Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting – August 26, 2024

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, August 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting included approval of a consent agenda, several public hearings for liquor licenses and other resolutions, adoption of the city’s two‑year operating budget and capital improvement program, approval of various fee schedules and rate increases, and action on a tax levy request from the Lincoln Airport Authority. The meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m. No transcript or minutes of the meeting were provided; this summary is based solely on the published agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Reappointments to the Procurement Appeals Board (Ken Fougeron and Heather Seba) and to the Electrical Advisory, Appeals, and Examining Board (John Whitmer) were approved 7‑0.
• The Clerk’s Letter and Mayor’s approval of resolutions and ordinances from August 12, 2024, were placed on file.
• The Lincoln Electric System Financial and Operating Statement for July 2024 was placed on file.
• A hearing date of September 9, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. was set for a Class I liquor license application for The Sitch, LLC (1140 O Street) (adopted 7‑0).
• An administrative amendment to Preliminary Plat #23060 for Advantage Trucking Addition was placed on file.
• Two special permits and a use permit were referred to the Planning Department.

Public Hearings – Liquor Resolutions

• Charging Station Coffee, LLC (Class C license, 6128 Havelock Ave.): Adopted for denial 7‑0 (items 4a and 4b).
• Littleson East, LLC dba Watering Hole East (Manager Dakota Classon, 8300 Northwoods Dr.): Adopted for approval 7‑0 (item 4c).
• McKenny’s Pub, LLC dba McKinney’s Irish Pub (special designated licenses for multiple dates at 151 N 8th St.): Adopted for approval 7‑0 (item 4d).
• Kinkaider Brewing Co., LLC (special designated licenses for Sept. 20, 2024 at 201 N 7th St. and Sept. 28, 2024 at 151 N 8th St.): Both adopted for approval 7‑0 (items 4e and 4f).

Public Hearing – Resolutions

• Claims Report (August 1–15, 2024): Adopted 7‑0 (item 5a).

Public Hearing – Ordinances (2nd Reading)

• Text Amendment 24011 (Airport Hazard Area blanket height permits): Public hearing held; second reading completed. No final vote noted on this agenda (item 6a).

Ordinances – 3rd Reading

• Correcting legal description of annexed area (repealing/replacing Ordinance 21642): Passed 7‑0 (item 7a).

Resolutions – Action Only

• Lincoln Airport Authority Tax Levy Request (24R‑352): A motion to divide the question passed 5‑2; the resolution as amended was adopted 7‑0 (item 8a).

Budget Resolutions & Ordinances – Action Only

• 2024‑26 City Operating Budget & Capital Improvement Program (24R‑342): A motion to accept a substitute resolution was adopted 7‑0; the resolution as amended was adopted 7‑0 (item 9a).
• Fee schedules for planning, ambulance, salvage, open burning, body art, food, noise, solid waste, water wells, swimming pools, onsite wastewater, illicit discharges, and air pollution regulation (items 9b‑9o): All adopted with votes of 7‑0 or (for items 9b and 9j) 6‑1.
• Water, wastewater, and solid waste rate increases (items 9p‑9r): Adopted 6‑1 (water/wastewater) and 7‑0 (solid waste).
• 1% restricted funds authority increase (24R‑343): Adopted 7‑0 (item 9s).
• Amendments to Emergency Alarm System permit fees (24‑97) and refuse hauler occupation tax (24‑98): Both passed 7‑0.
• 2024 Municipal Improvements Bonds (24‑99, up to $12.2 million): A motion to adopt a substitute ordinance including sidewalks passed 6‑1; the ordinance as amended passed 6‑1.
• Transfer of unspent appropriations between CIP projects (24‑100): Passed 7‑0.

Resolutions – 1st Reading

• Professional services agreements for A Street (40th‑56th) rehabilitation (24R‑370, 24R‑371): First reading held.
• Interlocal agreement with Lincoln Public Schools for naloxone administration (24R‑372): First reading held.

Ordinances – 1st Reading

• Telecommunication Occupation Tax rate reduction from 6% to 4% (24‑106): First reading held.
• N. 26th & U Street Redevelopment Agreement (24R‑373), CIP amendment for $357,706 in TIF (24R‑374), and Tax Allocation Bonds (24‑107): First reading held.

Pending List

• Falcon Corner redevelopment items (12a‑12h): Extended for one week without date certain.

Public Comment

• Open microphone session was held for matters not on the agenda. No speakers are recorded in the agenda.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted: Consent items, liquor licenses (denials and approvals), claims report, budget and CIP, fee schedules, rate increases, bond ordinance, and various other resolutions; all with votes as noted.
• Passed: Ordinance correcting legal description (21650), alarm and refuse hauler ordinances (21651, 21652), bond ordinance as amended (21653), and CIP transfer ordinance (21654).
• Deferred to next meeting: Airport Authority tax levy; Pending List items remain on pending list.
• First readings completed: Several resolutions and ordinances advanced to second reading.
• Next meeting: No meeting on September 2 due to Labor Day; next regular meeting likely September 9, 2024.