2026: A transformative year ahead for Papillion

The new year brings major milestones for Papillion as several multi-million dollar projects approach completion and the community prepares for consequential elections.

City Park's $7.2 million renovation will unveil a transformed downtown landmark by June, the police station expansion wraps up this summer, and Tower District continues welcoming new businesses.

Meanwhile, Papillion-La Vista Community Schools will open its 17th elementary school and break ground on a privately-funded community center. Here's what boards, businesses, and voters need to watch in 2026.

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The Mayor and City Council hold their first meeting of the year tomorrow, January 6, at 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 122 East 3rd Street. The agenda includes public hearings and early business for the new calendar year, including approval of a contract with D&K Products for agronomic supplies not exceeding $300,000 and assignment of 2026 council committee positions.

The council enters 2026 with momentum from fiscal discipline — Papillion has reduced its property tax levy for the fifth consecutive year, maintaining the lowest levy among all Sarpy and Douglas County communities. A significant change arrives in March when the city begins receiving monthly sales tax collections for the first time, providing a new revenue stream independent of property valuations.

Council members Steve Sunde, Tom Mumgaard, Jim Glover, Dave Fanslau, Becky Hoch, Bob Stubbe, Steve Engberg, and Jason Gaines serve alongside Mayor David Black. City Administrator Amber Powers and Deputy City Administrator Mark Stursma lead day-to-day operations.

Backyard chickens are back on the agenda nearly a year after the council voted down a similar proposal. The revised ordinance comes before council on January 20 and would allow residents to keep up to six hens within city limits, with no roosters permitted.

The new proposal addresses previous concerns that sank the ordinance in 2025, including worries about predators and conflicts with homeowners association rules. Under the revised language, neighbors could voice objections to nearby chicken licenses, and the ordinance would explicitly not override HOA guidelines. Residents would still need to obtain a license and complete an education course before bringing chickens into their neighborhood.

Supporters point to food sustainability and inflation as reasons to allow backyard coops. "I think in today's world we need to be thinking about sustainable food sources and where our food comes from," said Steve Zivny, a Papillion resident who supports the ordinance, to Channel 3 News.

Residents can share their thoughts at the January 20 meeting at City Hall.

The most visible transformation downtown will be complete by Papillion Days in June. The 6-acre City Park at 84th and Lincoln streets has been closed since summer 2025 for its first major renovation in decades.

Construction by Micahini Contracting at a guaranteed maximum price of $7,184,208 includes an improved paved trail network, a new destination playground, a nature trail, and expanded parking — a long-standing pain point the city has struggled to resolve. New combined shelter and stage structures will open onto dual lawn areas, enabling more year-round programming including small concerts. Design elements by Schemmer and Confluence incorporate Monarch butterfly motifs reflecting Papillion's identity.

"This is a generational project that will see the complete renovation of the extremely popular city park area," Parks and Facilities Director Tony Gowan said at the groundbreaking. The park will reopen approximately one month before Papillion Days.

The Papillion Police Department's $9 million expansion at 1000 East First Street is on track for summer 2026 completion. Construction began in April 2025 on the 20-year-old facility, which had outgrown its capacity to serve the department's 49 officers and 6 civilian staff.

Key improvements include dedicated K-9 workspace, a mother's room, expanded parking, a standalone evidence storage garage, new roof, updated HVAC controls, and patrol bag storage lockers. The project, designed by Carlson West Povondra Architects, is funded approximately half from cash reserves and half from a bond of up to $4.5 million.

"We have no place for road patrol equipment — outgrown," Police Chief Chris Whitted explained when the project was approved. The facility also lacked proper space for shared equipment with other agencies. Councilman Jason Gaines noted the expansion positions the city for the next two decades: "As far as services go, we will probably have to add a fire station, a police station, some precinct that is not out of the main building."

The city secured a $1.1 million grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Civic and Community Center Financing Fund for renovating and expanding Papio Bay Aquatic Center at 815 East Halleck Street. The grant "closes the gap needed to make the Papio Bay project a reality," according to city officials.

Specific construction timelines have not been announced.

The award-winning facility — recognized by the National Recreation and Parks Association — features a zero-depth pool, two water slides, diving boards, sand volleyball, and a wading pool.

Winter programming continues with parent-child aquatic classes running January 8 through February 12.

The Urban Waters downtown redevelopment project at 200 and 220/226 North Adams Street will deliver the first new apartments in downtown Papillion. The historic former Public Works stone building is being converted into 4 apartments, with construction of 40 additional "Missing Middle" housing units in four-plex townhome configurations — totaling 44 new residential units.

The city is investing $2.5 million in Adams Street and 2nd Street improvements including new sidewalks with brick accents, catenary lighting, 36 new parking stalls, and water/sewer infrastructure upgrades. The project received a TIF note of approximately $1.18 million at 6.70% interest over 15 years, with a minimum taxable valuation requirement of $7.26 million.

The city's One and Six Year Road Plan allocates approximately $11.9 million for 2025-2026 road improvements, with about $3.2 million expected from state and federal funding. The largest undertaking is the phased Cornhusker Road/6th Street/Portal Road corridor project, with construction from 84th to 96th Street expected to begin in 2026-2027. The complete corridor project carries an estimated final cost of $38 million with completion targeted for 2030.

Additional work includes Halleck Park area improvements converting rural roadway to urban cross-section with expanded parking from 40 to 130 spaces at an estimated $2.4 million, and annual pavement repair programs budgeted at roughly $3 million.

At the county level, Sarpy County's CONNECTSarpy program launches a $50 million project in the 156th Street industrial area beginning spring 2026, including three-lane expansions and roundabouts to support data center and industrial growth. The 48th Street and Capehart Road intersection improvement ($2 million) with a new traffic signal is expected complete by spring 2026.

The $300 million Tower District development at 84th-90th Streets and Highway 370 continues its transformation from farmland to Papillion's largest mixed-use community. Starbucks opened in August 2025 and Panera Bread followed in October, with AutoZone, Pinnacle Bank, and Les Schwab Tires currently under construction.

The 120-acre development includes plans for 900 dwelling units, over 300,000 square feet of commercial space, and a central park with trail connections to Prairie Queen Recreation Area. The first 103 apartment units are expected to open in early 2026, with 206 additional units planned. One-third of estate lots have already sold with home construction underway.

At Shadow Lake Towne Center, Barnes & Noble opened in April 2025 as the second metro location, and Westlake Ace Hardware opened an 18,000-square-foot store in the former Best Buy space. BeautyFirst opened its sixth Nebraska location at The Shoppes at Market Pointe. A new H&H Kia dealership at Highways 50 and 370 is expected by end of 2026.

Metropolitan Community College remains in a 180-day due diligence period on a potential 143-acre campus at the southeast corner of Highway 50 and Highway 370, with $8.4 million set aside for the land purchase.

Papillion-La Vista Community Schools will open its 17th elementary school in fall 2026. Lincoln View Elementary, located south of Lincoln Road and west of South 99th Street, carries an estimated cost of $27.1 million from the district's 2023 bond issue. The school mascot — Lincoln View Leopards — was unveiled in November 2025.

The new school is expected to reach full capacity on opening day, according to Assistant Superintendent Kati Settles. Boundary plans approved in July 2025 include grandfathering provisions for fifth and sixth graders and active military families aligned with the district's Purple Star designation. Three elementary schools — Prairie Queen, Lincoln View, and Ashbury — are now closed to option enrollment due to capacity constraints.

The PLCS Foundation will break ground in fall 2026 on a $10 million, 18,000-square-foot Community Engagement Center west of Washington Street near the district office. The facility — funded entirely through private donations with $6 million already committed — will house foundation operations, the Kids Club program, and the PLCS Community Closet providing free clothing and hygiene supplies to families. Completion is expected in 2028.

The Board of Education meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Central Office, 420 South Washington Street. January meetings are scheduled for January 12 and January 26. Board President SuAnn Witt leads the six-member board, with Superintendent Dr. Andrew Rikli serving through the 2026-2027 school year.

The board recently approved a two-year maintenance staff contract providing wage increases of 3.94% in year one and 3.8% in year two. The 2025-2026 property tax levy was set at $1.096547 per $100 of assessed value — a decrease from the prior year — with a total tax request of approximately $111.5 million.

Papillion residents traveling the 84th Street corridor through La Vista should plan for continued construction through spring 2027. The city's $12.2 million trail project — supported by a $5 million federal grant — is building 10-foot-wide trails on both sides of 84th Street from Harrison to Giles Road, plus a new pedestrian underpass.

Traffic has been reduced to two lanes in each direction since late November 2025. Bridge work on southbound lanes continues through summer 2026. The project connects to La Vista's $250 million City Centre development featuring 392 luxury apartments, The Astro music venue, and Smash Park entertainment center.

Voters head to the polls twice in 2026, with the primary election on May 12 and general election on November 3. Several local offices are on the ballot:

Candidates for city offices must pay filing fees to their respective cities and bring receipts to the Sarpy County Election Commission at 1102 East 1st Street in Papillion.

County candidates pay filing fees directly to the commission and must file NADC Form C-1 with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

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