Lincoln City Council approves appointments, code updates and infrastructure agreements

The Lincoln City Council on Dec. 15 approved a series of routine appointments and reappointments, adopted updated building and safety codes, and cleared contracts and project agreements including infrastructure work tied to a planned data center.

The council voted 6–0 to appoint Donna Garden to the Lincoln Electric System Administrative Board and to reappoint members to several boards and commissions, acting on items moved on the consent agenda. Barb McIntyre, the city’s human resources director, described a broad set of amendments to personnel sections of the Lincoln Municipal Code that city staff characterized as "clean up" to align code with labor contracts and current practice; the changes include replacing the term “layoff” with “reduction in force,” adding gender-neutral language, and inserting an appeal right for selection processes.

Why it matters: The code adoptions and personnel clarifications aim to codify practices already used by the city and to align municipal code language with state and federal references and negotiated labor agreements. The council also approved adoptions of updated national construction and safety codes that affect building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire standards in Lincoln.

Votes at a glance - Appointment: Donna Garden to the LES Administrative Board (term to 12/31/2028). Result: approved, roll call 6–0. - Reappointments: Eric Schafer and Kate Bulls to LES Administrative Board; Kim Morrow to District Energy Corporation; Gail Perry and Kathy Campbell to the Charter Revision Commission; Ingrid Kurz to Kino Human Services Board. Result: all approved, roll calls 6–0. - Contracts and task orders: Supplemental agreement with Nebraska DOT for 84th/US-6 intersection; construction engineering supplement with Alfred Finishing for Adams Street paving; on-call task orders for 27th Street bridge engineering and environmental services. Result: approved, roll calls 6–0. - Liquor licenses (Casa Bovina and Mercado, manager Shane Peade). Result: approved, 6–0. - Arbor Road water main and booster pump agreement with Agate LLC (developer). Result: approved, 6–0. Developer to pay for the water main and to contribute approximately $7,000,000 toward the booster pump station, according to staff presentation. - Bond resolution (Public Building Commission) to finance a downtown parking garage expansion: staff described a bond structure with a not-to-exceed par amount of $19,200,000, anticipated financing sized roughly $18,350,000, a $1,500,000 PBC contribution, an underwriter discount up to 1%, final maturity not later than Dec. 2046, and a true interest cost (TIC) not to exceed 5% (staff described preliminary market TIC near 3.9%). The presentation and financing parameters were reviewed at the meeting; a separate Public Building Commission approval had occurred in November. - Land use and code items (second reading): Text amendment 25,013 (nonconforming use flexibility), comprehensive plan conformance for a Pinewoods conservation easement, PUD change of zone for Pinewoods (increase of 5,760 sq ft commercial floor area), lease to Lincoln Trap and Ski Club, equipment lease to finance 262 golf carts, and multiple adoptions updating Lincoln Municipal Code chapters to reference the 2021 and 2023 editions of national building and safety codes. Result: all carried on second reading with unanimous votes.

Details and context Barb McIntyre told the council the personnel code updates were largely intended to bring municipal code language into alignment with labor-contract terms and to clarify practice. She noted one new procedural change: the code will allow candidates 10 calendar days to appeal a hiring/selection decision to the director for review. McIntyre also said the code would add protected classes such as pregnancy, military status and veteran status and replace inconsistent terminology with a uniform phrase, "reduction in force."

On infrastructure, Assistant City Attorney Tim C described the Arbor Road agreement as a further step in implementation of a 2019 annexation agreement. He said the developer will construct the water main and contribute approximately $7 million toward a booster pump station that will improve water pressure in that area of the city. Councilors asked whether nearby facilities could use the main; staff replied it is a public water main but the agreement’s contemplated main reaches only to roughly 56th Street and does not extend to Highway 77.

On financing the downtown parking garage, Karen Peterson, administrator for the Public Building Commission, said the PBC will contribute roughly $1.5 million toward the roughly $18.35 million financing goal and that the PBC previously approved a bond resolution with a not-to-exceed par amount of $19.2 million. Bond counsel said the financing timetable would include rating-agency work in January and marketing in late January with delivery in early February (preliminary interest-rate conditions cited).

Council action and next steps All consent and second-reading items recorded unanimous votes where the roll calls were captured. Items described during the meeting that require additional steps—such as bond pricing and closing or related county action for PBC obligations—remain subject to subsequent administrative completion. Several items were described as "introduced by" council members and advanced on the consent calendar with little discussion. The meeting moved into open microphone public comment at the conclusion of formal agenda items.

Ending After public comment, a motion to adjourn passed and the council adjourned for the evening. No further votes or follow-up dates were announced at the close of the meeting.