The Omaha City Council Tuesday voted 4 to 2 and approved the $114 million proposed Douglas County Courthouse Annex and a new Juvenile Justice Center. Council Members Ben Gray, Rich Pahls, Pete Festersen and Chris Jerram voted yes. Council members Brinker Harding and Aimee Melton voted no. Councilman Vinny Palermo abstained from the vote.
Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert released this statement following the City Council vote.
Following Omaha City Council approval today, I have decided to allow the latest proposed agreement between the City of Omaha, Douglas County, and Public Building Commission to take effect without my signature.
This agreement will provide expanded and improved courthouse facilities and office space. The courthouse annex portion represents the vast majority of the cost of the full project and is broadly supported.
The juvenile detention and services center portion of the full project has been more controversial. Progress has been made over many months on the programmatic needs of the juvenile justice project. Mission planning among elected officials, law enforcement, juvenile justice leaders, and philanthropic supporters has resulted in encouraging work that will help us better address youth in crisis.
However, I am very concerned that too few beds will be available in the new detention facility to address future needs, including city growth. The additional programs and services that will address and affect detention needs are critical to juvenile justice reform and in making this project work for children, families, and taxpayers. This challenge will require everyone’s flexibility, creativity, and commitment in the months and years ahead.
Finally, while this is a Douglas County project, the impact of bond funding for the project will result in a property tax rate increase by the Douglas County Commission on county residents, which I do not support. It is also for this reason that I will return the ordinance unsigned.