Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - April 21, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met on April 21, 2025, at 3:00 PM and took action on a wide range of items including appointments, liquor licenses, planning and zoning amendments, contracts, and pending items. All council members were present. The meeting adjourned at 3:53 PM.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-126: Appointed David Landis to the Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission for a partial term to expire January 9, 2027. (Adopted, 7-0)
• 25R-127: Approved Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 2 with Alfred Benesch & Co. for preliminary engineering on A Street (6th to 17th Street), Project LCLC-5220(7). (Adopted, 7-0)
• 25R-131: Set the Board of Equalization Hearing date for May 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM for multiple Maintenance Improvement Districts. (Adopted, 7-0)
• 25R-132: Rescinded prior approval of interest earnings distribution and approved corrected distribution for month ended February 28, 2025. (Adopted, 7-0)
• Clerk's Letter & Mayor's Approval: Resolutions and ordinances passed on April 4, 2025 placed on file. (Placed on file)
• 25R-133: Set hearing date for May 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM for Class DK liquor license application of CJS416, LLC dba The Thursday Club. (Adopted, 7-0)
• 25R-134: Set hearing date for May 5, 2025 for manager application of Angela M. Fitzgerald for Fareway Stores Inc. dba Fareway Meat Market 179. (Adopted, 7-0)

Public Hearings – Liquor Licenses

• 25R-135: Application of Textbook 21, LLC dba Residence Inn for a Class C liquor license at 850 R Street. (Adopted for approval, 7-0)
• 25R-136: Manager Application of Aaron Stitt for same location. (Adopted for approval, 7-0)
• 25R-137: Application of SMG Food & Beverage, LLC dba Pinnacle Bank Arena for special designated licenses for outdoor area at Pinewood Bowl on multiple dates in 2025. (Adopted for approval, 7-0)
• 25R-138: Application of Jacob Thiessen dba Hub Cafe for special designated licenses at Jayne Snyder Trails Center on four dates in 2025. (Adopted for approval, 7-0)

Public Hearing – Resolution

• 25R-128: Approved contract with Industrial Services, Inc. for Dead Animal Removal for a four-year term with renewal option. (Adopted, 7-0)

Public Hearings – Ordinances (2nd Reading)

The following ordinances had their second reading; no vote was taken at this meeting:

• 25-26: Amending pay schedule to create classification "Emergency Communications Technology Specialist."
• 25-27: Text Amendment 24015 to clarify definitions for clubs, floor area, recreational facilities, salvage yards, and off-premises signs.
• 25-28: Change of Zone 25006 from AGR Agricultural Residential to R-1 Residential at 6620 Almira Lane (Charles and Amy Smith).
• 25-29: Change of Zone CZ24022 to apply historic overlay in downtown area (South 6th to 9th Streets, J to N Streets).
• 25-30: Street and Alley Vacation 24008 for alley east of S. 16th Street and north of Dakota Circle (Gail McNair and others).

Resolutions – 1st Reading

The following resolutions were introduced (first reading) and will be considered at a future meeting:

• 25R-139: Appointing Andy Barry to the Charter Revision Commission (partial term to July 15, 2028).
• 25R-140: Appointing Lynn Ayers to the Citizen Police Advisory Board (term to November 17, 2027).
• 25R-141: Appointing Drake Bray to the Veterans Memorial Garden Advisory Council (term to November 1, 2027).
• 25R-142: Appointing Isaac Remboldt to the Veterans Memorial Advisory Council (partial term to November 1, 2025).
• 25R-144: Clarifying and reappointing John Goldrich to the Lincoln Commission on Human Rights (term to December 31, 2025).
• 25R-145: Approving Joint Funding Agreement with Lower Platte South NRD for water quality monitoring by USGS at Leshara (2025-2030).
• 25R-146: Approving On-Call Construction Engineering Services Task Order with Speece Lewis Engineers for 56th Street, Van Dorn to Spruce Rehab Project.
• 25R-147: Accepting report of new and pending claims against the City for April 1-15, 2025.
• 25R-148: Appeal of Special Assessment Revolving Committee recommendation regarding Water District at Fletcher Avenue from N. 7th to N. 14th Streets. (No action recorded; two draft resolutions – one to deny, one to approve – were presented.)

Ordinance – 1st Reading

• 25-31: Amending Section 3.16.010 to continue the local option sales tax rate increase by 1/4 percent (from 1.5% to 1.75%) for eight years to fund street rehabilitation and construction. (First reading introduced.)

Pending List – Date Certain

• 25R-112: 101 North 14th Street Redevelopment Project with Tallgrass Development, Inc. – delayed to May 12, 2025 (verbal motion from April 14).

Pending List – No Date Certain

• 25-8: Amending pay schedule for Emergency Communications Head (class 3161) from M05 to M07 – moved to pending list on April 7.
• 24-129: Agreement for tower space with Verizon at 2201 S. 84th Street – on pending list.
• 24-130, 24R-526, 24R-527: Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. items (change of zone, special permit, conditional zoning agreement at 95th & O Street) – on pending list.

Public Comments

No open microphone session was scheduled for this meeting. The next sessions are April 14 and April 28, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items and liquor license applications approved unanimously (7-0).
• Dead animal removal contract awarded to Industrial Services, Inc.
• Five ordinances had second reading; final adoption expected at a future meeting.
• Nine resolutions and one ordinance introduced on first reading.
• One redevelopment project delayed to May 12, 2025.
• Multiple items remain on pending list without a specific return date.