9), rezoning the property from R4 to R5 and adopting a PUR overlay district after the planning board and planning department recommended approval. Applicant representative Joseena attended but no members of the public spoke.

Items 10 and 11 concerned parcels southeast of 66th Street and Grand Avenue. Juan Batista, representing FY Apartments, said the proposals seek to "bring uniformity" to several existing zoning designations and would add nine units to an existing parcel near Benson Golf Course. Both the rezoning and the major PUD amendment were approved by the council 7''20.

During consideration of the consent agenda, items 13''16 were approved together. Council removed item 12 for separate discussion; item 12, authorizing the acquisition of private property for the North 24th Streetscape project (Ohio Street to Sailor Street), was approved with the motion passing 6''0 and Council member Goodwin recorded as abstaining.

The council also approved items 17''22 after opening and closing public hearings with no speakers, and passed an amendment and final approval of the Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association 2026''2027 budget and work plan (item 23) on a 7''20 vote.

Several infrastructure-related public hearings were opened and closed without opposition, including ordinances to acquire property for the 61st Street radial storm sewer CSO project and for the CC204 phase 4A sewer separation CSO project. A bid acceptance for transportation services (item 26) showed a total of $513,040 from First Student, Inc. to provide bus service for summer recreation and senior program field trips; the transcript records the bid amount and hearing but does not record a separate roll-call approval within the excerpt.

Public comment during the hearing on special tax assessments for litter removal, weeds and trees included a lengthy, off-topic appearance by Donnie R. Johnson of the Johnson Equestion Foundation. Johnson asked about a federal gas tax and whether the tree/vegetation ordinance would affect "growing medical marijuana." The presiding officer told him those remarks were off-topic and a council member clarified that the ordinance addresses removal or trimming of trees, bushes and hedges.

The meeting concluded with a roll-call approval of non-action items to be placed on future agendas (items 32''46) and adjournment. The transcript records multiple motions passed by unanimous rolls or with the single abstention noted above.

Votes at a glance: item 6 (Cedar Creek Coffee and Art liquor license) approved 7''20; item 7 (NP Mart 37 liquor license) approved 7''20; items 8''9 and 10''11 (rezonings/PUD amendments) each approved 7''20; items 13''16 consented 7''20; item 12 (North 24th Streetscape property acquisition) approved 6''0 with Goodwin abstaining; items 17''22 and item 23 approved 7''20. The meeting adjourned after passage of non-action scheduling items 32''46.

The council transcript records no substantial contested debate on these items in the provided excerpt; most measures were routine and carried by unanimous consent or recorded roll-call votes. The clerk's office may provide finalized minutes and ordinance language for additional detail on the items recorded as public hearings but not voted on within the excerpt.