Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting – May 19, 2025

The Lincoln City Council convened on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. for a Board of Equalization meeting followed by a Regular City Council meeting. The Council handled a consent agenda, public hearings for liquor licenses and resolutions, ordinance readings, and pending items. All votes were unanimous (7-0) except where noted. The meeting included the administration of the oath of office to re-elected Council Members Tom Beckius, Bennie Shobe, and Sandra Washington, after which the New City Council began its session.

Board of Equalization

• The Board of Equalization approved six maintenance business improvement districts (College View, Havelock, North 27th Street, South Street, University Place, and West O Street), each with a 7-0 vote. The meeting adjourned at 5:36 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-196: Appointing Tamara Sloan to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Board of Health for a partial term expiring April 15, 2027. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-197: Approving a Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 5 with JEO Consulting Group Inc. for preliminary engineering for the Lincoln Beal Slough Trail. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-198: Approving an On-Call Professional Services Task Order Agreement with Alfred Benesch & Company for the Adams St. from 36th St. to 49th St. Rehab Project. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-202: Approving a contract with Thomson Reuters for West Proflex software for a four-year term (plus optional year). (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-204 through 25R-208: Setting hearing dates for liquor license applications: Harry's Wonder Bar (June 2), Residence Inn manager (June 2), Venue 5 Twenty-Two (June 9), Blue Collar Brewing Company (June 2), and Maverik 768 (June 9). All adopted 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The agenda scheduled open microphone sessions for May 12 and May 19, 2025. No public comments are recorded in the agenda or minutes.

Public Hearing – Liquor Resolutions

• 25R-209 through 25R-220: Approved liquor license and manager applications for Valentino's (two locations), Super C 12, Memorial Stadium, Bob Devaney Sports Center, and Hibner Stadium. All adopted 7-0 for approval.

Public Hearing – Resolutions

• 25R-199: Grant agreement with NEHA-FDA for $51,500.00 to support the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s retail program standards. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-200: Grant agreement with Nebraska DHHS for $132,175.52 to transform public health system capacity. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-201: Establishing a new rate schedule for the Lincoln Solid Waste System to cover increased disposal fees due to State Statute 13-2042 (LB 247) for July and August 2025 and FY 2025-2026. (Adopted 7-0)

Ordinances – 3rd Reading

• 25-37: Amending the pay schedule to create the classification “City Facilities Manager” (pay range prefixed by “M”). Passed 7-0.

Pending List – Date Certain

• 25-8: Amending the pay range for “Emergency Communications Head” from M05 to M07. A verbal motion to remove from the pending list and suspend rules to hold a public hearing on June 2, 2025, was approved 7-0.

New City Council – First Reading Items

• The New Council began after administering the oath of office to re-elected members Tom Beckius, Bennie Shobe, and Sandra Washington, and electing Council Chair and Vice Chair.
• 25R-221: Appointing Alex Toalson to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for a term expiring April 27, 2028. (First reading, no vote yet)
• 25R-222: Resolution acknowledging Logan Krabbenhoft’s athletic achievement at the 2025 Lincoln Public Schools Championship for Golf. (First reading)
• 25R-223: Accepting and approving the report of new and pending claims against the City for May 1-15, 2025. (First reading)
• 25-38 through 25-41: First reading of ordinances related to Restaurant Occupation Tax amendments, pay schedule changes for Public Safety Dispatchers, Emergency Communications Operations Manager, and an equipment lease purchase agreement for grounds maintenance equipment ($787,018.63).

Key Outcomes

• All votes on action items were unanimous (7-0) unless otherwise noted.
• The Board of Equalization approved six maintenance business improvement districts.
• The City Council approved all consent agenda items, liquor licenses, grant agreements, solid waste rate increase, and pay schedule amendment (25-37).
• Bill 25-8 was moved from the pending list and scheduled for a public hearing on June 2, 2025.
• Several items (24-129, 24-130, 24R-526, 24R-527) remain on the pending list with no date certain.
• The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.