Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - October 27, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 5:30 PM local time (the provided timestamp indicates 13:30 UTC, but the agenda states the meeting began at 5:30 PM). The council considered a wide range of items including appointments, service agreements, liquor licenses, labor contracts, annexation, zoning amendments, and ordinances. Most consent items were approved unanimously (7-0) with one dissenting vote on a parks board appointment. Public hearings were held on liquor licenses, claims, a labor contract, and an annexation. Several ordinances received final passage, and multiple resolutions and ordinances were introduced for future action. The meeting adjourned at 6:24 PM. No public comments were recorded in the agenda.

Consent Calendar

The following items were approved without discussion as part of the consent agenda (all votes 7-0 unless noted):

• 25R-435: Approving Carl Steffen as Chief Information Officer effective October 27, 2025. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-436: Appointing Maimoon Qureshi and Faisal Alsayid to the Mayor's Multicultural Advisory Committee, terms to expire September 1, 2026. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-437: Appointing Carter Grier and Jihye Seo to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, terms to expire June 1, 2026. (Adopted 6-1)
• 25R-438: Appointing Jolen Nguyen to the Commission on Women and Gender, term to expire September 1, 2026. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-445: Appointing Danielle Jefferis to the Charter Revision Commission for a partial term to expire July 15, 2026. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-439: Reappointing Suzanne Mealer, Tremaine Combs, Olga Kanne, Janet Goodman Banks, and Luke Peterson to the Mayor's Multicultural Advisory Committee, terms to expire September 18, 2028. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-440: Approving the Service Agreement between the City and Nebraska Department of Transportation for Responsible Charge and Project Management Services for 27th Street Bridge, Project No. LCLC-55(199), Control No. 13621. (Adopted 7-0)
• 25R-441: Approving Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 2 with HDR Engineering, Inc., for environmental services on the Cotner Blvd Rehab Project between O Street and Starr Street, Project No. LCLC-5237(4), Control No. 13498. (Adopted 7-0)
• Lincoln Electric System Financial and Operating Statement for September 2025: Placed on file.
• Clerk's Letter & Mayor's Approval of Resolutions and Ordinances passed by City Council on October 6, 2025: Placed on file.

Additionally, several petitions and communications were placed on file or referred to departments as noted in the agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were recorded in the agenda for the consent agenda public hearing or the open microphone session. The agenda indicates that the public comment period was open, but no speakers are listed.

Discussion Items

Liquor License Applications (Public Hearing):

• 25R-447: Application of Drury Nebraska, LLC dba Drury Plaza Hotel Lincoln Downtown for a Class I Liquor License at 920 Q Street. Approved for approval (7-0).
• 25R-448: Manager Application of Megan Clark for Drury Nebraska, LLC dba Drury Plaza Hotel Lincoln Downtown at 920 Q Street. Approved for approval (7-0).

Claims Report (Public Hearing):

• 25R-442: Accepting and approving the report of new and pending claims against the City for October 1 through October 15, 2025. Adopted (7-0).

Labor Contract and Related Ordinance (2nd Reading):

• 25R-443 and 25-103: Approving the labor contract between the City of Lincoln and the Lincoln M Class Employees Association (LMCEA) for a term effective August 14, 2025 through August 31, 2027, and amending the pay schedule for M-prefix classifications. These items had second reading; action scheduled for November 3, 2025.

Annexation and Conditional Zoning Agreement (2nd Reading):

• 25-104: Annexation 25004 - Application of Olsson to annex approximately 8.56 acres at NW 48th Street and W Vine Street.
• 25R-444: Approving Amendment No. 2 to the I-80 West Lincoln Business Center Conditional Annexation and Zoning Agreement between the City, Ringneck Development, LLC, and Lincoln Public Schools for property south of W. Holdrege Street and north of W. Vine Street. Both items had second reading; action scheduled for a future date.

Ordinances – 3rd Reading (All passed 7-0):

• 25-93: Amending the pay schedule for the employee group assigned to pay range prefixed by "W" by creating the classification "Dentist." (Passed 7-0)
• 25-94: Amending the pay schedule for the employee group assigned to pay range prefixed by "C" by creating the classification "Senior Community Outreach Specialist." (Passed 7-0)
• 25-95: Amending the pay schedule for the employee group assigned to pay range prefixed by "W" by deleting the classification "Chief Information Officer." (Passed 7-0) Note: This deletion aligns with the appointment of a new CIO under a different classification.
• 25-102: Amending multiple sections of Lincoln Municipal Code (2.76.130, 2.76.135, 2.76.153, 2.76.200, 2.76.380, 2.76.395, 2.76.400) regarding compensation, merit pay, shift differential, temporary assignment, sick leave, vacation leave, and leaves of absence. (Passed 7-0)

Resolutions – 1st Reading (Introduced, no action taken):

• 25R-449: Appointing Dr. Darla Eisenhauer and Mary Ann Stallings to the Community Health Endowment, terms to expire September 1, 2028.
• 25R-450: Reappointing Dr. Michael Ferris to the Community Health Endowment board, term to expire September 1, 2028.
• 25R-451: Approving Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 6 with JEO Consulting Group, Inc., for Lincoln Beal Slough Trail, Project No. TAP-55(182).
• 25R-452: Approving Professional Services Agreement Supplement No. 1 with Alfred Benesch & Company for construction engineering services for the traffic signal project at Cotner Blvd and Adams Street, Project No. LCLC-5245(2).
• 25R-453: Assessing public health nuisance abatement costs on 21 properties (list provided in agenda).
• 25R-454: Adopting Lincoln Electric System Annual Budget for 2026, effective January 1, 2026. (Request action date: 11/17/25)
• 25R-455: Adopting Lincoln Electric System Rate Schedules for 2026, effective January 1, 2026. (Request action date: 11/17/25)
• 25R-456: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 25002 - Application of Matodol, LLC to amend the Lincoln Lancaster County 2050 Comprehensive Plan to change approximately 113 acres from Tier I Priority C to Tier I Priority B, move approximately 42 acres into the Future Service Limit and change from Tier II to Tier I Priority B, and change the same 42 acres from Agriculture to Urban Residential on the Future Land Use Map, property at NE corner of S 98th & Pine Lake Road.

Ordinances – 1st Reading (Introduced, no action taken):

• 25-105: Amending pay schedule for "A" group to create classification "Technology Project Coordinator."
• 25-106: Amending pay schedule for "W" group to change pay range for "Broadband Conduit System Manager" from W04 to W02.
• 25-107: Creating new Chapter 9.70 of Lincoln Municipal Code entitled "Crypto Currency" to provide guidelines for cryptocurrency ATMs and penalties.
• 25-108, 25R-457, 25-109: Package of amendments related to wastewater lift stations: definitions, design standards, fees, and surcharges. These items had first reading.

Pending List:

• 24-130, 24R-526, 24R-527: Items related to Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. for a change of zone from AG to H-4, special permit for planned commercial development, and conditional zoning agreement at 95th and O Street. These remain on the pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items were approved (mostly 7-0; 25R-437 passed 6-1).
• Liquor license and manager application for Drury Plaza Hotel Lincoln Downtown approved unanimously.
• Claims report approved.
• Four ordinances on third reading (25-93, 25-94, 25-95, 25-102) all passed 7-0.
• Labor contract with LMCEA had second reading; action scheduled for November 3, 2025.
• Annexation 25004 and related resolution had second reading; action pending future meeting.
• Several resolutions and ordinances introduced on first reading will be considered at subsequent meetings.
• The Sesostris Temple zoning items remain on the pending list indefinitely.
• Meeting adjourned at 6:24 PM.

Note: No transcript or minutes were provided; this summary is based solely on the agenda.