Votes at a glance: Lincoln City Council actions April 28 — appointments, agreements, liquor licenses, zoning and ordinance steps

At its April 28 meeting the Lincoln City Council approved a bundle of consent and legislative items, and heard public testimony on a broader set of issues. Items with formal action included appointments to advisory boards, city agreements, liquor licenses and several zoning and code changes. Council also heard a lengthy public hearing on a proposed water special-assessment district on Fletcher Avenue (that item was voted on separately and not advanced).

Key actions and outcomes (roll calls and tallies are recorded in the official minutes):

- Appointments (Consent agenda, Item 1): Andy Barry to the Charter Revision Commission (partial term to expire July 15, 2028) — motion carried 5–0 (roll-call: Weber/Duden/Schaub/Beckias/Washington). Lynn Ayers to the Citizen Police Advisory Board (term to expire Nov. 17, 2027) — motion carried 5–0. Drake Bray and Isaac Remboldt appointed to the Veterans Memorial Garden Advisory Council (terms to expire Nov. 1, 2027 and a partial term to Nov. 1, 2025 respectively) — both carried 5–0. John Goldrich was clarified/reappointed to the Lincoln Commission on Human Rights (term to expire Dec. 1, 2025) — carried 5–0.

- Agreements (Consent agenda): City approved a multiyear joint-funding agreement between the City of Lincoln (Lincoln Water System) and Lower Platte South Natural Resources District to fund water-quality data collection by the U.S. Geological Survey at Lechara — motion carried 5–0. The council also approved an on‑call construction‑engineering services task order with Spieth Lewis Engineers LLC for the 50 Sixth Street (Van Dorn to Spruce) rehabilitation project — motion carried 5–0.

- Liquor licenses (Public hearings, Items 4): The council approved a Class C liquor license and manager application for Earth Florals LLC at 8320 Glen Oaks Drive (applicant present) — approved. A special designated license for Kankajer Brewing Company LLC (Sideshow Spirits) for an outdoor area at 1630 P Street on June 7, 2025 was approved. The application of TFL Inc. (Mega Saver) for a Class D liquor license at 5700 N 30th Street was denied after council discussion of prior liquor-sales-to-minor violations; the council voted to deny that application (motion carried to deny).

- Ordinances and zoning (Items 6–9): The council introduced an ordinance to implement a voter-approved local-option sales-tax increase (from 1.5% to 1.75%) for an eight‑year period for arterial street projects; staff said the ordinance will be brought back for final enactment in a subsequent meeting to implement the April 8 voter approval. The council approved multiple planning and zoning items including text amendments to definitions for recreational and commercial recreation uses, change of zone applications, amendments to pay schedules for specified employee classifications, and a street and alley vacation request after a motion to amend clarifying the applicants’ responsibilities — all carried on recorded votes (most items passed 5–0 per the minutes).

- Resolutions and routine items: The council accepted the report of new and pending claims (April 1–15) and approved several other resolutions and routine items listed on the agenda by recorded vote (typically 5–0 where noted in the minutes).

Items denied or postponed: - TFL Inc. (Mega Saver) Class D liquor license and manager application — council voted to deny the application following discussion about the applicant’s record of liquor violations. - The Fletcher Avenue special-assessment appeal was not advanced (separate item; see full coverage in the longer article on that hearing).

Ending: The April 28 meeting combined routine consent approvals with several public hearings. Items approved on consent will proceed to implementation steps by the responsible departments; council staff said the sales-tax ordinance implementing the April 8 voter decision will return for final enactment at the next meeting.