Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - July 21, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met in regular session on July 21, 2025, at 3:00 PM. All members were present except Councilmember Shobe. The council considered a wide range of items including appointments, liquor licenses, pay schedule adjustments, a central library project, and the Foxtail Meadows redevelopment. All votes taken during the meeting were unanimous (6-0).

Consent Calendar

• Reports of City Officers (Items 1a-1e): Reappointed Denise Alkali and Jenika Long to the Aging Partners Areawide Advisory Council (25R-288); reappointed Tom Beckius and Sandra Washington to the Public Building Commission (25R-289); reappointed Sandra Washington to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (25R-290); approved BDF LLC dba Captain Jack's as a keno satellite at 140 N. 12th St (25R-291); placed on file the Clerk's Letter and Mayor's Approval of resolutions and ordinances from June 30, 2025. All adopted 6-0.
• Petitions and Communications (Items 2a-2b): Placed on file Administrative Amendment 25014 (parking lot conversion at N 27th and Cornhusker) and Administrative Amendment 25018 (basement space in Village Gardens PUD). Referred to Planning Department: Special Permit 25029 (early childhood care facility at 2325 S 24th St), Special Permit 25027 (garage waiver at 1821 S Pershing Rd), Change of Zone 25012 (historic landmark), and Change of Zone 25015 (AGR to O-3 at Nebraska Pkwy and Pine Lake Rd).
• Claims Report (Item 5a): Resolution 25R-292 accepting new and pending claims for June 16-30, 2025, adopted 6-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were recorded during the meeting. The agenda included an open microphone session for matters not on the agenda, but no comments were noted in the available records.

Discussion Items

• Liquor Licenses (Items 4a-4d): The council held a public hearing. Applications of GNS Corporation dba Tobacco Shack for a Class D license (25R-296) and manager Angela Coffey (25R-297) were adopted for denial, 6-0. Applications of KEDDS Enterprises Inc. dba DaVinci's for a Class C license (25R-298) and manager Joe Armstrong (25R-299) were adopted for approval, 6-0.
• Central Library Project (Items 6k, 6l, 6m): Ordinances 25-69 (authorizing up to $25,000,000 in improvement bonds for a new central library) and 25-70 (approving purchase of 1111 O St) received second reading. Resolution 25R-294 (amending CIP for the project) was also on second reading; action was deferred to July 28, 2025.
• Pay Schedule Ordinances (Items 6a-6j): Eleven ordinances (25-59 through 25-68) adjusting pay schedules for employee groups prefixed N, X, E, W, DSS, B, A, C, and F received second reading. No vote was taken on July 21; final adoption will occur at a later meeting.
• Ambulance Code Update (Item 7a): Ordinance 25-47 amending Title 7 of the Lincoln Municipal Code (Ambulance Transportation Code) passed on third reading, 6-0.
• Street Name Change (Item 7b): Ordinance 25-57 changing Williamson Drive to S 28th Street (north of Yankee Hill Rd) passed on third reading, 6-0.
• Information Services Department (Items 7c-7d): Ordinance 25-48 creating a new Information Services Department and Resolution 25R-255 approving the interlocal agreement with the county were passed/adopted on third reading, 6-0.
• Foxtail Meadows Redevelopment (Items 7e-7h): The council adopted four related items: 25R-276 (Comprehensive Plan conformance), 25R-278 (First Amendment to redevelopment agreement with SOFO Housing), 25R-279 (CIP amendment appropriating $5,891,440 in TIF), and 25-58 (ordinance authorizing tax allocation bonds). All passed 6-0.
• Resolutions on First Reading (Items 8a-8j): Introduced without action: 25R-300 (appointment to Library Board), 25R-301 (StarTran Advisory Board), 25R-303 and 25R-304 (Telecommunication/Cable TV Advisory Board), 25R-305 (grant application for Jensen Park ballfields), 25R-306 (construction services agreement for signal project), 25R-307 (claims report July 1-15), 25R-308 (health department sub-grant), 25R-309 (police property storage remodel CIP), and 25R-310 (reasonable accommodation for Oxford House).
• Ordinance on First Reading (Item 9a): 25-71 (amending Glynoaks Plaza PUD to increase commercial floor area and add 100 dwelling units) was introduced.
• Pending List (Items 10a-10c): The Sesostris Temple zoning and special permit items were extended one week.

Key Outcomes

• All votes on July 21 were 6-0 (Councilmember Shobe absent).
• Tobacco Shack liquor license denied; DaVinci's liquor license approved.
• Foxtail Meadows Phase I redevelopment approved with $5,891,440 in Tax Increment Financing.
• Pay schedule ordinances for multiple employee groups progressed to second reading; final passage pending.
• Central library project advanced; final CIP amendment vote scheduled for July 28, 2025.