Council approves consent items, zoning changes and a historic‑preservation permit; all roll‑call votes 7–0

The Lincoln City Council unanimously approved multiple consent agenda items and zoning actions during its meeting on Aug. 18, adopting administrative appointments, an on‑call construction‑engineering task order, investment reports and three land‑use ordinances including a special permit for a historic‑preservation project.

Votes at a glance

- Item 1a — Reappointment: Council reappointed Jose So to the Charter Revision commission for a term expiring July 14, 2029. Motion moved by Councilmember Washington, seconded by Councilmember Beckias. Roll call: Weber, Bowers, Washington, Duda, Schaub, Beckias and Carlson — all voted yes. Motion carried 7–0.

- Item 1b — Construction engineering services: Council approved an on‑call construction engineering services task order agreement with Alfred Benish and Company to provide construction engineering services for pavement repairs at the Adams Street (36th to 40th/9th Street) project, project number LCLC5250. Introduced by Councilmember Washington; motion carried 7–0 (moved and seconded on the consent agenda).

- Item 1c — Distribution of investment earnings: Council approved distribution of interest earnings on short‑term investments for the month ended June 30, 2025. Motion carried 7–0.

- Item 1d — Investment activity report: Council accepted the quarterly investment activity report for the quarter ending May 31, 2025. Motion carried 7–0.

- Items 2a–2c — Additional consent items introduced by Councilmember Schaub were approved on the consent agenda; motion carried 7–0.

- Item 4a — Amendment to PCS tower lease (introduced; extension described): City staff presented amendment No. 2 to the PCS tower lease and appurtenances agreement between the City of Lincoln and SELCO Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless to extend the term of the agreement for the tower at 1901 N. 14th Street and apply a 4% rent escalator under existing terms. No public comments were offered; the record shows presentation of the extension but no roll call for final adoption at that time in the transcript.

- Item 5a — Change of zone 25015: The council approved the change of zone request by US Properties to rezone approximately 2.7 acres at the southeast corner of Nebraska Parkway and Pine Lake Road from AGR (agriculture residential) to O‑3 (Office Park District). Motion carried 7–0 on third reading.

- Item 5b — Change of zone 25012: The council approved changing zoning from R‑2 (residential) to R‑2 Landmark with historical overlay for property generally located at 1821 S. Pershing Road. Motion carried 7–0 on third reading.

- Item 5c — Special permit 25027: The council approved a special permit application by Philip Momberg and Rochelle Mallett allowing a garage within the required front yard at 1821 S. Pershing Road (historic preservation permit) with associated waiver. Council thanked the Historic Preservation Committee and the homeowners; motion carried 7–0.

What this means

Most items were routine consent agenda approvals or third‑reading land‑use decisions recorded with unanimous support. The tower lease extension was presented by the city attorney as a contract extension under existing terms, including a 4% rent escalator; the transcript shows the presentation and no public comment but does not record a final roll call during the section in the record provided.

Speakers and movers (as recorded)

Councilmember Washington (mover on multiple consent items); Councilmember Beckias (second on multiple consent items); roll calls recorded affirmatively for members Weber, Bowers, Washington, Duda, Schaub, Beckias and Chair Carlson. Tim C., assistant city attorney, presented the tower lease extension. The consent agenda and land‑use matters were introduced by the council members indicated in the agenda text: Washington, Schaub and Shobe (as introduced).

Procedural notes

The council handled many routine matters on the consent agenda with no public testimony. The public hearing on the mid‑biennium budget (items 8a and 8b) was taken up later in the meeting and is covered in a separate report; the council did not take final action on the budget items that evening.

Ending

All recorded roll‑call votes in the consent and land‑use sections on Aug. 18 were unanimous (7–0). Several items noted as introduced or presented (for example, the Verizon tower lease amendment) appear on the agenda as extensions or amendments to existing contracts; where a final roll call was not recorded in the transcript excerpt, the item was presented for council consideration.