Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - November 4, 2024

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 3:00 PM with all members present except Beckius. The meeting covered appointments, professional service agreements for trail projects, liquor license applications, development agreements, annexations, utility bonds, and other routine business. All consent items and most other items were approved unanimously (6-0). The meeting adjourned at 5:36 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Appointments: Michael Harpster to the Urban Design Committee (partial term expiring Feb 1, 2025), David Williams to StarTran Advisory Board (partial term expiring Oct 20, 2026), Lyn Heaton to the Police and Fire Pension Plan Investment Board (term expiring Sep 1, 2029), reappointment of Kaylie Hogan-Schnittker to StarTran Advisory Board (term expiring Oct 20, 2027), clarification and reappointment of Bennie Shobe to District Energy Corporation (partial term to Dec 31, 2024 and term to Dec 31, 2026) — all adopted 6-0.
• Professional Services Agreements: Task order agreements with Felsburg Holt & Ullevig for preliminary engineering and environmental services for the Rock Island Undercrossing at Old Cheney (Project CRP-55(197)); and with The Schemmer Associates for preliminary engineering and with Felsburg Holt & Ullevig for environmental services for the Rock Island Trail, A Street to Boosalis Trail (Project CRP-55(198)) — all adopted 6-0.
• Hearing Dates: Setting Board of Equalization hearing on Dec 2, 2024 for Downtown Management B.I.D. and related districts; and setting hearing on Dec 9, 2024 for weed abatement assessments — adopted 6-0.
• Clerk's Letter: Placed on file.
• Petitions & Communications: Setting hearing dates for liquor license applications: Nov 18, 2024 for Vincenzo's Ristorante (manager application); Dec 2, 2024 for Aragon Tavern (indoor area addition) and for The Joint Liquor & Tobacco (Class D license) — adopted 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were recorded. The agenda included an open microphone session at the end of the meeting, but no testimony is available in the provided materials.

Discussion Items

• Liquor Resolutions (Items 4.a–4.p): All 16 applications (Class D, Class C, manager approvals, and special designated licenses for the Dec 8, 2024 Winter Market under the bridge at 8th & O Street) were adopted for approval 6-0 without discussion as recorded.
• Resolution 5.a (56th Street Rehab): After previous delays (verbal motions on 10/7 and 10/28), the contract for design and construction engineering services was adopted as amended 6-0 (MTA#1 adopted 6-0, then adopted as amended 6-0).
• Resolution 5.b (Nuisance Abatement Assessments): Assessments for 15 properties cleaned by the Health Department were adopted 6-0.
• Resolution 5.c (Special Permit 17022C – Dominion South): Amending a Community Unit Plan at N. 105th & Wayborough Lane to replace a 440-unit multifamily complex with 130 attached townhomes and 18 single-family attached dwellings, with associated waivers, was adopted 6-0.
• Resolution 5.d (Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds – Central at South Haymarket): Authorizing up to $26,000,000 in bonds for a 175-unit project at 205 S. 10th St. was adopted 6-0.
• Ordinances 2nd Reading & Related Resolutions (Items 6.a–6.k): Introduced for second reading. Items include annexation AN24003 and change of zone CZ24010 (White Development at 112th & O St.), related agreements (24R-496, 24R-497), Central at South Haymarket redevelopment agreement and TIF appropriation (24R-498, 24R-499, 24-126), amendment to Central Park Offices PUD (24-127), and Lincoln Electric System bond authorization, rate schedules, and annual budget (24-128, 24R-493, 24R-502). Action set for Nov 18, 2024.
• Ordinances 3rd Reading & Related Resolutions (Items 7.a–7.d):
  • 7.a: Lease with Grace Lutheran Church for Aging Partners Senior Center (Nov 2024 – Aug 2026) – passed 6-0.
  • 7.b: Change of zone from H-3 to I-1 at 3501 W O St. – passed 6-0.
  • 7.c: Annexation of 32.41 acres at 8601 Highway 6 – passed 6-0.
  • 7.d: Conditional annexation agreement with TCI Acquisition Corp. – MTA#1 adopted 6-0, then adopted as amended 6-0 (substitute Attachment A approved).
• Resolutions 1st Reading (Items 8.a–8.d):
  • 8.a: Approving Witches Brew as a keno satellite (consent).
  • 8.b: Certifying Street Superintendent for 2024.
  • 8.c: Authorizing up to $315,000 in Tax Allocation Bonds for Dairy House Phase II.
  • 8.d: Accepting claims report for Oct 15–31, 2024.
• Ordinances 1st Reading & Related Resolutions (Items 9.a–9.d):
  • 9.a: Tower space agreement with Verizon at 2201 S. 84th St.
  • 9.b–9.d: Change of zone for Sesostris Temple (AG to H-4) at 95th & O St., related special permit and conditional zoning agreement – action set for Dec 2, 2024.
• Pending List – Date Certain (Items 10.a–10.d): Glenbrook, LLC items (change of zone, conditional zoning, comprehensive plan amendment, use permit for office park at 70th & Nebraska Parkway) were delayed by verbal motion to Nov 18, 2024.
• Pending List – Extended (Items 11.a–11.h): Falcon Corner Redevelopment items (NW 48th & I-80) remain on pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items approved 6-0.
• All liquor license and manager applications approved 6-0.
• 56th Street Rehab contract adopted as amended 6-0.
• Nuisance abatement assessments approved 6-0.
• Dominion South special permit approved 6-0.
• Central at South Haymarket bond resolution approved 6-0.
• Grace Lutheran Church lease passed 6-0.
• Change of zone at 3501 W O St. passed 6-0.
• Annexation at 8601 Highway 6 passed 6-0.
• TCI Acquisition annexation agreement adopted as amended 6-0.
• Items 6, 7, 8, and 9 set for future action as noted above.
• Glenbrook items delayed to Nov 18, 2024.
• Falcon Corner items remain pending without set date.