Lincoln City Council Meeting - August 25, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 5:30 PM, with all members present except Councilmembers Beckius and Bowers. The meeting adjourned at 8:38 PM. The council considered a consent agenda of liquor license applications, a resolution on claims, a harm reduction dispensing machine contract, a keno lottery amendment, an appeal regarding tree removal in the Capitol Environs District, a mid-biennium budget amendment, and other ordinances and resolutions. Several items were adopted unanimously, with one appeal decided 4-1.

Consent Calendar

• Liquor License Applications (Items 4.a-4.g): All seven applications were approved unanimously (5-0). These included:
  • 25R-356: Sandy's Inc. dba Sandy's Class C liquor license at 110 S. 14th St.
  • 25R-357: Manager application of Michael Tucker for Sandy's.
  • 25R-358: Yard Investments, LLC dba Gate 25 special designated licenses for outdoor areas on Canopy Street on specific dates.
  • 25R-359: Yin Family, LLC dba Hiro 88 similar special designated licenses.
  • 25R-360: Home-Grown Industries Lincoln dba Mellow Mushroom similar licenses.
  • 25R-361: Landshark Realty Group, LLC dba Tank's Country similar licenses.
  • 25R-362: Landshark Realty Group, LLC dba The CORNer Bar similar licenses. All licenses were for the same outdoor area (308 ft x 74 ft) on Canopy Street from R to Q Street, on September 6, 13, 20, and October 4, 2025, with varying hours.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The agenda included an open microphone session for matters not on the agenda. No specific public comments were recorded in the agenda documents.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 25R-348: Accepting the report of new and pending claims against the City for August 1-14, 2025. Adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-349: Approving a contract with U-SELECT-IT HOLDINGS, INC. dba Intelligent Dispensing Solutions for Harm Reduction Dispensing Machines for the Health Department (Bid No. 25-058, 5-year term). Adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-350: Approving the First Amendment to the Keno lottery contract with EHPV Lottery Services, LLC to allow digital-on-premises keno tickets. Adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-351: Appeal by Stacy Asher of the Capital Environs Commission Certificate of Appropriateness for removal and replacement of street trees along Goodhue Boulevard in the Nebraska Capitol Environs District. The council adopted the resolution (upholding the Commission's decision) by a vote of 4-1.
• Ordinance 25R-341 / 25-77: Amending the 2024-2026 City of Lincoln Biennium Budget and authorizing the Municipal Annual Certification of Program Compliance for the One and Six Year Street and Highway Program. A substitute resolution was adopted 5-0, and the amended resolution was adopted 5-0. The related ordinance (25-77) transferring unspent appropriations between CIP projects passed 7-0.
• Ordinance 25-78: Approving Amendment No. 2 to the PCS Tower agreement with Verizon Wireless to extend the term. Passed 7-0.
• First Reading Items:
  • Resolution 25R-352: Appointing Phil Goddard to the Telecommunication/Cable Television Advisory Board (term expires July 1, 2026). Introduced.
  • Resolution 25R-355: Approving a contract with Spare Labs Inc. for ADA Compliant Paratransit and On-Demand Scheduling software (4-year term with renewal option). Introduced.
  • Ordinances 25-79 through 25-84: Various amendments to the Lincoln Municipal Code regarding police and fire pensions, disability leave, funeral leave, disability pension review, a change of zone (25-83: 5959 Tombstone Ridge Drive from R-3 to H-3), and traffic code revisions (minibike definition, increased speeding fines, reckless driving). All introduced on first reading.
• Pending List: Items 24-130, 24R-526, and 24R-527 (Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. change of zone and special permit at 95th and O Street) remain on the pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All seven liquor license applications approved (5-0 each).
• Resolution 25R-348 (claims report) adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-349 (harm reduction machines) adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-350 (keno digital tickets) adopted 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-351 (tree removal appeal) adopted 4-1.
• Ordinance 25R-341 (mid-biennium budget amendment) adopted as amended 5-0.
• Ordinance 25-77 (CIP transfer) passed 7-0.
• Ordinance 25-78 (Verizon tower amendment) passed 7-0.
• First reading items introduced; no final action taken.
• Pending list items continued without action.