Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting – December 2, 2024

The Lincoln City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 3:00 PM, adjourning at 4:56 PM. All seven council members were present. The meeting included a Mayor's Award of Excellence, consent agenda approvals, liquor license decisions, public hearings on several resolutions, and the second reading of multiple ordinances. Several items were delayed to future meetings. No public comments were made during the open microphone session, which is scheduled for December 9 and 16.

Mayor's Award of Excellence

• The Mayor's Award of Excellence for June 2024 was presented to Joe Villamonte, Dustin Lind, Kevin Meyer, and Alex Salcedo from the Lincoln Police Department in the categories of Safety and Productivity.

Consent Calendar

• All items on the consent calendar were adopted or placed on file by unanimous 7-0 votes, including:
  • 24R-537: Appointing Yinka Akinyemi to the Community Health Endowment Board of Trustees (term to expire September 1, 2027).
  • 24R-538: Approving a four-year full-service beverage and snack vending contract with LinPepCo Partnership/First Choice Vending.
  • 24R-539: Approving the Second Amendment to the Lower Platte River Consortium Interlocal Agreement (extending term to December 4, 2029).
  • 24R-544, 24R-545, 24R-546, 24R-547: Assessment resolutions for Downtown Core Management BID, Downtown Management BID, Downtown Maintenance District, and West Haymarket/Downtown Maintenance District (board of equalization meetings set for December 9, 2024).
  • Affidavit of Mailing for the above districts (placed on file).
  • Report from City Treasurer on cash on hand as of September 30, 2024 (placed on file).
  • Clerk's Letter & Mayor's Approval of resolutions/ordinances from November 4, 2024 (placed on file).
  • Lincoln Electric Financial and Operating Statement for October 2024 (placed on file).
• Petitions & Communications (items 2.a–2.g): All liquor license hearing dates set for December 16, 2024, at 5:30 PM (7-0 votes). Administrative amendments and referrals to the Planning Department (items 2.h–2.i) were placed on file or referred as noted.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting. The open microphone session for non-agenda items will be held on December 9 and 16, 2024.

Discussion Items

• Liquor License Public Hearings (Items 4.a–4.c):
  • 24R-555/24R-556: Application of The Joint Liquor & Tobacco, LLC for a Class D license and manager application of Ahmad Shamo – both adopted for denial (7-0).
  • 24R-557: Application of MCO, LLC dba Aragon Tavern for addition of indoor area – adopted for approval (7-0).
• Public Hearings – Resolutions (Items 5.a–5.c):
  • 24R-540: Accepting new and pending claims report (November 1–14, 2024) – adopted as amended (Motion to Amend No. 1 adopted 7-0; resolution adopted as amended 7-0).
  • 24R-541: Approving interlocal agreement between Lancaster County and Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department for emergency dental services at Youth Services Center (September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025) – adopted (7-0).
  • 24R-542: Approving Landfill Gas Rights and Lease Agreement with Sparq Renewables, LLC – adopted (7-0).
• Ordinances – 2nd Reading (Items 6.a–6.l):
  • Items 6.a (24-130), 6.b (24R-526), and 6.c (24R-527) – relating to change of zone, special permit, and conditional zoning for Sesostris Temple property near 95th and O Street – were delayed by verbal motion (7-0) to December 16, 2024, with continued public hearing and action.
  • Items 6.d–6.l (ordinances on street vacation, Lincoln Food Code amendments, pay schedule changes) received second reading; no action was taken.
• Ordinance – 3rd Reading (Item 7.a):
  • 24-129 (Verizon tower space agreement) – delayed by verbal motion (7-0) for one week to December 9, 2024.
• Resolutions – 1st Reading (Items 8.a–8.g):
  • Items introduced but no vote: 24R-558 (Finance Director appointment), 24R-559/24R-560 (Human Rights Commission appointments), 24R-561 (Citizen Police Advisory Board reappointments), 24R-562 (LES Board reappointments), 24R-563 (Air pollution control regulations amendment), 24R-568 (weed assessment costs).
• Ordinances – 1st Reading (Items 9.a–9.k):
  • Items introduced but no vote: annexation and zoning items for Falcon Heights (NebHoldings), Southwest Village PUD amendment (horse racing), plat vacation, sign code text amendment, and the Firefox Properties development at S. 84th & Van Dorn (including annexation, comprehensive plan amendment, change of zone, annexation agreement, and use permit).
• Pending List (Items 10.a–10.h):
  • All items related to the Falcon Corner redevelopment project (NW 48th & I-80) remain on the pending list with no date certain, as previously delayed.

Key Outcomes

• All consent and routine items passed unanimously (7-0).
• Liquor licenses: The Joint Liquor & Tobacco (Class D) was denied; Aragon Tavern expansion was approved.
• Delays: Sesostris Temple items (6.a–6.c) delayed two weeks to December 16, 2024; Verizon tower agreement (7.a) delayed one week to December 9, 2024.
• Next steps: Board of equalization hearings for downtown maintenance and BID districts are set for December 9, 2024. Several ordinances and resolutions will be brought back for second/third reading at future meetings.