Meetings Briefs

The Omaha City Council held a public hearing on the City of Omaha’s 2024 Recommended Budget and 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) draft. Speakers raised concerns about property taxes, police spending, and the empty seat left by former Councilman Vinny Palermo.

After a lengthy discussion, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution that prevents the new Douglas County Youth and Family Support Center from opening until the current juvenile center’s population is reduced to the new facility’s operational capacity for six consecutive months.

As the 2018 Bond Projects come to a close on time and under budget, OPS is celebrating success in building five new schools, updating facilities across the district, and providing significant investment in small businesses, while maintaining accountability to taxpayers.

Going into the 2023-2024 school year, OPS is short 160 special education teachers.

Parents/guardians from Wilson Focus school spoke during the public comment period, asking the board to change the busing “hubs” system, which have some students walking significantly farther than the 1.5 mile limit for elementary schoolers to reach a bus stop.

The Parks and Recreation Board discussed new parks and improvements to existing parks in SIDs under the city’s jurisdiction. Among those improvements are two new pickleball courts at Cattail Creek, which prompted some concerns about noise.

The Board also discussed their difficulties meeting quorum after two recent meetings had to be canceled. They floated changing the meeting time, but decided to keep meeting at 3 p.m.

Omaha Housing Authority CEO Joanie Poore gave a report on OHA’s current development projects. OHA will be a partner in the Southside Terrace development and a development along North 30th Street, replacing the former Spencer Homes.

OHA will open the pre-application process for the Housing Choice (Section 8) Voucher Program from Tuesday, August 8, 2023 through Monday, August 14.

The Omaha Planning Department board unanimously gave approval the Mayor’s 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) draft ahead of the City Council’s vote.

The Board also unanimously approved a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment plan for Nook — a proposed 250 market rate apartment unit complex spanned across 11 buildings near Omaha Public Schools’ Pine Elementary School.

The Omaha Planning Department board unanimously approved the TIF Redevelopment Plan for Phase 1 of a four-phase, four-to-five year redevelopment of Southside Terrace.

The Metropolitan Utilities District’s VP of Engineering Masa Niiya highlighted upcoming capital expenditures to the Board, including a project near Millard South High School that would replace a below-ground regulator station, replace corroded gas mains along the north side of Q Street, and remove an existing regulator station.

The MUD Board debated whether or not MUD has the staffing capabilities to handle the creation of a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Platte West Water Production Facility.