Council approves multiple consent items, labor contracts and zoning and transportation agreements in May 12 meeting

The Lincoln City Council on Monday approved a package of consent and action items covering appointments, transportation agreements, business improvement district assessments, liquor licenses, labor contracts and several zoning and right-of-way matters.

Most consent items passed without discussion or with brief staff remarks. Highlights from the voting session included reappointments to boards, multiple agreements with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, assessments for business improvement districts, liquor-license approvals, approvals tied to the West Haymarket/Canopy Park project, and labor and pay-schedule measures.

Selected council actions approved on May 12, 2025:

- Reappointment of Christie Abrams to the City Personnel Board for a term through June 20, 2030 (Item 1a). Motion carried 6-1. - Reappointment of Artie Kelly to the Lincoln Housing Authority Board through July 1, 2030 (Item 1b). Motion carried 7-0. - Approval of professional services agreement supplement #3 with Shimmer Associates (First & Cornhusker intersection design) — federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding (~80% federal/20% local) (Item 1c). Motion carried 7-0. - Multiple responsible-charge agreements with Nebraska Department of Transportation for city performance on design/construction oversight: Kotner Boulevard rehab; 40th/50th & Calvert intersection; Lincoln Area Bridges (including Harris overpass); First Street & Cornhusker Highway. All motions carried 7-0 (Items 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g). Staff said construction timing ranges from 2026–2028 depending on the project. - Approval of assessment resolutions for six Business Improvement Districts including College View, Havelock, North 20th Street, University Place, West O Street and South Street Business Improvement Districts; motion carried 7-0 (Items 1h–1m). - Distribution of interest earnings on idle funds (Item 1n); motion carried 7-0. - Liquor-license approvals for Da Vinci’s (new manager), Haymarket Park (manager application), VFW 3606 manager application and related permits — items 4a–4e — motion carried 7-0. - Acceptance of the report of new and pending claims for April 16–30, 2025 (Item 5b). The council approved the report but moved the Tiffany Rank claim to pending for additional review (separate action; see Rank article). - Approval of Amendment No. 2 to the Canopy Park redevelopment agreement (Item 5c), removing references to a plaza and updating financing/parking references consistent with modified park plans; motion carried 7-0. - Labor contract between the city and the Lincoln City Employees Association, effective Aug. 15, 2024 through Aug. 1, 2026 (Item 7a); motion carried 7-0. - Pay-schedule adjustments for groups prefixed by A and C and related pay-range updates (Items 7b, 7c); motions carried 7-0. - Text amendment (25005) to expand opportunities for urban gardens/greenhouses and allow sale of garden produce as a home occupation in specified residential districts (Item 7d); motion carried 7-0. - Street and alley vacation application (Street/Alley Vacation 24003) with a substitute ordinance filed by the law department; council approved the motion to amend and the main motion, 7-0 (Item 7f). - Council moved pending item 9a to a public hearing and suspended rules to set a hearing date of June 2, 2025; motion carried with the required votes.

Procedural notes: Most items were introduced by council sponsors or departmental staff and passed unanimously or by decisive majorities. Where federal formula funds were used (NDOT/STBG), staff noted the standard 80/20 split (federal/local) for design and construction phases. Several design-phase approvals were for preliminary engineering services with construction scheduled across 2026–2028.

These approvals advance ongoing downtown and citywide infrastructure work and finalize personnel and compensation updates included in the city budget.