Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - July 23, 2024

The Lincoln City Council met on July 23, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. (though the agenda indicates July 22, the meeting date is recorded as July 23, 2024). The meeting included consent agenda approvals, public hearings on liquor licenses and service agreements, and final passage of numerous ordinances related to pay adjustments, redevelopment projects, annexations, zoning changes, and historic preservation standards. All items were approved with near-unanimous votes, with one dissent on the appointment to the Library Board. No public comments were made outside of the agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• 24R-301: Appointing Terri Dunlap to the Lincoln City Library Board for a term expiring August 31, 2031. (Adopted, 6-1; A-94692)
• 24R-313: Reappointment of Yohance L. Christie as City Attorney for a two-year term effective July 21, 2024. (Adopted, 7-0; A-94693)
• Petitions and communications were placed on file or referred to the Planning Department without council vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were received during the open microphone session, as the scheduled open microphone dates for July were July 15 and July 29, 2024.

Discussion Items

(Note: The agenda did not record discussion, only votes. The following are the major items considered.)

Liquor License Approvals

• 24R-317: Manager application of Olivia Longsine for EHPV Operating Group, LLC dba Big Red Restaurant & Sports Bar at 955 W O Street. (Adopted for approval, 7-0; A-94694)
• 24R-318: Application of Governor Pillen Inaugural Committee for special designated licenses for an outdoor event area at 1425 H Street on multiple dates in August through October 2024. (Adopted for approval, 7-0; A-94695)

Minority Health Initiative Grant Service Agreements

The council approved six service agreements between the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department and community organizations for the Minority Health Initiative Grant, each for the period January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025:

• 24R-302: Asian Community and Cultural Center (Adopted, 7-0; A-94696)
• 24R-303: El Centro de las Americas (Adopted, 7-0; A-94697)
• 24R-304: Good Neighbor Community Center (Adopted, 7-0; A-94698)
• 24R-305: Malone Center (Adopted, 7-0; A-94699)
• 24R-306: Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (Adopted, 7-0; A-94700)

Comprehensive Plan Conformance

• 24R-307: Comprehensive Plan Conformance 24015 for adding the "Bethany Land Purchase" to the Capital Improvement Program for FY2022/2023-2027/2028 on property at 1700 N. Cotner Blvd. (Adopted, 7-0; A-94701)

Employee Pay Schedule Amendments (Ordinances 24-76 through 24-84)

The council passed nine ordinances amending pay schedules for various employee groups:

• 24-76: Changed the pay range for Senior Attorney (Class 0707) from W04 to W05 and Chief Assistant City Attorney (Class 0708) from W05 to W06. (Passed, 7-0; 21628)
• 24-77: Changed the pay range for Utility Engineering Specialist (Class 5300) from C30 to C34. (Passed, 7-0; 21629)
• 24-78: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'X' prefix group. (Passed, 7-0; 21630)
• 24-79: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'E' prefix group. (Passed, 7-0; 21631)
• 24-80: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'W' prefix group. (Passed, 7-0; 21632)
• 24-81: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'DSS' prefix group. (Passed, 7-0; 21633)
• 24-82: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'M' prefix group in accordance with the current bargaining agreement. (Passed, 7-0; 21634)
• 24-83: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'P' prefix group in accordance with the current bargaining agreement. (Passed, 7-0; 21636)
• 24-84: Adjusted pay ranges for employees in the 'F' prefix group. (Passed, 7-0; 21636)

Street & Alley Vacation

• 24-85: Vacation of the east-west alley between O and P Streets, and between N Antelope Valley Pkwy and N 20th Street, adjacent to property of Union Bank and Trust. (Passed, 7-0; 21637)

N. 48th & Madison Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment

The council approved three related items for the redevelopment project at N. 48th Street and Madison Avenue:

• 24R-295: Approving the Redevelopment Agreement between the City, New Generation Properties, LLC, and B & J Partnership, LTD. (Adopted, 7-0; A-94702)
• 24R-296: Amending the FY23/24 CIP to authorize and appropriate $2,292,163 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF). (Adopted, 7-0; A-94703)
• 24-86: Authorizing the issuance of Tax Allocation Bonds not to exceed $2,292,163 for the project. (Passed, 7-0; 21638)

Temporary Transit Station Lease

• 24-87: Approving a lease agreement with 1033 Brandeis, LLC for space at 333 S. 11th Street for a temporary transit station for a three-year term. (Passed, 7-0; 21639)

Annexation and Rezoning – NW 19th & W Homer Drive

• 24-88: Annexation of 1.13 acres on property at NW 19th Street and W Homer Drive (application of Starostka-Lewis, LLC). (Passed, 7-0; 21640)
• 24-89: Change of zone from AG Agricultural to R-3 Residential on the same property. (Passed, 7-0; 21641)

Right-of-Way Annexation – W Vine

• 24-90: Annexation of right-of-way for W Vine between NW 48th Street and NW 56th Street (application of Planning Department). (Passed, 7-0; 21642)

Rezoning – Southwood Center

• 24-92: Change of zone from O-3 Office District to B-2 Planned Neighborhood Business District within the existing Southwood Center Use Permit at 5555 S. 27th Street (application of West Gate Bank). (Passed, 7-0; 21643)

Historic Preservation Code Amendments

The council approved a comprehensive update to the Historic Preservation District regulations:

• 24-93: Text Amendment 24006 amending Lincoln Municipal Code Chapter 27.57 to add definitions, refine designation procedures, require structural and alternatives analysis for demolition, establish a one-year hold period after denial of a demolition request, and add a violation provision with fines up to $100. (Passed, 7-0; 21644)
• 24R-292: Resolution adopting the Historic Preservation Design Standards as Title 3, Chapter 3.86 of the City Design Standards. (Adopted, 7-0; A-94704)

Key Outcomes

• Total Votes: 23 items were voted on (2 consent, 2 liquor, 6 resolutions, 13 ordinances/related resolutions), all passed with 7-0 votes except the Library Board appointment (6-1).
• Items Introduced but Not Voted: Several resolutions and ordinances had their first reading and were deferred for future action, including reappointments to the Community Forestry Advisory Board (24R-314), a proposed $13.9 million stormwater bond election resolution (24R-316), a claims report (24R-319), a reclassification of NW 27th Street (24R-320), and zoning changes for 3501 W O Street (24-94) and a text amendment for Academies definition (24-96).
• Pending List: Items related to the Falcon Corner Redevelopment Project (24R-18, 24R-35, 24R-36, 24-10, 23R-638, 23-158, 23R-639, 23-159) remain on the pending list extended for one week, with no date certain for action.
• Next Steps: The council will continue with first-reading items and pending matters at future meetings.