Council updates city code to reflect Nebraska public notice changes, adopts ordinance 2025-7

The Seward City Council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-7 amending city code Chapter 78 to align the city’s meeting-notice rules with a recent statutory change to Nebraska Revised Statute 84-1411.

City staff explained the state statute change, effective Jan. 1, 2025, alters notice requirements for public meetings of political subdivisions by creating a statewide online clearinghouse and emphasizing online publication. The ordinance update keeps the city’s existing newspaper publication in a paper of general circulation and the newspaper’s website, adds the state clearinghouse requirement by reference, and streamlines local physical posting to City Hall and the Seward Memorial Library (which staff identified as the city’s highest-foot-traffic locations). Staff said the change avoids maintaining lower-traffic physical posting sites that are rarely used.

Council moved to suspend the statutory rule for ordinance consideration and then voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2025-7 on final reading; the final vote was unanimous. The ordinance text refers to the state statute (described in the meeting as “Nebraska revised statute 84 dash 14 11”) and to the statewide public-notice clearinghouse; staff noted the ordinance references the state website generically so future changes will not require frequent code amendments.

Council members and staff noted the city’s normal practice of also posting agendas on the city’s own website and using its agenda management system; staff said they will continue to notify local news outlets and the public about meeting schedules. The ordinance will be published and added to the city code as adopted.