Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting and Board of Equalization - December 9, 2024

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 3:00 PM, immediately following the Board of Equalization meeting. All six council members were present except Councilmember Duden. The Council addressed a consent agenda, liquor license applications, resolutions, ordinances on second and third reading, and removed several items from the pending list. All votes were unanimous 6-0 unless noted.

Board of Equalization (Pre-Meeting)

• The City Clerk read district boundaries into the record for four downtown/core districts. After public testimony, the Board approved the following districts 6-0:
  • Downtown Core Management Business Improvement District
  • Downtown Maintenance District
  • Downtown Management Business Improvement District
  • West Haymarket/Downtown Maintenance District

Consent Calendar

• Mayor's Award of Excellence: Recognized Tina Baker, Jeff Lacey, and Jerry Pietzyk from Lincoln Transportation and Utilities as the 2023 Annual recipients.
• 24R-558: Approved Joe Dondlinger as Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer effective December 10, 2024 (Adopted, 6-0).
• 24R-559: Appointed Nathan Wen He to the Commission on Human Rights (Adopted, 6-0).
• 24R-560: Reappointed Rob McEntarffer and Catherine Wilson to the Commission on Human Rights (Adopted, 6-0).
• 24R-561: Reappointed Shirley Mora James and Michael Thompson to the Citizen Police Advisory Board (Adopted, 6-0).
• 24R-562: Reappointed Alyssa Martin and David Spinar to the Lincoln Electric System Administrative Board (Adopted, 6-0).
• 2.a. Placed on File: Administrative Amendment 24065 to Cedars Planned Unit Development (parking lot expansion) approved by Planning Director on November 21, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public testimony was held during the Board of Equalization meeting and during the open microphone session at the end of the regular meeting. No speakers or positions are recorded in the agenda.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearing – Liquor Licenses (Items 4a-4d): The Council held a public hearing and unanimously approved:
  • 24R-569: Class CKE liquor license for Landshark Realty Group, LLC dba The CORNer Bar (350 Canopy Street, Suite 100) – Adopted for approval, 6-0.
  • 24R-570: Manager application of Todd Mosser for The CORNer Bar – Adopted for approval, 6-0.
  • 24R-571: Class I liquor license for VI OPCO, LLC dba Village Inn (6555 O Street) – Adopted for approval, 6-0.
  • 24R-572: Manager application of Brian Schweitzer for Village Inn – Adopted for approval, 6-0.
• Public Hearing – Resolutions (Items 5a-5b):
  • 24R-563: Amending Lincoln-Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Regulations – Adopted, 6-0.
  • 24R-568: Assessing costs for weed cutting and removal (Nov 1, 2023 – Oct 31, 2024) – Adopted, 6-0.
• Public Hearing – Ordinances 2nd Reading (Items 6a-6k): The Council heard second reading of ordinances and related resolutions concerning:
  • 6a-6c: Annexation 24009, Change of Zone 24025, and Conditional Annexation/Change of Zone Agreement for Falcon Heights (NebHoldings, LLC at NW 48th & W Holdrege Street).
  • 6d: Change of Zone 05061G for Nebraska Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association (increase gaming positions from 1,210 to 1,350 and modification to W. Denton Road access, Southwest Village PUD).
  • 6e: Miscellaneous 24007 – Vacating final plat of G & C 3rd Addition (2100 Magnum Circle and 235 S Coddington Avenue).
  • 6f: Text Amendment 24014 – Clarifying Lincoln Municipal Code 27.69.090 on permissible freestanding signage for religious assembly, schools, and community playhouses.
  • 6g-6k: Annexation 24001, Comprehensive Plan Amendment 24001, Change of Zone 24001, Annexation Agreement, and Use Permit 24001 for Firefox Properties, LLC (South 84th & Van Dorn Streets) – including up to 175,000 sq ft commercial and a 100-room hotel with waivers. No votes were taken; these items were placed on the public hearing docket and will proceed to third reading.
• Ordinances – 3rd Reading (Items 7a-7j):
  • 7a (24-129): Verizon Wireless tower space agreement (2201 S. 84th Street) – A verbal motion to delay for one week to December 16, 2024, passed 6-0.
  • 7b (24-131): Street and alley vacation (east of N. 24th & south of Y Street) – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7c (24-132): Amending Chapter 8.20 of the Municipal Code (Lincoln Food Code) to align with the Nebraska Pure Food Act – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7d (24-133): Creating classifications “Fire Investigator” and “Paramedic (Non-Suppression)” – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7e (24-134): Deleting 25 classifications from pay schedule (A prefix) – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7f (24-135): Deleting 11 classifications from pay schedule (C prefix) – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7g (24-136): Deleting classification “Workers’ Compensation Claims Specialist” (E prefix) – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7h (24-137): Deleting four classifications from pay schedule (M prefix) – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7i (24-138): Deleting two classifications from pay schedule (N prefix) – Passed, 6-0.
  • 7j (24-139): Deleting three classifications from pay schedule (W prefix) – Passed, 6-0.
• Resolutions – 1st Reading (Items 8a-8h): Introduced and placed on first reading:
  • 8a (24R-573): Appointing Eric Barth to Air Pollution Control Advisory Board.
  • 8b (24R-574): Appointing Hasan Khalil to Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Committee.
  • 8c (24R-575): Reappointing Joselyn Luedtke and Piyush Srivastav to Air Pollution Control Advisory Board.
  • 8d (24R-576): Approving Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 4 with Olsson, Inc. for 84th St. & US-6 Intersection Safety Project.
  • 8e (24R-577): Accepting report of new and pending claims (Nov 15-30, 2024).
  • 8f (24R-578): Resolution honoring Lori Seibel’s service.
  • 8g (24R-579): Approving Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (36-month, $4,160,712.93) and authorizing expenditure via State Contract #15764.
  • 8h (24R-580): Reappointing Chelsea Johnson to Lincoln Electric System Administrative Board.
• Pending List – Date Certain (Items 9a-9c): Items for Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. (95th & O Street) were delayed by verbal motion to December 16, 2024.
• Pending List – Removal (Items 10a-10h): The Council voted 5-0 (Councilmember Beckius abstained) to remove from the pending list eight items related to the Falcon Corner Redevelopment Project (FFF, LLC at NW 48th & I-80), including a comprehensive plan amendment, annexation, conditional zoning agreements, and TIF bond authorization. These items will be scheduled for future public hearings and action.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items, liquor licenses, and resolutions on the Consent Agenda and Public Hearing (Items 1-5) were approved 6-0.
• Third reading ordinances (Items 7b-7j) passed 6-0, with 7a delayed to December 16, 2024.
• The Falcon Corner pending list items (10a-10h) were removed from the pending list (5-0, Beckius abstained) and will be re-scheduled.
• The Sesostris Temple items (9a-9c) were continued to December 16, 2024.
• No action was taken on second reading ordinances (6a-6k); they will return for third reading.
• First reading resolutions (8a-8h) await a future vote.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:23 PM.

Note: The next regular City Council meetings will not occur on December 23 and December 30, 2024, due to the Christmas and New Year holidays.