Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - October 6, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with all members present except Councilmember Shobe. The meeting adjourned at 3:50 PM. The council addressed a consent agenda, public hearings on liquor licenses, and several resolutions and ordinances including approval of the property tax levy, a labor contract with the Lincoln Police Union, and annexation and zoning items. The council also set hearing dates for future liquor license applications and reappointed board members.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-402: Reappointed Emily Deeker and Christopher Walsh to the StarTran Advisory Board for terms expiring October 20, 2028 (Adopted, 6-0).
• 25R-403: Approved an On-Call Professional Services Task Order Agreement with Schemmer Associates, Inc. for preliminary engineering services for the West South Street Bridge over Salt Creek (Adopted, 6-0).
• 25R-415: Approved an On-Call Professional Services Task Order Agreement with Felsburg Holt and Ullevig for environmental services for the West South Street Bridge over Salt Creek (Adopted, 6-0).
• 1.d: Placed on file the Clerk’s Letter & Mayor’s Approval of Resolutions and Ordinances passed by City Council on September 22, 2025.
• 25R-416: Set a hearing date of Monday, October 20, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. for the Class CK liquor license application of VAL Limited dba Lincoln Station Great Hall (Adopted, 6-0).
• 25R-417: Set a hearing date of Monday, October 20, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. for the Class C liquor license application of Frutylu, LLC dba Cuba en Frutylu (Adopted, 6-0).
• 25R-427: Set a hearing date of Monday, October 27, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. for the Class I liquor license application of Drury Nebraska, LLC dba Drury Plaza Hotel Lincoln Downtown (Adopted, 6-0).
• 2.d: Placed on file Administrative Amendment 25031 to Special Permit 19024, Reunion Ridge Community Unit Plan, approved by the Planning Director on September 22, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were recorded during the meeting. The agenda noted open microphone sessions will be held on October 20 and October 27, 2025.

Discussion Items

• Liquor Licenses (Public Hearing):
  • 25R-418: Application of Cornhusker Bar and Grill, LLC for a Class I liquor license at 1445 Cornhusker Highway – adopted for approval (6-0).
  • 25R-419: Manager application of Saad Khodida for Cornhusker Bar and Grill – adopted for approval (6-0).
  • 25R-420: Application of CMCC Partners, LLC dba Arbor Axe House for a Class A liquor license at 1821 N Street – adopted for approval (6-0).
  • 25R-421: Manager application of Connor Pedersen for Arbor Axe House – adopted for approval (6-0).
  • 25R-422 and 25R-423: Application of Mill Global, LLC dba Milieu Market for a Class C liquor license and manager application of Tamara Sloan – withdrawn by verbal motion (6-0).
• Property Tax Levy: 25R-407 establishing the property tax levy to fund the previously adopted budget for the City's 2025-26 fiscal year was adopted (6-0).
• Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Annexations, and Zoning (2nd Reading): Items 6.a through 6.i had their second reading and public hearing. Action dates are set for October 20, 2025, except where noted.
  • 6.a (25R-404): Comprehensive Plan Amendment 25005 to revise Priority Growth Areas and Future Service Limit on property near W. Pioneers Blvd. & S. Folsom Street.
  • 6.b (25-96): Annexation 25005 by Lincoln Public Schools of approximately 67.5 acres near S. Folsom St. and W. Pioneers Blvd.
  • 6.c (25-97): Annexation 25007 by Starostka-Lewis, LLC of approximately 0.54 acres at W. Avalanche Road and W. Beartooth Drive.
  • 6.d (25-98): Change of Zone 25021 by Starostka-Lewis, LLC from AG Agricultural to R-3 Residential on property at W. Avalanche Road and W. Beartooth Drive.
  • 6.e-6.i: Several related items for Highland Townhomes, LLC development at NW 13th Street and W Fletcher Avenue, including appeal of access management deviation (25R-406), use permit amendment for 72 multi-family units (25R-405), surplus declaration (25-99), change of zone (25-100), and real estate exchange agreement (25-101).
• Ordinances 3rd Reading:
  • 25-92: Amending the pay schedule for employees in pay ranges prefixed by "P" per the parties bargaining agreement – passed (6-0).
  • 25R-401: Approving the labor contract between the City and the Lincoln Police Union (LPU) for term effective August 14, 2025 through August 31, 2028 – adopted (6-0).
• Resolutions 1st Reading: Items 8.a through 8.c had first reading.
  • 25R-424: Reappointing Amber Pace, Isaac Remboldt, and Cody Schaaf to the Veterans Memorial Garden Advisory Council for terms expiring November 1, 2028.
  • 25R-425: Approving the 2025-2026 Joint Budget Committee Non-profit Childcare Assistance Funding recommendations (consent).
  • 25R-426: Accepting and approving the report of new and pending claims against the City for September 16 through September 30, 2025.
• Ordinances 1st Reading: Items 9.a through 9.d had first reading, including amendments to pay schedules and compensation plan sections.
• Pending List: Items 10.a-c (Change of Zone 24018, Special Permit 24030, and Conditional Zoning Agreement for Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. near 95th and O Street) remained on the pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items were adopted unanimously (6-0).
• Liquor licenses for Cornhusker Bar and Grill and Arbor Axe House were approved; Milieu Market applications were withdrawn.
• The property tax levy resolution (25R-407) was adopted unanimously.
• The Lincoln Police Union labor contract (25R-401) was approved unanimously.
• Pay schedule amendment for "P" employees (25-92) passed unanimously.
• Several items are scheduled for future action on October 20 and October 27, 2025.
• No meeting will be held on October 13, 2025 due to the Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day holiday.