Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting – April 15, 2024

The Lincoln City Council convened on Monday, April 15, 2024, at 3:00 PM with all members present except Councilmember Beckius. The meeting included consent agenda items, public hearings on liquor licenses and resolutions, second and third reading of ordinances, first reading of several resolutions and ordinances, and an extension of the pending list. All votes were 6-0 in favor.

Consent Calendar

• 24R-140: Reappointed Gregory McCown, James McKee, and Gregory Newport to the Historic Preservation Commission (terms expire April 15, 2027). Adopted 6-0.
• 24R-148: Set a hearing for April 29, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. to assess $1,576.19 in inspection and snow/ice removal costs from four properties. Adopted 6-0.
• 24R-175: Set a Board of Equalization hearing for May 6, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. for multiple maintenance improvement districts. Adopted 6-0.
• Clerk’s Letters and Mayor’s Approval for resolutions and ordinances passed on March 11 and March 18, 2024, were placed on file.
• 24R-149 and 24R-150: Set hearings for April 29, 2024, on liquor license applications for Aragon Tavern and Early Bird for outdoor area additions. Adopted 6-0.
• Administrative Amendment #24016 to SP21037 West Van Dorn Ridge Community Unit Plan was placed on file (approved by Planning Director on March 28, 2024).

Liquor License Resolutions (Items 4a–4m)

All liquor license resolutions were adopted for approval with 6-0 votes. These included:

• Class D license for Fat Dogs Lincoln at 1101 West Bond Street (manager: James K. Riewe).
• Class C license for Bodega’s Alley at 1418 O Street (manager: Jamie L. Shamrock).
• Class I license for Hampton Inn – Airport at 1105 West Bond Street (manager: John E. Klimpel).
• Class C license for Zipline Brewing Co. Beer Hall at 5740 Hidcote Drive, Suite B (manager: Marcus A. Powers).
• Catering license addition for Zipline Brewing Co. at 2100 Magnum Circle, Suite 1.
• Special designated licenses for Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery, Mellow Mushroom, Pinnacle Bank Arena, and Saro Cider for various outdoor events and farmers markets.

Resolutions (Items 5a–5f)

• 24R-141: Accepted the report of new and pending claims against the City for March 16–31, 2024. Adopted 6-0.
• 24R-142: Approved a Participating Provider Agreement between the City and Nebraska Total Care, Inc. for Medicaid reimbursement of medical/lab services (3-year term). Adopted 6-0.
• 24R-143 and 24R-144: Approved cooperation agreements with Pheasants Forever, Inc. and an interlocal agreement with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Lower Platte South Natural Resources District for saline wetlands conservation. Adopted 6-0.
• 24R-145: Approved an architectural services agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc. for the Multi-modal Transportation Center. Adopted 6-0.
• 24R-147: Approved the Motorola Communications System and Services Agreement for the Lincoln Police Department (4-year term). The resolution was adopted as amended (MTA #1, 6-0).

Ordinances – Second Reading (Items 6a–6i)

• 24‑35: Lease agreement between the City (Parks and Recreation) and Parks and Recreation Foundation for office space at 3131 O Street Ste. 300 through April 30, 2034. Second reading complete.
• 24‑36: Amendments to Lincoln Municipal Code regarding definitions of food establishments, vendors, and vending rules (including mobile food establishments and vendor truck restrictions in residential zones). Second reading complete.
• 24‑37: Declared approximately 0.09 acres of City property at 10th & N Streets surplus. Second reading complete.
• 24R-146, 24‑38 through 24‑42: A package of related items for the North 70th Street and Interstate 80 area: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 24002 (revision to Priority Growth Areas Map), surplus declaration of 314.51 acres, annexation of ~448 acres, change of zone to Public (P), street vacation of McKelvie Road remnant, and a real property exchange with the State of Nebraska. All had second reading.

Ordinances – Third Reading and Related Resolutions (Items 7a–7k)

• 24‑29: Adopted the June 2023 and December 2023 supplements to the Lincoln Municipal Code. Passed (6-0, Ordinance #21583).
• 24‑30: Approved a contract with Lincoln Haymarket Development Corporation to operate the Saturday Public Market (May–October 2024 and 2025). Passed (6-0, Ordinance #21584).
• 24R-111, 24‑31, 24R-112, 24‑32: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 23004, annexation of ~32.29 acres, conditional change of zone and annexation agreement, and change to H-4 General Commercial District for properties at 10955–11205 South 14th Street (Saltillo Express Business Park). All adopted/passed 6-0.
• 24R-113, 24‑33, 24R-114, 24‑34, 24R-115: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 23003, annexation of ~55.26 acres, conditional zoning and annexation agreement, change to I-3 Employment Center District, and use permit for Jamaica North Business Park at South 14th Street and Saltillo Road. All adopted/passed 6-0.

Resolutions – First Reading (Items 8a–8k)

• Appointments to Veterans Memorial Garden Advisory Council, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Building Code Board of Appeals, and Board of Mechanical Examiners.
• 24R-168 and 24R-169: On-call professional services agreements with Alfred Benesch & Co. for the 70th Street & Nebraska Parkway right turn lane addition (preliminary engineering and environmental services).
• 24R-170: Comprehensive Plan Conformance 24003 for the East Gateway Mall Redevelopment Plan (58 acres at N. 66th & O Streets).
• 24R-171: Grant award agreement with Nebraska DHHS for a Minority Health Initiative ($659,657.03, through June 30, 2025).
• 24R-172 and 24R-173: Redevelopment agreement with League of Nebraska Municipalities for property at 1335 L Street and 401 S. 14th Street, and approval of $436,625 in TIF funds.

Ordinance – First Reading (Item 9a)

• 24‑43: Street and alley vacation application by Hoppe & Son, LLC for an alley between D and E Streets from S. 13th to S. 14th Street. First reading.

Pending List (Items 10a–10h) – Extended One Week

All items related to the Falcon Corner Redevelopment Project at NW 48th Street and Interstate 80 were extended on the pending list without a specific date. These include:

• 24R-18 (Comprehensive Plan Conformance), 24R-35 (Redevelopment Agreement), 24R-36 (TIF amendment), 24-10 (Tax Allocation Bonds), 23R-638 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment), 23-158 (Annexation), 23R-639 (Conditional Annexation and Change of Zone Agreement), and 23-159 (Change of Zone). All were continued from earlier meetings and remain pending.

Key Outcomes

• All agenda items on the consent calendar, liquor resolutions, and general resolutions were adopted by 6-0 votes.
• One item, the Motorola Communications agreement (24R-147), was adopted as amended per MTA #1.
• All ordinances on third reading were passed unanimously (6-0).
• The pending list items (Falcon Corner) were extended one week without a return date.
• No public comment was heard, as open microphone sessions were scheduled for April 8 and April 29, 2024.
• The meeting adjourned at 4:21 p.m.