Lincoln City Council Meeting – November 17, 2025

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM. All members were present except Councilmember Carlson. The meeting began with the Mayor's Award of Excellence presented to Sarah Mason from the Health Department for Sustainability and Resilience. The council approved a consent agenda, multiple liquor licenses, resolutions regarding blight and tax increment financing, and several ordinances. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• 25R-458: Certification of Street Superintendent for 2025 (Adopted, 6-0; A-95439).
• 25R-459: GolfXperiences LLC dba GolfX as keno satellite (MTA #1 adopted, 6-0; adopted as amended, 6-0; A-95440).
• 25R-460: 12th Street Pub Inc. dba The Tap Sports Bar as keno satellite (MTA #1 adopted, 6-0; verbal MTA #2 to correct address adopted, 6-0; adopted as amended, 6-0; A-95441).
• 25R-461: Professional Services Agreement Supplemental No. 3 for Randolph St. rehabilitation (Adopted, 6-0; A-95442).
• 25R-478, 25R-479, 25R-480, 25R-481: Assessment resolutions for Downtown Core BID, Downtown BID, Downtown Maintenance District, and West Haymarket Maintenance District for Board of Equalization on November 24, 2025 (All adopted, 6-0; A-95443 through A-95446).
• 1.i, 1.j, 1.k: Affidavits of mailing (Board of Equalization and weed abatement) and Clerk's Letter placed on file.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were recorded at the open microphone session or during the consent agenda.

Public Hearing – Liquor Resolutions

All liquor license applications were approved unanimously (6-0):

• 25R-482: Sakura Japanese Restaurant – Class C liquor license (A-95447).
• 25R-483: Manager Lixia Wu for Sakura (A-95448).
• 25R-484 through 25R-489: Special designated licenses for an outdoor event under the bridge at 8th and O Street on December 7, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM for Wax Buffalo, Occidental/Kate Martin, Tavern on the Square, Bierhaus Maischaler, The Thursday Club, and Fleetwood (A-95449 through A-95454).

Public Hearing – Resolutions

• 25R-462: Declared area (N. 56th to N. 27th, Superior to Holdrege) blighted and substandard (Adopted, 6-0; A-95455).
• 25R-463: Declared same area extremely blighted (Adopted, 6-0; A-95456).
• 25R-465: Authorized assignment of tax allocation bonds to accredited investors (Adopted, 6-0; A-95457).

Public Hearing – Resolutions Action Only

• 25R-454: Adopted Lincoln Electric System 2026 Annual Budget (Initially adopted 5-0 with Duden absent; later reconsidered and adopted 6-0; A-95458).
• 25R-455: Adopted Lincoln Electric System 2026 Rate Schedules (Same reconsideration; adopted 6-0; A-95459).
• 25R-456: Comprehensive Plan Amendment 25002 for 113 acres at S. 98th & Pine Lake Road (Adopted, 6-0; A-95460).

Ordinances – 3rd Reading & Related Resolutions

• 25-105: Amended pay schedule for employee group (Passed, 6-0; #21800).
• 25-106: Amended pay range for Broadband Conduit System Manager (Passed, 6-0; #21801).
• 25-107: Created new Chapter 9.70 on cryptocurrency ATMs (MTA #1 adopted as amended, 6-0; passed as amended, 6-0; #21802).
• 25-108: Text Amendment 25012 adding wastewater lift station regulations (Passed, 6-0; #21803).
• 25R-457: Related design standards amendment (Adopted, 6-0; A-95461).
• 25-109: Added wastewater lift station surcharge and operating fee (Passed, 6-0; #21804).

Ordinances – 2nd Reading

• 25-110: Repealing Chapter 5.26 Amusement Devices (2nd reading).
• 25-111: Amending permit amount for lottery/raffle to $15,000 (2nd reading).

Resolutions – 1st Reading

• 25R-490: Reappointments to Commission on Women and Gender (terms to 2028).
• 25R-491: Claims report for October 16-31, 2025.
• 25R-492, 25R-493: Interlocal and LPA agreements for 33rd Street and Cornhusker Highway project.
• 25R-494: Amendment One with Spare Labs Inc. for paratransit software.
• 25R-495: Dissolution of Lincoln/Lancaster County EMS Oversight Authority.
• 25R-496 through 25R-503: Interlocal agreements for Advanced Life Support services with Waverly, Palmyra, Greenwood, Douglas, Cortland, Clatonia, Bennet, and Adams (terms September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2035).

Ordinances – 1st Reading

• 25-112: Amending Food Code to align with 2022 FDA Food Code.
• 25-113: Annexation of 9.80 acres at W Old Cheney and SW 12th Street.
• 25-114: Change of zone to R-3 Residential for same property.

Pending List

• Items 24-130, 24R-526, 24R-527 (Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. at 95th and O Street) remain on pending list with no date certain.

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous (6-0 or 5-0 with later reconsideration to 6-0).
• Lincoln Electric System 2026 budget and rates approved.
• Comprehensive Plan Amendment 25002 approved.
• Multiple liquor licenses and special designated licenses approved for December 7 event.
• Blight and extremely blight declarations for area near N. 27th-56th and Superior-Holdrege.
• Cryptocurrency ATM regulations passed.
• Wastewater lift station regulations and fees adopted.
• Seven interlocal agreements for ALS services approved.
• Dissolution of EMS Oversight Authority approved.
• Next meetings: November 24, 2025 (Board of Equalization hearings); no meeting on December 1 due to Thanksgiving.