Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - July 14, 2025

The Lincoln City Council convened on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 3:00 PM with all seven members present. The meeting included a consent agenda, public hearings on resolutions and ordinances, and final votes on several items. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 PM.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-272: Appointing Dan Marvin as Director of the Urban Development Department. (Adopted, 7-0)
• 25R-273: Reappointing James Michael Bowers to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Board of Health for a term to expire July 23, 2028. (Adopted, 6-1)
• 25R-293: Approving distribution of interest earnings on idle funds for May 2025. (Adopted, 7-0)
• Clerk's Letter & Mayor's Approval: Resolutions and ordinances passed on June 9, 2025. (Placed on file)
• Treasurer's Report: City cash on hand as of May 31, 2025. (Placed on file)
• 25R-295: Setting a public hearing for July 28, 2025, on a Class C liquor license application for Escape Lincoln, LLC. (Adopted, 7-0)
• Administrative Amendment: To Use Permit 108A, Pioneer Greens, increasing floor area on Lot 16 to 16,500 sq ft and total to 145,500 sq ft. (Placed on file)
• Reasonable Accommodation Request: Oxford House Orison's request referred to the Planning Commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were scheduled for this meeting on non-agenda items. Open microphone sessions are planned for July 21 and July 28, 2025.

Discussion Items

• Public Hearings on Resolutions (Items 4a-4c): The council held public hearings and then voted to approve three grant agreements (Minority Health Initiative, Refugee Health Promotion) and the dedication of a portion of South Haymarket Park as a perpetual public park.
• Public Hearings on Second Reading Ordinances (Items 5a-5h): Second readings were held for amendments to ambulance transportation code, a street name change, creation of an Information Services Department, and the Foxtail Meadows redevelopment project (including TIF and bond ordinance). No final votes were taken; these items are scheduled for action on July 21 or July 28, 2025.
• Third Reading Ordinances (Items 6a-6i): Final passage of nine items including the PAGE labor contract, building code exception for single-occupancy facilities, zone changes, battery energy storage system definitions, plat extension authority, and youth membership on advisory committees.
• First Reading Ordinances & Resolutions (Items 7a-7e, 8a-8m): First readings for appointments to advisory boards, a keno satellite approval, claims report, multiple pay schedule adjustments for various employee groups, and the central library bond and purchase agreement (up to $25,000,000 in bonds for a new central library at 1111 O Street). These items will receive further public hearings and votes.
• Pending List (Items 9a-9c): The Sesostris Temple rezoning and conditional zoning agreement remained on the pending list with no date certain for further hearing.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments: Dan Marvin confirmed as Urban Development Director (7-0). James Bowers reappointed to Board of Health (6-1).
• Grant Approvals: Minority Health Initiative grant (7-0) and Refugee Health Promotion grant (7-0) approved.
• Park Dedication: South Haymarket Park portion dedicated as public park (7-0).
• Labor Contract: Approved the PAGE labor contract and corresponding pay schedule adjustment (both 7-0).
• Zoning Changes: Zone change to H-3 at 91st & NE Parkway passed 5-2; zone change to O-3 at 2221 & 2231 S. 39th St. passed 7-0; battery energy storage system text amendment passed 6-1.
• Miscellaneous: Single-occupancy facility exception passed 7-0; Use Permit 55A expansion passed 7-0; final plat extension authority and youth membership amendments passed 7-0 each.
• Continued Items: Second reading ordinances (ambulance code, IT department, Foxtail Meadows) will be voted on in subsequent meetings. First reading of central library bond and purchase agreement to be scheduled for a public hearing.

Note: All votes are as recorded in the agenda. No minutes or transcript were available for detailed discussion.