Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2025

The Lincoln City Council held its regular meeting on March 3, 2025, at 3:00 PM. All seven council members were present, with Councilmember Bowers absent for the consent agenda votes. The meeting covered consent items, public hearings on liquor licenses and resolutions, a reconsideration of a previous claims report, and first readings of several ordinances and resolutions. Votes were taken on all items.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-57: Reappointed Emily Deeker and Michael Harpster to the Urban Design Committee for terms expiring February 1, 2028. (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95041)
• 25R-58: Reappointed Andrea Gebhart and David Quade to the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission for terms expiring January 9, 2028. (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95042)
• 25R-59: Reappointed David Johnson to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a term expiring February 1, 2030. (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95043)
• 25R-60: Approved a Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 1 with Schemmer Associates, Inc., for preliminary engineering services for the Waterford Trail Project (TAP-55(192), CN 13554). (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95044)
• 25R-61: Approved the selection of a contractor for the Adams Street from 36th to 49th Street Rehab Project (LCLC-5250(4), CN 13440). The council initially adopted the resolution 6-0, but then made a verbal motion to reconsider, which was approved 7-0. A substitute resolution was accepted and adopted as amended 7-0. (Final adoption A-95045)
• 25R-68: Set a hearing date of March 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM for Ken's Liquor Inc. dba Ken's Liquor to add an indoor area at 1350 North 48th Street. (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95046)
• 25R-69: Set a hearing date of March 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM for On the Run Quick Shop, LLC dba On the Run Quick Shop for a Class C Liquor License at 100 North 12th Street, Suite 102. (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95047)
• 25R-70: Set a hearing date of March 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM for LaughingCrabNE Inc. dba Laughing Crab for a Class I Liquor License at 6100 O Street, Suite 256. (Adopted 6-0, Bowers absent; A-95048)

Public Hearings - Liquor Resolutions

• 25R-71A: Approved the application of KEDDS Enterprises Inc. dba DaVinci's for a Class C Liquor License at 4344 O Street. (Adopted 7-0; A-95049)
• 25R-72A: Approved the manager application of Joe Armstrong for KEDDS Enterprises Inc. dba DaVinci's. (Adopted 7-0; A-95050)
• 25R-73A: Approved the application of McFarland Family Farms, LLC dba Mac's Creek Winery & Brewery for special designated licenses for the Haymarket Farmers Market on specific dates in 2025. (Adopted 7-0; A-95051)

Public Hearings - Resolutions

• 25R-62: Accepted and approved the report of new and pending claims against the City for February 1-15, 2026. (Adopted 7-0; A-95052)
• 25R-63: Approved the amended and restated City of Lincoln's employee Flexible Benefit Plan, Health Flexible Spending Account Plan and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Plan effective January 1, 2025. (Adopted 7-0; A-95053)
• 25R-64: Accepted the Air Quality Program Grant (105 Funds) Workplan for the 2025-2028 Federal Fiscal Years. (Adopted 7-0; A-95054)
• 25R-65: Approved the contract renewal with Oracle America, Inc. for technical support services for a two-year term. (Adopted 7-0; A-95055)
• 25R-66: Approved Comprehensive Plan Conformance 24020 for Hawley Hamlet, LLC, to amend a conservation easement at N. 26th Street and U Street. (Adopted 7-0; A-95056)
• 25R-67: Approved Use Permit 17007A for 1081 Properties, LLC, to amend an existing use permit for expansion and development at NW 1st Street and W Harvest Drive, including a height waiver. (Adopted 7-0; A-95057)

Reconsideration

• 25R-52: The council reconsidered the previous denial of a claim from Larry Carder. A motion to reconsider was approved 7-0, followed by a motion to remove the claim from the denied list and place it on pending, approved 7-0. The resolution was adopted as amended 7-0.

First Reading Items

The following items were introduced for first reading and will be subject to a future public hearing and vote:

• 25R-71: Approval of Garage Beers LLC dba Liquid Assets Sports Bar and Grill as a keno satellite at 2755 Jamie Lane.
• 25R-72: Approval of a construction contract for signal replacements at intersections of S. 9th & A, S. 9th & D, S. 10th & A, and S. 10th & D Streets.
• 25R-73: Pre-Existing Special Permit 23K for Nebraska Wesleyan University to expand its campus to include the former Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority property at 2541 N 50th Street.
• 25R-74: Appeal by James Emmerich of Planning Commission approval of Special Permit 632B for Abbott Estates community unit plan. The council made a verbal motion to withdraw the bill, approved 7-0.
• 25R-76: Directing submittal to voters of a ballot question for the May 6, 2025 general election to amend Title 11 to prohibit discrimination in housing based on lawful source of income.
• 25R-77: Correcting the legal description of a Use Permit Area by repealing and replacing Resolution No. A-94987.
• 25-8: Amending the pay schedule for the "M" pay range for class 3161 "Emergency Communications Head" from M05 to M07.
• 25-9: Amending the pay schedule for the "W" pay range for class 2255 "Human Rights Manager" from W02 to W04.
• 25-10: Text Amendment 25001 to amend Lincoln Municipal Code Section 27.62.110 regarding food and drink establishments and alcohol sales in B-2 and B-5 districts.
• 25-11: Annexation 25001 of approximately 67 acres southwest of S 84th Street and Rokeby Road (related to 25-12).
• 25-12: Change of Zone 25004 from AG Agricultural to R-3 Residential for approximately 60 acres at the same location.
• 25-13: Change of Zone 25001 from H-2, H-3, and R-2 to R-T Residential Transition at 1045 N 35th Street.
• 25-14: Change of Zone 25002 from H-2 to H-3 Highway Commercial at 7600 N 70th Street for Lincoln Sports Foundation.
• 25-15: Change of Zone 25003 from B-1 and B-3 to H-2 Highway Business for properties around 48th and O Street.
• 25-16: Text Amendment 25002 to eliminate the H-1 district and revise H-2, H-3, I-3, and H-4 districts (related to 25R-75 and 25-17).
• 25R-75: Related resolution for Text Amendment 25002 adopting design standards for H-2 Mixed-Use Corridor District.
• 25-17: Text Amendment 25002 related amendments to sidewalk space and landscape regulations in certain districts.

Pending List (Extended)

• Items 24-129 (Verizon tower agreement), 24-130, 24R-526, and 24R-527 (Sesostris Temple zoning and special permit) remained on the pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items were adopted with 6-0 votes (Bowers absent), except 25R-61 which was reconsidered and adopted as amended 7-0.
• All liquor resolutions were adopted 7-0.
• All public hearing resolutions were adopted 7-0.
• Reconsideration of 25R-52 resulted in the claim of Larry Carder being moved to pending, and the resolution adopted as amended 7-0.
• Bill 25R-74 (appeal of Special Permit 632B) was withdrawn by a 7-0 vote.
• All first reading items were introduced for future consideration.

Note: The raw transcript for this meeting was not provided, so the summary is based solely on the agenda and action sheet.