Omaha City Council Meeting
Omaha City Council1819 Farnam St, Omaha, Nebraska 68183 Omaha, NE 68183 (Directions)
Legislative Chambers - Omaha-Douglas Civic Center
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Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Omaha - NE Documenters Team
Live tweeting today’s Omaha City Council meeting for @oma_documenters. The big item on today’s agenda: a design contract for the two-way, all-day conversion of Farnam Street.
02:00 PM Apr 4, 2023 CDT
CM Brinker Harding began today’s meeting by recognizing the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s death. He quoted Dr. King, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat.”
Moving our only planning item to the top of the agenda, first is the final plat for Bartletts Addition to Omaha Replat 7.
The councilmembers are having some technical difficulties, but they approved the plat 7-0
Now moving on to liquor, license approved for Ancho & Agave at 17110 Davenport St
Next is a license for the Taste of Omaha outdoor music festival at Elmwood Park, June 2-4. A rep from Taste of Omaha said they originally planned to hold it at the Riverfront, but bc of the delay they plan to return to the Riverfront next year
He said they’ve worked with UNO on parking and traffic issues, and they’ve communicated with neighbors with no complaints
Jim McGee, an opponent to the license, said the neighborhoods around Elmwood supported the event for the past two years, but they didn’t expect it to be held there for a third year.
Opponent Rick Fulton said citizens have a right to Omaha’s city parks, but businesses like Taste of Omaha don’t. He said he doesn’t want the park closed up for weeks
Mike Mancuso from Taste of Omaha said they’ve been in contact with three neighborhood associations throughout the process. He said they’ve developed a plan to avoid traffic problems and compromised and noise issues
CM Danny Begley said he advocated for Taste of Omaha to be held in Elmwood Park in 2022. Although there were no public safety issues, Begley pledged to neighbors that it wouldn’t be held at the park again
Begley said his constituents are upset that the event is coming back to Elmwood this year. He said he won’t support it returning to Elmwood, but he’d support it at any other venue
He said Taste of Omaha is a great event and he wants to support local businesses, but Begley he moved to deny the license bc of his pledge to constituents
Begley said he asked parks director Matt Kalcevich to work on a plan B for another venue
After questioning from CM Harding, Mancuso said they’re only asking for one more year at Elmwood because of delays to the reopening of the Heartland of America park
Mancuso said this is the last time they’ll request it to be at Elmwood
CM Harding said he shared concern over going back on their promises, but that they’re only here because of circumstances outside of the promoter’s concern
Mancuso said that if the license were denied, it would be challenging to find a new location
CM Aimee Melton said she doesn’t want to punish the restaurants and small businesses who participate in the event.
She said she’ll support the license today, but she wouldn’t support the event staying in Elmwood next year. She added that she understands Begley’s position having made a promise to his constituents
Parks Director Kalcevich said they would hold Taste of Omaha accountable if there’s any damage to the park.
CM Juanita Johnson said there’s no doubt that the event has a major impact on the community, but promises were made to constituents.
CM Vinny Palermo said today’s vote isn’t about Elmwood Park. The City Council only has the authority to deny the liquor license for the event
Begley said he tried to give Taste of Omaha time in January to find a different location. He said hes heard from many constituents who oppose the liquor license, tho it won’t stop the event from being held
CM Don Rowe said it’s important for the city to use public spaces to foster community with events like these, so he’ll support the license
Mike Mancuso stepped out, but Bob Mancuso said they will “definitely” not hold the Elmwood event if the license is denied
Palermo asked if the Mayor would have veto power over the City Council’s decision. City Clerk Eliza Butler said she would not
Liquor license denied 4-3. Rowe, Harding and Melton voted against
Next is a long form application for K-Bob Bar 415 at S 13th St. A rep said the incidents that necessitated the application happened mostly outside the bar
April Lorenz, who has helped security at the bar since Dec, said she oversees people both entering and exiting the bar at the door. She said she keeps an eye on any issues outside the bar
Another security rep said if there’s a conflict in the bar, they try to separate the individuals involved before making them leave
She said they have no problem calling the police if a conflict escalates to that point
She said they staff two security people per shift, but they’ll increase to 3 or 4 as the weather warms up
The owners had requested to change to a Class C license, which would allow sales for off site consumption.
Cunningham, a legal rep for the bar, said they’re open to remaining a Class I, which would not allow those sales
OPD Sergeant Mraz went over the tavern reports, which included multiple fights and assaults occuring in and outside the bar
There was also a report of a minor who said she bought alcohol at the bar
Mraz said it’s hard to prove exactly where a fight occurred, and he asked officers not to file a tavern report if a connection to the bar isn’t immediately clear.
After a question from CM Melton, Sgt. Mraz said there have been fewer incidents since the bar made security changes in the fall, but the fall and winter typically have fewer incidents in general
Mraz said he’s been in regular contact with the bar’s security, and he doesn’t feel there’s been a significant difference.
He said the police monitor 415 at closing time bc of the recurring issues
Cunningham said some of the incidents in the tavern reports didn’t occur at 415
CM Begley floated the idea of adding a stipulation to the license requiring 415 to close at 1 am
Begley said he doesn’t want the police to function as the bar’s backup security, as that ties up their resources
Cunningham said they’re already planning on increasing security
CM Melton asked if a layover was possible. City Clerk Butler said there isnt enough time, bc a recommendation to the liquor commission is due by the 17th
Melton then asked if they could delay the vote to later in today’s meeting so the City Council can address other items
Butler said they could table it to later today. CM Melton moved to move the vote to after item 48, the two-way Farnam conversion contract
The Council approved a res to commemorate a portion of Patrick Avenue as Patricia ‘Big Mama’ Barron St
Next is a design contract for the conversion of Farmam St from 46th to Happy Hollow to a two way street all day
A rep said roundabouts at 50th and 52nd Streets were determined to be the best option
He said the data supports the safety of roundabouts, despite some residents’ concerns
The Council used a sign in system for testifiers. First proponent is Timothy Adams from WSP, a firm involved in the vision zero action plan
Adams said there have been very few pedestrian deaths at roundabouts across the country compared to other intersections
Douglas County Engineer Todd Pfitzer said the roundabouts will slow down traffic, making Farnam feel more like a neighborhood street as well as increasing pedestrian safety
Now moving onto opponents. Peter Manhart, a board member from Dundee Memorial Park, said the board is unanimously against the roundabouts
He said they aren’t opposed to roundabouts generally, but he’s concerned about school children navigating the roundabouts at 50th and 52nd
Manhart asked if the city has looked at other traffic solutions
Opponent Mary McHale said she’s concerned about residents with mobility issues using the roundabouts, as well as parents with kids in strollers
Another opponent said she’s concerned about safety, cost and the fit for the neighborhood. She said they want solutions, but not a roundabout
Glenda Lanoha raised concern about emergency vehicles being slowed down by the roundabouts
Lise Schneider said the neighborhood is one of the last pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in the city, and the roundabouts will make it less safe
Larry Storer said speed bumps are more effective for slowing down traffic
Jim Elliston said data shows that Dundee is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the country. He cited an article saying there’s little data on pedestrian safety at roundabouts bc most roundabouts aren’t in pedestrian areas
Elliston ended by submitting a petition with over 800 residents who oppose the roundabouts
Holly Herman said she’s worried that traffic will be directed to 51st Avenue
Traffic engineer Jeff Riesselman said the roundabouts will be designed with emergency vehicles in mind and they have to be ADA compliant for disabled pedestrians
He said roundabouts make vehicles yield more, which is safer and reduces waiting times for pedestrians
CM Begley said he’ll make a motion to vote against the roundabouts bc of his constituents’ concerns
Riesselman said a roundabout was recommended because of safety concerns. He said that converting to a two-way street without the roundabouts would increase traffic and reduce safety
Festersen said he doesn’t generally oppose roundabouts, and he supports the two-way conversion, but the feedback from neighbors on the roundabouts is clear
CM Harding floated placing the item on file, rather than a denial, in order to signal that the City Council supports the two-way conversion but opposes the roundabouts
He said placing it on file will also give them time to receive more data
CM Melton said the roundabouts she’s familiar with aren’t typically found in areas with high-pedestrian traffic like Dundee
Melton said she’d support either a denial or placing the item on file to get more data
CM Rowe said he believes the city won’t pursue the two-way conversion if today’s agreement is denied
CM Palermo said he wasn’t sure about his position, but the number of residents in opposition helped him make a decision
He added that he wouldn’t have supported placing the item on file
Motion to deny passed 7-0. For now, Farnam will not be converted to two-way, all-day
The City Council will now return to the long form liquor application for Bar 415
Owner Demetrius Fountas said he isn’t sure about closing at 1 am, but he asked if they could do 1:30 am instead. CM Begley said 1:30 would work
CM Melton said she initially thought they would recommend denial, but they seem to have come a long way
Palermo echoed those sentiments, and said he’s happy that they agreed to a 1:30 closing time
CM Begley said he hopes the business succeeds, and he wants them to be good neighbors.
Agency Information
Omaha City Council
The City Council has the power to adopt, amend or repeal ordinances necessary to execute or make effective the provisions of the charter. In addition, the City Council has the power to adopt the budget, make or confirm appointments, provide for an independent audit and other necessary actions consistent with the charter.