Lincoln City Council approves easement vacations, recycling site bid, utility-assistance phase‑out and other resolutions

The Lincoln City Council on Aug. 27 unanimously approved a package of resolutions covering land-use, capital projects, social programs and finance.

Easement vacations for Liberty at Lincoln (agenda item 9a): Senior engineer SP Mann presented the request to vacate excess roadway and utility easements and two temporary construction easements along Ferrari Ranch Road and Shales Boulevard as part of the Liberty At Lincoln Phase 1 large-lot final map. Staff said the area is part of a previously approved 28-acre residential subdivision and that public noticing and utility outreach were completed with no objections. The council opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and then adopted the resolution to approve the vacations and related roadway dedication and improvement plan approvals (unanimous roll-call vote).

Library cardboard recycling facility (item 10a): Council approved a resolution to proceed with bidding for a permanent cardboard recycling facility sited on school-district-leased land adjacent to the library. Staff highlighted that much of the plan set was prepared in-house by a recently hired engineer (Jacob), which the city estimated could save between $100,000 and $200,000 in design costs. The project will include cameras to deter illegal dumping; staff said citation procedures remain under consideration.

Utility assistance program timeline (item 10b): Council adopted a resolution to end the utility assistance program on Feb. 28, 2025. The resolution also implements a stepped reduction in benefit amounts: reducing to $22 in October, then to $18, then to $12 before ending in February 2025. Staff said about 630 residents are currently enrolled and that, under the step-down schedule, nearly all appropriated funds are expected to be paid out before program closure.

Finance and staffing (item 10c): The council approved a limited-term staffing allocation for a purchasing officer and a budget augmentation in Fund 6000 to support the Tyler Technologies transition and to allow overlap and training ahead of an upcoming retirement. Council members clarified that fund numbering changed between legacy and new financial systems (Springbrook Fund 600 → Tyler Fund 6000).

Pension/OPEB trust (item 10d): Council authorized participation in the PARS post-employment trust (administered by U.S. Bank) and the termination of the city’s existing trust arrangement, following presentations to the fiscal oversight committee and staff vetting.

AT&T cell-site lease at McBean Park (item 10e): The council approved a 25-year lease with AT&T for a new cell antenna sited at McBean Park, with an initial rent of $3,000 per month and a 3% annual escalator (estimated gross revenue roughly $1.3 million over 25 years). As part of the negotiated package, AT&T will upgrade a lighting pole, add lighting, and construct a small structure that will include city-use space (concession/snack-shack) and provide a generator/backup for the cell site; the provider also offered to install a microwave link to improve Internet at McBean.

Votes at a glance (summary outcomes): • Consent calendar (most items) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution responding to Placer County Grand Jury report (8b) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution vacating easements for Liberty at Lincoln (9a) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution authorizing library cardboard recycling facility bid (10a) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution ending utility assistance program Feb. 28, 2025, with step-down (10b) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution for limited-term purchasing officer and Fund 6000 augmentation (10c) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution authorizing PARS participation (10d) — adopted (unanimous) • Resolution authorizing AT&T lease for McBean Park cell site (10e) — adopted (unanimous)

What’s next: Most approved items authorize staff to proceed with bidding, notice or contract execution; project-specific follow up (e.g., bid results, construction timeline, contract execution) will return to council or be handled administratively per council policy.