[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6532796,"mediaKeyId","3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d","parentId",3806850,"title","Council votes: appointments, liquor licenses, conduit bond for Eastmont and other consent items; LES budget and rate votes continued","audioSeconds",2243,"startMs",1567000,"endMs",3810000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d&start=1567&end=3810","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d/thumbnail_1567000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6532796/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/Council-votes-appointments-liquor-licenses-conduit-bond-for-Eastmont-and-other-consent-items-LES-budget-and-rate-votes-continued","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532796-54c6fc5cb48af52ca98238a55033518b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174435&Signature=FUpvasxjLyEbHVJbuk0zh20DKFj2Z-BUgo5rH7sL0b8Uhi5Z9LI3TwIfRokaj-kWqfty3Ni~UM6~Gb1ZtmwgtS~ncXvElsavytG0fmXYc6GxkKFpoRxg3j3eH7idloBVN2yhO5cPuHX0SRYwuc2w4Yyh-VXEF3UtEpD731n3hv~4lSMisP-lFTwMnezhLf1V7ZX7XSux1FsmlrXWRiw12p1ub~-DuiHtabS~o2pxfd~XORxQYb3FDPC02xUkhIKiAW-7zhTRw7YfeVJLYSNaaU6l2gy9UBUEa2EICaW5pJsmMs5x6kJftOfaPYoZ2Yj0cE5zoshlfm8ccDxnFI-9Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lincoln, NE","date","2025-06-09T23:02:29Z","article","The Lincoln City Council carried a slate of consent and routine items on June 9, approving appointments, liquor license matters, a conduit bond resolution for a nonprofit retirement operator and several pay‑schedule adjustments.

Key votes and outcomes

- Appointments (Item 1): The council approved the mayor’s appointments to boards and advisory groups. Motions carried 6–0 to appoint Andrew Dominguez Farias to the Mayor’s Commission on Women and Gender (partial term to 11/23/2027), Jackie Greenfield and Nate Woods to the Aging Partners Area‑Wide Advisory Council (terms to 06/30/2028), and Dr. Rolly Saraf to the Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Committee (partial term to 09/18/2027).

- Consent finance and administrative items (Items 1e, 2a–2d): The council approved distribution of interest earnings for short‑term investments (item 1e) and carried items 2a–2d as submitted (motions carried 6–0).

- Liquor licenses and special designated licenses (Section 4, Items 4a–4e): The council approved new and amended liquor license premises and manager applications and several special designated outdoor area licenses (motion carried 6–0). Applicants included Maverick Inc. (class D license) and venue expansions and event area requests for local businesses.

- Conduit bond resolution for Christian Retirement Homes / Eastmont (Item 5a): The council adopted a resolution authorizing issuance of revenue and refunding bonds (series 2025, in one or more series) in a principal amount not to exceed $43,000,000 to make a loan to Christian Retirement Homes, Inc. (Eastmont) for refinancing and improvements at its independent living campus. The motion carried 6–0. LES staff later explained to council how conduit financing operates and that the city assumes no repayment liability for conduit bonds.

- Personnel and pay schedule changes (Section 7): The council approved several pay schedule updates for emergency communications classifications, promoted dispatcher pay ranges and adjusted the emergency communications operations manager pay range; all motions carried unanimously. The council also approved an equipment lease purchase agreement for grounds maintenance equipment in the amount of $787,018.63.

- LES budget and rate items (Items 5b and 5c): After an extended presentation and public comment on LES’s revised 2025 budget and proposed midyear 4% rate increase, the council carried motions to continue the public hearing and delay votes on the LES revised 2025 budget and the LES revised rate schedules to June 23, 2025 (motions carried 6–0).

Why it matters: The consent approvals advance routine city business, formalize appointments to advisory bodies and enable a conduit, tax‑exempt financing path for nonprofit senior housing improvements (Eastmont). LES remains under review after public comment and technical questions; the council’s decision to continue the LES items allows additional public input and data to be provided before votes affecting rates.

What councilors said: Most motions were adopted by unanimous roll call. Several council members thanked appointees and staff; council members also asked LES staff detailed questions about capacity accreditation, potential penalties under the SPP tariff and measures to protect low‑income customers.

Next steps: Items carried on consent are effective per standard council rules. LES returns with the budget and rate proposals and supplemental materials at the June 23 continued public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lincoln City Council Meeting June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its June 9 meeting the Lincoln City Council approved a set of consent appointments, several liquor license matters, a conduit financing resolution for Christian Retirement Homes (Eastmont) and personnel pay‑schedule changes; the council continued public hearings on LES budget and rate measures to June 23.","taxTitle","Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska","taxId",2562,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6532801,"District 33 PUD proposal advances in public hearing; neighborhood business urges reopening of growler room",180,2820000,3000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d&start=2820&end=3000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d/thumbnail_2820000.jpg","/articles/6532801/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/District-33-PUD-proposal-advances-in-public-hearing-neighborhood-business-urges-reopening-of-growler-room","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532801-c8f59714d9903f91563c3c3a34b35a46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174435&Signature=QBC0lPCVkMn7uL63FGcEDTFtUfl6q1Jbz-s8rhvozHThm0LUYPNkEn3Y1ftHjGiEo2KW1GfmXM0SeetV~IRFjeQap4rEXeuuWoEaJpYPFdhlg7wvhHl9lLgnHQSil-A340xdpwiQmGS-PO-vSVo1Xs6IzFOxy8hf6uWb1VPIMs76jl6WoCNQUAdKJpzAx58isHSvelvxKHJg81BDqfdFkvZ~42Mr-cLYeX7mtho2xxgZXbU1crSebu7SD7PmnJ0uJs-szxOOfog0x~xkHSRNwLbOIfcjILT2dtvevsTDYgIBQz3MdNWAVMXxmDcykWfvUm4mXYrhTXV5wvKezSxHCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A planned unit development (PUD) application from District 33 LLC moved through public hearing on June 9 as the developer described plans for mixed‑use redevelopment around South 30th Street and A Street. The proposal would rezone about 12.78 acres to a PUD that combines commercial (B‑3), residential (R‑2) and office (O‑2) uses and lays out six planning areas intended to encourage walkable commercial activity and neighborhood‑scaled housing.

The applicant, who identified himself as Terry and said he and his wife own the property, described community outreach and an open house at Randolph Elementary. Planning Department Director David Carey and planner Steve Dush summarized the staff review and noted conditions intended to moderate transitions where the proposed higher‑intensity areas meet existing residences. In particular, the PUD requests a 45‑foot maximum height in Planning Area 4 (where some adjacent zones have a 35‑foot limit); staff said the higher height is intended to support a neighborhood commercial core while setbacks and design requirements would smooth the transition to adjacent homes.

Brands Liquor Works owner Lori Reza testified in support of the PUD and asked the council to approve language that would allow her business to reopen its former “growler room” for on‑site consumption. Reza said the room previously served as a neighborhood gathering place and that the PUD would allow a responsible, regulated reopening that contributes to local street life.

No final council vote on the change of zone/PUD occurred at the June 9 meeting; the record indicates staff will return with any required corrections and clarifying motions at a subsequent council action. Planning staff told the council they expected to bring clarified ordinance language and a motion to rescind an older zoning agreement for an office parcel if the PUD is approved.

Why it matters: The PUD would guide redevelopment in an area that city leaders and the applicant described as underutilized. If approved, it would change allowable uses and heights in portions of the site and could enable small businesses such as Brands Liquor Works to restore on‑site services that were previously restricted by zoning.

Next steps: Planning staff will return recommended language and any technical corrections for council consideration at the next ordinance reading; the council indicated it may consider a clarifying amendment at that time.","Developer for District 33 LLC presented a planned unit development (PUD) proposal for mixed‑use redevelopment near 30th and A Street. Planning staff described proposed transitions in building heights; a nearby business owner asked the council to allow an on‑site consumption 'growler room' under the PUD.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6532805,"Lincoln Electric System proposes $180 million for turbines, seeks 4% midyear rate increase",164,2356000,2520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d&start=2356&end=2520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3806850-845ba777e913e8ec4bd73f11b96f432d/thumbnail_2356000.jpg","/articles/6532805/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/Lincoln-Electric-System-proposes-180-million-for-turbines-seeks-4-midyear-rate-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6532805-966f3c37188974ebae8536bc5727117d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174435&Signature=f~3loEjrMZVVwzWyPnbc84vFP96aq7YEzmlx0ZgVZWIQa4mhE4me8t4KXFdzunFh2jxkV2avFhcz-B1gG5SR-3CJ7qJ-kzJlfmtozzO~Cc6pK7~nVGZfJonIykKj9hDq4llOFv7MwAhVWRw21g5v0kbpPBzC9lYPIJCIb1uNaPQcjCnGxFgd66MTECI9OkvfP-oVPVTOB2-SPpklLHfhVA4kb3JRhuY8PcuTii~X18I776MJEenDlwlF9Yz7jmJQAg9y1PeNCw2rszle2EfJQmk9Ju2m7-MMlRj3i8y-8v0WPT6mVcdi~uKW7AU8jZRrCwYV3rzNxdlka~d02itctQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln Electric System (LES) officials told the Lincoln City Council on June 9 that new reliability rules from the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) have reduced the accredited capacity of LES’s existing resources and that the utility plans to add two combustion turbines at its Terry Bundy generating station and enter into other contracts to avoid a projected resource adequacy shortfall.

LES Vice President of Power Supply Jason Fortic and Chief Financial Officer Emily Koenig described a roughly $180 million project to add two combustion turbines and said a 4% midyear rate increase, effective July 1, would produce about $6.5 million in 2025 revenue. LES Chief Executive Emeka Anya and staff said the turbines are planned to be in service by about 2030 and that the utility also recently began a contract for hydroelectric supply from the Jeffrey Hydroelectric Plant that took effect April 1.

The proposal came after SPP reworked how it accredits generating resources following Winter Storm Uri. Fortic said SPP’s new processes — including effective load‑carrying capability (ELCC) for non‑dispatchable resources and performance‑based accreditation for dispatchable units — reduce the amount of generation utilities can count toward reserve requirements. LES projects a reduction of about 130 megawatts of accredited capacity in summer and about 200 megawatts in winter compared with prior ratings.

LES staff said adding the turbines at Terry Bundy is the lowest‑cost, lowest‑risk way to address the shortfall because the site already has supporting infrastructure and space for the units. Koenig said the project was not in LES’s adopted 2025 budget because the SPP rules were finalized after budgeting for the year, and following vendor negotiations LES concluded near‑term cash outflows would be larger than expected. To avoid higher short‑term financing costs, LES asked the council to consider a midyear rate adjustment and a capital budget amendment.

Council members pressed LES staff on the technical details and the customer impact. Councilman Weber asked LES to explain the difference between nameplate and accredited capacity; Fortic said accredited capacity reflects what a utility may count toward meeting peak load plus required reserves and is typically lower than nameplate. Weber also asked what happens if a utility fails to meet SPP requirements. Fortic and LES staff said penalties under the SPP tariff are possible; LES estimated the “cone” penalty at roughly $1 million per 10 megawatts per year (LES staff provided that estimate in a brief rebuttal during the meeting and characterized it as an order‑of‑magnitude calculation rather than a fixed statutory amount).

LES said the proposed 4% midyear increase would raise an average residential bill by about $4 per month. Koenig noted LES monitors electric bills as a percentage of household income and said Lincoln remains comparatively affordable under that metric. LES also told the council it anticipates additional rate increases in coming years as it finalizes the 2026 budget and continues long‑range planning.

Public commenters at the meeting included residents and representatives from environmental and consumer groups. Several residents described hardship risks for low‑income households and urged the council and LES to prioritize bill assistance and energy efficiency. Representatives from Nebraska Interfaith Power & Light and Sierra Club urged LES to prioritize renewable energy and energy efficiency investments and to avoid long‑lived reliance on additional gas generation where possible. The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce supported the turbines as a necessary near‑term investment to avoid service failures and more costly penalties.

After discussion, the council did not approve the LES budget or rate changes on June 9. Instead, the council carried a motion to continue the public hearing and delay votes on the LES revised 2025 budget and revised rate schedules to a special continued hearing on June 23, 2025. The motion to delay carried 6–0.

Why it matters: LES’s plan addresses reliability rules that affect the entire SPP footprint; the utility says the new turbines are the most cost‑effective near‑term option to avoid penalties and potential service shortfalls. The decision to postpone a final vote gives the public additional time to review LES’s financial plans and to weigh tradeoffs between short‑term costs and long‑term resource choices.

Next steps: LES will return to council with the proposed budget and rate schedules for action at the continued public hearing on June 23. LES staff said they would provide more detail on affordability protections and on the timing and financing plan for the turbines.

","Lincoln Electric System told the City Council it needs to add two combustion turbines and increase rates midyear to meet new Southwest Power Pool resource requirements. LES asked the council to delay a final vote on its revised 2025 budget and rate schedules until June 23 to allow more public comment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council votes: appointments, liquor licenses, conduit bond for Eastmont and other consent items; LES budget and rate votes continued

District 33 PUD proposal advances in public hearing; neighborhood business urges reopening of growler room

Lincoln Electric System proposes $180 million for turbines, seeks 4% midyear rate increase