OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The City Council has approved the mayor’s plan to annex 16 areas of Douglas County, boosting the Omaha population by an estimated 12,000 people.

Mayor Jean Stothert (STAH’-thurt) cheered the vote Tuesday as “positive for the city.”

The neighborhoods and businesses have a total property tax valuation of about $1 billion.

Councilmen Ben Gray, Chris Jerram and Pete Festersen voted against annexing some of the areas, expressing concerns that city services would be stretched too thin.