[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6505049,"mediaKeyId","5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3","parentId",5448516,"title","Votes at a glance: council actions on reappointments, codes, redevelopment and departments (July 21, 2025)","audioSeconds",6690,"startMs",248000,"endMs",6938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3&start=248&end=6938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3/thumbnail_248000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6505049/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/Votes-at-a-glance-council-actions-on-reappointments-codes-redevelopment-and-departments-July-21-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505049-208bca8af749e197355b6d4e104ff11d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636088&Signature=JnZjjqOcSaJj~tgZE5T~GHcIMrKa15kq7dV0K6Wv5pccGNH1gw~KUsw0noONMwxeRg89Y3DQDNhWE-PZIwJnT3V-OIAkkx~Th9pjnEH9qtOmbohOo2TMV4sRzvzKVshMaznwvBWD~LKEc36gLNs0oZhtdcrPAT7U0rHGCVecRXe4~-T2jOgFv234fzuR6WgZozhbkkg5x3fGVMer5ZS16EZnbXn1ilrqcZdBANmzwhmpaNRO3qRvVNgha5nRQYrr9tbX7rlE~OV37EdKi46NBa93zCRaD3OTX1W1~VsGEyDahFclXSfjAFWWAjcOWqfgROEnEVspfVP8ia5MWfT0kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lincoln, NE","date","2025-07-22T06:39:56.027Z","article","At its July 21 meeting the Lincoln City Council recorded votes on a number of consent and ordinance items. Many of the items below were approved unanimously (6-0). This roundup lists each formal action reflected in the meeting minutes and roll call.

Consent and reappointments (Section 1)
- Item 1A: Reappoint Denise Alkali and Jenica Long to the Aging Partners area-wide advisory council for terms to expire 06/30/2028 (introduced by Beckias). Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 1B: Reappoint Tom Beckias and Saundra Washington to the Public Building Commission for terms to expire August 1. Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 1C: Reappoint Saundra Washington to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for term to expire 06/01/2028. Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 1D: Approve BDF LLC (d/b/a Captain Jacks, 140 N. 12th Street) as a Kino satellite. Motion carried 6-0.

Public hearings and ordinances noted
- Items 6A–6J: Annual pay schedule adjustments for multiple employee groups; staff said most groups receive a 3% adjustment, with DSS at 2% and fire at 4%. No roll call recorded for pay-schedule introduction at this hearing (second reading to follow as required).

Section 4 and other items
- Item 4A/4B: Denied (see separate article). Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 4C/4D: Approved (see separate article). Motion carried 6-0.

Section 7 (ordinances, interlocal agreements and redevelopment actions)
- Item 7A: Amend Ambulance Transportation Code and related sections (multiple code amendments). Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 7B: Street name change (Williamson Drive to South 208th Street for property east of South 207th and north of Yankee Hill Road). Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 7C: Create Information Services Department in city code. Motion carried 6-0.
- Item 7D: Approve first amendment to interlocal agreement creating joint city-county info division. Motion carried 6-0.
- Items 7E–7H: Foxtail Meadows redevelopment plan amendments, project redevelopment agreement amendment, TIF appropriation ($5,891,440) and related tax allocation bond ordinance not to exceed $5,891,440. All motions carried 6-0.

Other housekeeping
- Multiple resolutions and first readings in Sections 8 and 9 were introduced or discussed and will return for later consideration.

How council recorded outcomes

Where roll calls were taken the clerk recorded unanimous 6-0 outcomes for the listed items. For multi-part ordinances (e.g., Foxtail Meadows, Info Services department), the clerk recorded the motion and roll-call result in the public record.

Ending: The meeting’s formal votes were largely unanimous and address reappointments, code updates, department reorganization and a redevelopment financing package. Several multi-step items (pay-schedule adjustments and library bond/real estate items) remain in process and will return for subsequent readings and votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lincoln City Council Meeting July 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its July 21 meeting the Lincoln City Council recorded several unanimous votes (6-0) on reappointments, code updates, the new Information Services department and redevelopment finance actions; many other items were introduced for later readings.","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},6505065,"Council hears library team’s plan to buy downtown building; financing, sustainability still to be finalized",2810,2272000,5082000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3&start=2272&end=5082","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3/thumbnail_2272000.jpg","/articles/6505065/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/Council-hears-library-teams-plan-to-buy-downtown-building-financing-sustainability-still-to-be-finalized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505065-447ae1904367d0bb86326d3b109c02ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636088&Signature=E9aKag4ppXkTSn8rODwkF8o6NKD5rU6AdNB-17Cd6UzuvHbqFc~E2pXFIMlyLHTYcIcRaRcSuhjDFGO5zYFK9cPxKxEvivB0nKNPgWD~M7oYsEDgwTDA3CXYgjWn-SUayHFJcWkYzznFt3hhFPkvW9zmA-Q2BzNhjkcHx6XI7MQvsRjXbUm0uPHd3qPwElrAfiR7sx8H99elUJ~UZSy-p4RrTGcvoO8NyXUUcVd-MrqjCE2UeWdlO1~LUxYuWihBa5pJzyOCWwKqa1riF7W9KyYNSYuV1q7rQWxZtkj8KmWKDL12Txz3zvkt4BaUM7jCIExTCprMaoObIURkexs64g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lincoln City Libraries Director Ryan Weaver told the City Council on July 21 that the library is pursuing purchase of Southeast Community College’s Education Square (1111 O Street) and plans to reuse the existing building as a new downtown central library.

Weaver said the project budget now stands at about $46.2 million — a roughly 35% reduction from prior estimates for other sites — with the city planning to issue municipal improvement bonds (MIBs) in an amount not to exceed $25 million and to seek roughly $18 million in private philanthropy to make the project whole. Weaver said the library program is based on roughly 65,000 square feet of public library space with an additional 15,000 square feet reserved for a partner organization.

The library director emphasized adaptive reuse, site advantages and program priorities. “This is a great example of a public and private partnership,” Weaver said, citing access to a parking garage at the site, proximity to transit and program elements such as children’s and teen spaces, makerspaces, study rooms, a heritage/local history room and a rooftop auditorium.

Why it matters: The proposal would relocate Lincoln’s central library from Bennett Martin to a larger, centrally parked facility and proposes funding that avoids a general-obligation (GO) bond and associated voter ballot process. Because the city is considering municipal improvement bonds rather than a GO bond, the council and public focused on financing structure, schedule and whether the design process will fully integrate energy and life-cycle goals raised by stakeholders.

Details and debate

Finance and structure: Scott Keane of Piper Sandler, the city’s financing advisor in the presentation, explained the $25 million ordinance before the council as a not-to-exceed cap that provides flexibility on the day of sale to accommodate different investor bids (premium versus original-issue discount bids). “We generally structure this issue like we do the city’s other financings,” Keane said, adding that the team will target about $23 million of net proceeds for the library program and allow up to $25 million in the ordinance to cover issuance costs and sale mechanics.

Timeline and program: Weaver described an expected schedule that would complete final design in 2026, place construction from 2026–2028 and aim for a spring 2028 opening. Program elements the library team highlighted include interactive children’s and teen spaces, roughly 8–10 study rooms with conferencing capability, podcast/recording rooms, a makerspace with 3‑D printers and a rooftop auditorium seating roughly 300.

Sustainability and community input: Multiple residents and civic groups urged strong, early sustainability measures. Councilor Saundra Washington and others said they want life-cycle costing and energy-use metrics built into the design. Public commenters — including representatives of local environmental groups, disability advocates and decades-long library supporters — asked the library and the city to set performance targets early, consider District Energy or ground-source options, and include assisted-listening and accessibility measures in every public space.

Public backing and concerns: Several public speakers, including former Lincoln City Libraries Director Pat Leach and community leaders, voiced support for buying and reusing the Education Square building. At the same time, some members of the public said they want clear commitments on sustainability and a transparent fundraising plan before the project is locked in.

What the council decided: At this meeting the council heard the presentation and public testimony; the library items were described as returning for formal second reading and vote at a later meeting. Weaver and library staff said they expect to return with ordinances for bond authorization and the purchase agreement at or after the council’s next scheduled consideration. Council members repeatedly asked that the design and procurement process include measurable sustainability goals and noted broad public interest.

Looking ahead: Weaver said the library team plans community workshops in early fall focused on sustainability and design input. Library staff reported private fundraising is already roughly 40% committed toward the $18 million private target and that the Southeast Community College board has approved the purchase agreement on their side.

Ending: The council did not vote on bond issuance or the real estate purchase ordinance at this meeting; those formal actions were described as coming back for second reading and formal action in the council’s next session.","Lincoln City Libraries Director Ryan Weaver told the City Council on July 21 that the library is pursuing purchase of Southeast Community College’s Education Square (1111 O Street) and plans to reuse the existing building as a new downtown central library.",{"_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},6505059,"Council accepts report of new and pending claims after testimony about a tree-damage claim and a bus injury",1049,1077000,2126000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3&start=1077&end=2126","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3/thumbnail_1077000.jpg","/articles/6505059/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/Council-accepts-report-of-new-and-pending-claims-after-testimony-about-a-tree-damage-claim-and-a-bus-injury","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505059-e0ceb3cf9dee060f01621b89a06a9e56/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636088&Signature=fv6IGDJ1lXxlAvySi9Cs9iSZtyewEjdIO6rHDu9jgAWwdYvBafPIP0w3LschQ~ODDYvJU4Le53OLCpt2eo-rEEttAw3oF4EXKvQbJDe5KfGW3zI~JbAUjI~d8PwUai4GWLrr4Ub2fYVnvyCs4fY50SDLiqXb-g5LIJS6Roz2izETYLVPxDkYVzxX17po6PHFB4MVRO-5Kr2X7BNQnSWpbvaLqsVbEdZADnNzskLbKiQppZYY23FZn7hnGHBJ-03Jgu0J7V9ONanC9zAjA7mHKKlzI-DzHsg8S~FjJOA~cfFGyrnVlwpieiXVCMT0Q7VJsilFgpSLepizBHHOOK6oIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on July 21 accepted the report of new and pending claims against the city for June 16–June 30, after hearing two residents who spoke during the public hearing on claims.

Tiffany Rank (recorded as a property owner) asked the council to reconsider the city’s denial of a claim for damage to her property when a tree partially collapsed last year and again after a storm in March. Rank said forestry staff cleared the most hazardous limb in June 2024 but that a full inspection and follow-up record did not appear in the city’s asset management notes. \"When forestry came out, they were only able to take out the part of the tree that was immediate danger. They said they would be back to look at the rest of the tree, and we never heard anything regarding that,\" Rank said.

Parks Director Maggie Stuckey Ross said the city’s record shows a June 24 call for a large hanger and that a crew visited the property on June 25 to remove the immediate hazard. The city forester later told staff he did not recall a conversation in which forestry told the homeowner it would return, and there is therefore no record of a promised follow-up. Councilor Saundra Washington suggested the city consider updating internal processes so that a written record is kept when crews remove a hanging limb, to avoid ambiguity about whether further inspection is needed.

The council also heard from Kim Schwartzman, who said she was injured aboard a city shuttle after being thrown when the bus braked. Schwartzman described a subsequent medical diagnosis of a compression fracture (L1) and said she sought reimbursement for co-pay and related costs. Elizabeth Elliott, director of LTU, and other transit staff confirmed there is video of the incident; LTU staff said the video shows a bus operator applying the brakes in response to nearby traffic and that the vehicle’s operation did not appear to be outside normal expectations.

Council action and next steps

The council voted to accept and approve the report of new and pending claims, and the motion carried 6-0. Council members asked city law and staff to revisit specific claim documentation and noted the need for clearer forestry records when crews remove hazardous limbs but do not indicate whether additional inspection or follow-up is planned.

Quantities and clarifications

- Rank indicated she was seeking damages for 1 of 2 vehicles, the house (two windows, a screen, railing, roof, gutters and siding) and believed the estimates she submitted totaled about $9,914 for some items (she said that amount \"sounds about right\").
- Rank told staff her first call about the hanging limb was in late June 2024 (the record shows a call on June 24 and a crew visit June 25) and a follow-up call was made in March 2025 when more of the tree came down.
- Schwartzman described a compression fracture treated with vertebroplasty and said she was seeking reimbursement of medical co-pays (she referenced figures in the meeting record that she presented; specific totals were described in testimony but not independently verified at the meeting).

Councilor Washington explicitly noted the need to update the forestry ticketing and record process so that crews documenting removal of a hanger also leave a written record if additional inspection would be required.

Ending: The report of pending claims was accepted; claimants were invited to work with city law and staff to pursue documentation and any reconsideration steps.","The City Council on July 21 accepted the report of new and pending claims for June 16–June 30 after hearing two claimants: a homeowner whose property was damaged by a city tree and a bus rider who said she suffered a compression fracture after a shuttle braking incident.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505054,"Council denies two liquor-license applications, approves two others",190,870000,1060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3&start=870&end=1060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448516-a4da08793dbf606717440f2e711c7ae3/thumbnail_870000.jpg","/articles/6505054/Lincoln/Lancaster-County/Nebraska/Council-denies-two-liquor-license-applications-approves-two-others","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505054-5e8d5f33b197ff212bc84b21d157ba95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770636088&Signature=A1spVaz8Sy-gvDAWSnSJ6kNaQxvIhsas2Y4fN54xZOwqI0rbkh799FmLgSwz92G8uH0w6gzIt24jU8B7whY-6Yd~NpJn7uzvaVnjszmFAMX47Y9npn0r03xxE1qTJS3jzSaAaKyzV6jla5iNu6PiqfpjZzi~cn49Bq~yj8pZwlJZQtCnu94QQ3eLBQHDxNGxmJpOvQS6S07XGmDD8F4ko-XsTvH3nXiC6r2Aa8-2rmiW7FtC63zdhxCJm1WJ3h5Rwjq5kzqQbYXrYqN9v3X4a2P4Y0L99zotNAcV82itA3Yb3EuPRWbcuHj7fom4xYGfMmjJ9~VjBMPd~5M2SBQtOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council considered several liquor-license applications during the public hearing portion of its July 21 meeting.

Applications 4A and 4B: GNS Corporation (doing business as Tobacco Shack) applied for a Class D liquor license at 4741 Holdridge Street and for a related manager application. After noting no public opposition, the council voted to deny the 4A and 4B applications. The motion to deny passed on roll call 6-0.

Applications 4C and 4D: Keds Enterprises Inc. (doing business as Da Vinci’s) applied for a Class C liquor license at 2901 Pine Lake Road, Suite G, and a related manager application for Joe Armstrong. The applicant appeared and answered council questions about the third location. The council voted to approve 4C and 4D; the motion passed 6-0.

Votes at-a-glance

- Item 4A & 4B (GNS Corp., Tobacco Shack; Class D and manager application): Motion to deny carried 6-0.
- Item 4C & 4D (Keds Enterprises, Da Vinci’s; Class C and manager application): Motion to approve carried 6-0.

Ending: The council recorded unanimous roll-call outcomes on both combined motions.","On combined motions, the council denied the Class D liquor license applications for GNS Corporation (Tobacco Shack at 4741 Holdridge) and its related manager, and approved the Class C application for Da Vinci's (Keds Enterprises) and its manager. Both roll calls were unanimous, 6-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: council actions on reappointments, codes, redevelopment and departments (July 21, 2025)

Council hears library team’s plan to buy downtown building; financing, sustainability still to be finalized

Council accepts report of new and pending claims after testimony about a tree-damage claim and a bus injury

Council denies two liquor-license applications, approves two others