Omaha council to weigh streetcar bonds, garages and TIF

Streetcar and parking garage financing

On the consent agenda, council members are set to take final action on Ordinance 44769, which would authorize lease revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $125,000,000.00 to finance a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing and equipping a modern streetcar system, including streetcars, an operations and maintenance building, streetcar track and related public improvements. A related resolution, RES. 2026-0638, would approve the Preliminary Official Statement, Bond Purchase Agreement, and Continuing Disclosure Letter Agreement for the Corporation’s Lease Revenue Bonds, Series 2026E and Series 2026F.

Also on final reading under the consent agenda is Ordinance 44770, which would authorize lease revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $110,000,000.00 to finance construction and equipping of a parking garage at the Crossroads Redevelopment Site and another at the Mutual Tower Redevelopment Site. Both financing ordinances delegate authority to the City Finance Director to determine final bond terms, including price, interest rates, principal amounts, redemption provisions, and tax status within the limits set in the agenda documents.

Planning, fee and master plan changes

The council is scheduled to hold public hearings and vote on several planning and fee ordinances, including Ordinance 44759 to amend Omaha Municipal Code Section 10-313 to establish a new schedule of ASIP (Area Service Improvement Program) fees and update ASIP project lists in Section 10-315, and Ordinance 44760 to establish a new schedule of interceptor sewer fees by amending Section 31-259 of the code. Ordinance 44756 would amend the Urban Development Element of the city’s master plan to move the Present Development Zone boundary at various locations within the city’s zoning jurisdiction (Case No. C3-26-150).

Land use, redevelopment and TIF items

Multiple land use and redevelopment items are up for public hearing and final consideration, including ordinances and resolutions for the McArdle Ridge subdivision southwest of 192nd and Ida Streets (ORD. 44757, ORD. 44758, RES. 2026-0597, RES. 2026-0598; Case Nos. C10-25-027 and C12-25-028), rezoning of properties at 2806 Mormon Street (ORD. 44752; Case No. C10-26-140), 9909 North 52nd Street (ORD. 44753; Case No. C10-26-141), and 3219 Leavenworth Street (ORD. 44754 and ORD. 44755; Case No. C10-26-143). The agenda also lists a previously postponed set of actions for 7630 Pacific Street, including a rezoning (ORD. 44748), an Areas of Civic Importance overlay boundary amendment (ORD. 44749), a planned unit redevelopment overlay and development plan (ORD. 44750), and a related tax increment financing (TIF) redevelopment agreement (ORD. 44765) proposing demolition of a single-family home and construction of a new five-story, 34-unit market-rate apartment building, with up to $1,513,578.00 in TIF assistance.

Grants, contracts and city services

Additional consent items slated for final votes include acceptance and disbursement of multiple grants: $54,488.00 and $127,376.00 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln via USDA Forest Service funding for “Beat the Heat: Trees for Streets” and “Beat the Heat: Trees for Neighbors” (ORD. 44763 and ORD. 44764); $50,000.00 from the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Youth Climate Action Fund (ORD. 44767); and a subaward of $54,488.00 and another of $127,376.00 for urban tree projects. The agenda further lists a $200,000.00 agreement with Local Artists, Local Art (LALA) for public art improvements at four downtown parking garages (ORD. 44768), a multi-year employment testing contract for police and fire departments with Industrial/Organization Solutions, Inc. (ORD. 44766), and a janitorial services purchase order estimated at $122,745.67 annually for the Street Maintenance Division (ORD. 44761).

Bond questions, towing fees and interlocal agreements

On second reading, with public hearings scheduled, the council is to consider Ordinance 44779, which would place on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot a proposal authorizing up to $155,000,000.00 in general obligation bonds for public facilities, including police buildings and facilities, fire stations, branch libraries, park maintenance facilities, auditorium support facilities, arena and convention center facilities, public works storage facilities, and other public facilities. Ordinance 44780 would similarly seek voter authorization for up to $30,000,000.00 in general obligation bonds for various park and recreation improvement projects. Ordinance 44781 proposes amendments to Omaha Municipal Code Section 20-163 to increase the administrative fee and the maximum storage fee for non-consensual towing of motor vehicles; an amendment of the whole has been requested by Councilmember Hug.

The agenda also includes grant-related Ordinance 44777 for acceptance and multi-year disbursement of $548,310.00 under ONDCP Grant Award #HID1426G0889-00 to support regional drug and firearms task forces, Ordinance 44778 to approve an interlocal cooperation agreement with the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council for cooperative purchasing, and Ordinance 44776, a major amendment to a Mixed Use District Development Agreement for Center Ridge at 19330 Gold Street to allow luxury indoor storage suites classified as “convenience storage.” Several appointments to the Benson Business Improvement Area Board and the South Omaha Business Improvement Board (RES. 2026-0640, 2026-0641, 2026-0642) are also scheduled for consent approval.

Liquor licenses, resolutions and special ordinances

• Liquor-related items on the agenda include a Class CK liquor license for Piezon’s Pizzeria at 15605 West Center Road (RES. 2026-0628) and special designated liquor license applications for Dundee Days on Underwood Avenue between 49th and 51st Streets on August 22, 2026 (RES. 2026-0629) and the 25th Annual Oktoberfest at Crescent Moon Ale House, 3578 Farnam Street, on September 25–26, 2026 (RES. 2026-0630).
• Resolutions 2026-0631 through 2026-0638 cover guardrail and fence repair funding, roof replacement at the PCWRRF Administration and Operations Building, a change order for Papillion Creek WRRF biosolids and energy improvements, soil remediation work under a U.S. EPA cooperative agreement, purchase of Toro turf equipment, and Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau appropriations for a visitor information booth and future commitments.
• Special Ordinances 10408 and 10409, both previously postponed, are listed for final votes to amend earlier special levy ordinances concerning assessments for litter removal and for cutting and clearing weeds, grass, and worthless vegetation on specific parcels, with amendments of the whole requested by the Parks Department.
• First-reading items with future hearings include Ordinance 44782 for a fire prevention services contract with Summit Fire Protection, Ordinance 44783 approving a TIF agreement for the 2211 Douglas Street Senior Housing project proposing 45 affordable and 25 market-rate units with up to $1,133,705.00 in TIF, and Ordinance 44784 approving a 25-year park and recreation lease for Standing Bear Lake (Dam Site No. 16) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• The agenda notes that the City Council will not hold a regular meeting on August 11, 2026, but will meet for department budget hearings and a 6:30 p.m. budget public hearing, and that the council will not meet on September 8, 2026.

Pre-council meeting details and source

Earlier the same day, a pre-council meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the Jesse Lowe Conference Room at the same address to discuss agenda items and receive departmental updates, with an opportunity for one-minute public comments on items being considered at the 2:00 p.m. meeting, according to the pre-council agenda.

This brief was generated from a public document. Source: https://cityclerk.cityofomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/images/2026-08-04a.pdf