# Omaha Council approves development permits, rejects fundraising ordinance  
**Published:** 2026-06-05T20:59:50.000Z  
**Source:** [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/june-2-omaha-city-council-discusses-development-projects-and-employee-fundraising-rules/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/omaha-council-approves-development-permits-rejects-fundraising-ordinance

OMAHA, NE. — [The Omaha City Council approved several planning items at its June 2 meeting](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/june-2-omaha-city-council-discusses-development-projects-and-employee-fundraising-rules/), including the Grass Pad preliminary plat, a special use permit amendment for Coffeetree Country Club and a daycare permit, while deferring action on a proposed automotive sales permit.

Council members engaged in extensive debate over a proposed ordinance that would allow city employees to participate in certain nonprofit fundraising activities during work hours. [The measure failed on a 3-3 vote, blocking the return of firefighters' "Fill the Boot" campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/05/omaha-council-upholds-ban-firefighter-fundraising-during-work-hours/).

The ordinance faced opposition based on [a 2011 Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission ruling that all city employees cannot fundraise while on the job](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/05/omaha-council-upholds-ban-firefighter-fundraising-during-work-hours/). Some council members expressed concern about potential state law violations, though supporters argued the issue had been overcomplicated.

The council also discussed [the controversial Saddle Creek Marketplace TIF proposal, which would include apartments and retail space in Dundee](https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha/omaha-city-council-approves-9m-financing-for-contested-dundee-development-project). [The $100 million development near 46th and Saddle Creek would create a 138-unit apartment complex, replacing a Family Fare store](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/04/6-things-you-need-know-thursday-june-4/).

Council members raised questions about [preserving existing businesses, pedestrian improvements and the lack of affordable housing in the project](https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha/omaha-city-council-approves-9m-financing-for-contested-dundee-development-project). [Residents expressed concerns the developers were not listening to neighborhood desires for more affordable housing and a guarantee of a grocery store replacement](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/04/6-things-you-need-know-thursday-june-4/).

[Councilman Pete Festersen said he was asking the planning department to make affordable housing a requirement for TIF projects, but that change would not be implemented until September](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/04/6-things-you-need-know-thursday-june-4/).

The [full meeting notes are available online](https://www.documenters.org/assignments/regular-omaha-city-council-meeting-20959/), documented by the Omaha Documenters program.

## Sources

- [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/june-2-omaha-city-council-discusses-development-projects-and-employee-fundraising-rules/)
- [Omaha council upholds ban on firefighter fundraising during work hours from WOWT](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/05/omaha-council-upholds-ban-firefighter-fundraising-during-work-hours/)
- [Omaha City Council approves $9M financing for Saddle Creek Marketplace from 3 News Now](https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha/omaha-city-council-approves-9m-financing-for-contested-dundee-development-project)
- [June 4 headlines: concerns over Saddle Creek project from WOWT](https://www.wowt.com/2026/06/04/6-things-you-need-know-thursday-june-4/)
- [Full meeting notes from Omaha Documenters](https://www.documenters.org/assignments/regular-omaha-city-council-meeting-20959/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Flatwater Free Press, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://flatwaterfreepress.org/june-2-omaha-city-council-discusses-development-projects-and-employee-fundraising-rules/.