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

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.