Lincoln City Council Regular Meeting - April 27, 2026

The Lincoln City Council met on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM. All seven members were present. The council considered reports, petitions, liquor license applications, resolutions, and ordinances, all of which were approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:53 PM.

Consent Calendar

• The 2024-2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, affidavits of mailing for Maintenance Improvement District Board of Equalization meetings, and Lincoln Electric Financial and Operating Statements for January through March 2026 were placed on file without objection.
• Three items were referred to the Planning Department: Special Permit 1219P (Bryan Medical Center East Campus addition), Change of Zone 22023A (Turbine Flats PUD amendment), and Special Permit 26017 (Airgas commercial storage). No action was taken by the council as these referrals are administrative.

Discussion Items

• The council held a public hearing and voted on 16 liquor license applications (Items 4.a through 4.p). All were adopted for approval by a 7-0 vote. These included new Class I licenses for Ybor (Good Life Community Development) and Good Evans (Pepperjax Development), manager applications, and special designated licenses for an outdoor event on O Street between 14th Street and Centennial Mall on April 30, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for establishments including Brass Rail, Pita & Naan, The Junction, Iguana's Pub/Voda Lounge, Bodega's Alley, Duffy's Tavern, Itsumo Ramen, Bourbon Theatre, Fat Toad Pub, Sandy's, and Yia Yia's.
• Resolution 26R-167 accepting the report of new and pending claims for April 1-15, 2026 was adopted 7-0.
• Resolution 26R-179 for temporary use of the State Highway System for a City of Lincoln special event was adopted 7-0.
• Ordinance 26-38 (Third Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement between West Haymarket JPA and the City) had second reading; no vote was taken at this meeting.
• Four ordinances received third reading and were passed:
  • 26-34 (Text Amendment 26005) allowing accessory buildings in AGR district in side yard up to 5 feet from side lot line – passed 7-0 (#21865).
  • 26-35 (Text Amendment 26004) amending sidewalk cafe regulations in LMC Chapter 14.50 – passed 7-0 (#21866).
  • 26-36 (Text Amendment 26004) amending alcoholic liquor regulations for sidewalk cafes in LMC Chapter 5.04 – passed 5-0 (#21867).
  • 26-37 (Text Amendment 26004) removing restaurant requirement in O-1 districts to be within mixed-use buildings – passed 5-0 (#21868).
• Resolution 26R-166 (Text Amendment 26004) adopting Sidewalk Cafe Design Standards was adopted 7-0 (A-95703).
• Four resolutions had first reading (no action taken, to be considered later):
  • 26R-186: Agreement with NDOT for Responsible Charge Hours for 33rd and Cornhusker Viaduct Project.
  • 26R-187: Professional Services Agreement with NDOT for construction engineering on Cornhusker Hwy.
  • 26R-188: Appeal by Robert R. Otte for Black Forest Homeowners' Association regarding Special Permit 26010 (Willowmere Forest Estates CUP).
  • 26R-189: Service Subscription Agreement with Aurigo Software Technologies for renewal.
• Three ordinances had first reading:
  • 26-39: Creating Cybersecurity Analyst classification (pay schedule amendment).
  • 26-40: Text Amendment 26006 to clarify conversion of existing structures to two-family dwellings in R-1/R-2 districts.
  • 26-41: Creating Chapter 9.80 "Lincoln Minimum Wage Ordinance" to establish a minimum wage.
• Pending list items 24-130, 24R-526, and 24R-527 (Sesostris Temple Holding Corp. zone change and special permit) were extended one week.

Key Outcomes

• All liquor license applications were approved unanimously (7-0).
• All ordinances and resolutions subject to vote passed or were adopted unanimously.
• No public comments were recorded.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:53 p.m.

Note: The meeting start time in the agenda (5:30 PM) differs from the instruction-assumed timestamp (13:30 UTC). The agenda time was used for this summary.