Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - August 11, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. with all members present except Councilmember Weber. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, public hearings on resolutions and ordinances, and multiple votes on appointments, liquor licenses, tax levy, downtown revitalization TIF bonds, zoning changes, and other administrative items. The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-324: Appointing Brooke Imm to the Commission on Women and Gender for a partial term to expire November 23, 2025. (Adopted 6-0; A-95303)
• 25R-325: Reappointing Carlos Servan to the StarTran Advisory Board for a term to expire August 15, 2028. (Adopted 6-0; A-95304)
• 25R-342: Setting a public hearing date of Monday, August 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. on the Application of Sandy's Inc. dba Sandy's for a Class C Liquor License located at 110 South 14th Street. (Adopted 6-0; A-95305)
• 25R-335: Application of Governor Pillen Inaugural Committee for special designated licenses to cover an outdoor area (approx. 300 ft x 300 ft) at 1425 H Street on September 20 & 24, October 4 & 25, and November 1, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Adopted for approval 6-0; A-95306)

Discussion Items

• Claims Report (25R-327): A verbal motion (MTA#1) to move the claim of Brooklyn Polensky from denied to pending was adopted 5-1; the amended claims report was then adopted 6-0. (A-95307)
• Lincoln Airport Authority Tax Levy (25R-328): Approved 6-0. (A-95308)
• Downtown Lincoln Association BID Budget and Program of Work (25R-329): Approved 6-0. (A-95309)
• Tobacco Free Nebraska Grant (25R-330): Accepted a grant award of $588,750 from DHHS for tobacco prevention efforts from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027. (Adopted 6-0; A-95310)
• Appeal by Troy Bird (25R-331): Appeal of Planning Commission approval of Special Permit 1423M to add 9 lots at South 89th Street and HiMark Lane. (Denied, adopted resolution affirming Planning Commission 6-0; A-95311)
• Special Permit 25029 – St. Matthew's Church (25R-332): Early Childhood Care Facility for up to 85 children at 2325 South 24th Street. (Adopted 6-0; A-95312)
• Service Agreement with Capital Humane Society (25R-334): Approved for a 4-year term with option to renew for one additional 4-year term; MTA#1 accepted substitute Attachment 1 (Terms and Conditions) adopted 5-1, and resolution as amended adopted 6-0. (A-95313)
• Greater Downtown Principal Corridors Revitalization Project: A package of three related items:
  • 25R-319 (Comprehensive Plan Conformance): Approved 6-0. (A-95314)
  • 25-74 (Tax Allocation Bonds): Authorized issuance of bonds up to $31.2 million. (Passed 6-0; #21769)
  • 25R-320 (CIP Amendment): Appropriated an additional $29 million in TIF funds for the downtown corridors project. (Adopted 6-0; A-95315)
• 2nd Reading of Ordinances (Items 6.a through 6.e):
  • 25-75: Change of Zone 25015 (AGR to O-3) at Nebraska Parkway and Pine Lake Road.
  • 25-76: Change of Zone 25012 (R-2 to R-2 Landmark with historic overlay) at 1821 S. Pershing Road.
  • 25R-333: Special Permit 25027 for historic preservation garage at 1821 S. Pershing Road (Action date set for August 18, 2025).
  • (No final action taken at this meeting; all items received second reading.)
• 1st Reading of Resolutions and Ordinances (Items 8.a, 8.b, 9.a, 9.b, 9.c):
  • 25R-337: Reappointing Jose Soto to the Charter Revision Commission term expiring July 14, 2029.
  • 25R-338: Approving On-Call Construction Engineering Services task order with Alfred Benesch & Company for pavement repairs at Adams St, 36th to 49th St.
  • 25-78: Approving Amendment No. 2 to Verizon Wireless tower agreement.
  • 25R-341 and 25-77: Budget amendment and CIP transfer; public hearing set for August 18, 2025, action delayed to August 25, 2025.
• Pending List (Items 10.a, 10.b, 10.c): Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. zoning and special permit applications (24-130, 24R-526, 24R-527) remain on the pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items and most resolutions were adopted or passed by 6-0 votes.
• A verbal motion (MTA#1) on claims report (25R-327) passed 5-1.
• A verbal motion (MTA#1) on the Capital Humane Society agreement (25R-334) passed 5-1.
• The Greater Downtown Principal Corridors Revitalization Project (TIF bonds and CIP amendment) was approved, authorizing up to $31.2 million in bonds and $29 million in additional TIF appropriations.
• Several items (2nd reading ordinances, 1st reading items) were advanced without final action; public hearings and action dates are scheduled for future meetings (August 18, 2025 and August 25, 2025).
• The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m.