Lincoln council adopts procurement code changes, lowers CFD tax methodology and authorizes Sorrento Village bond refunding

Lincoln — The Lincoln City Council on April 14 adopted a set of administrative changes to the city’s purchasing code, approved a revised tax methodology for Community Facilities District (CFD) 2018‑2 intended to lower maximum tax rates for most properties in that district, and authorized the issuance of refunding bonds for Lincoln CFD 2005‑1 (Sorrento Village).

At the start of the meeting staff presented an ordinance redline amending sections of Lincoln Municipal Code chapters 3.24 and 3.26 to streamline procurement processes, clarify the definition of "qualified vendors," and require a quarterly posting of purchase summaries on the city website. The proposed ordinance also adds a statutory exemption for services identified in government code section 4525 and reduces an internal purchasing limit in section 3.24.0.91 from $100,000 to $75,000. City staff said the redline had been provided at council dais and to the public after a technical upload issue.

"Everything that we do within this document is there for the public protection," Mayor Pearl said during the public hearing, praising staff for the update. Council moved to adopt the ordinance with the redline edits; the motion passed 5–0.

Nut graf: The package of measures approved April 14 is largely administrative but affects how the city procures goods and services, increases transparency by requiring at‑least‑quarterly public reporting of purchases, and slightly lowers an internal contract threshold — changes staff said will improve compliance with state law and streamline purchasing for city projects.

The meeting next turned to a staff‑led fiscal-impact analysis and proposed maximum tax methodology for CFD 2018‑2. Nida Recker, with staff, and consultant Jamie Gomes said the review was intended to create a more consistent and predictable tax framework for new developments in the district and to remove the need for individual fiscal-impact analyses in some cases. Gomes said the city’s approach would produce more equitable tax rates and reduce costs passed to homeowners.

"It'll improve predictability for your developer partners and your home building partners," Gomes said, adding the change would make tax‑levy administration easier and produce a uniform rate across areas that now face different levies.

Councilmembers described the outcome as broadly favorable. "It's almost unheard of — lowering the tax rate," Mayor Pearl said. The council adopted the resolution accepting the analysis and authorizing a maximum tax for the CFD by unanimous vote, 5–0.

Finally, bond counsel and the city’s financial adviser presented a proposal to authorize issuance of special‑tax refunding bonds for Lincoln CFD 2005‑1 (Sorrento Village). Bond counsel described the authorization as allowing issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $16 million, while noting staff’s estimate that the actual issuance would likely be closer to $12.5 million. Counsel said the transaction requires a minimum present‑value savings threshold of 3 percent; recent market movement had pushed projected savings over that threshold.

"We actually think it's gonna be closer to about 12 and a half million dollars that we're gonna issue," bond counsel said. The council voted, 5–0, to adopt the resolution authorizing the refunding and related documents, and staff said they will proceed with timing the market and completing remaining steps.

Public comment during the meeting included safety concerns about high‑speed e‑bikes and enforcement. Stan Nader, a 12 Bridges area resident, urged the council to revisit the city's e‑bike enforcement ordinance and consider stiffer penalties after describing multiple near‑misses involving high‑speed e‑bikes and a go‑kart on sidewalks.

Byron Chapman, also a Lincoln resident, asked for clarification on the city's ADA grievance process and noted two outstanding matters that he said had gone unaddressed for months. City manager Sean Scully and city attorney Doug offered to meet with Chapman and review procedures and timelines for ADA complaints.

Council also asked staff to examine a resident’s request for assistance connecting a property adjacent to the city to sewer services; staff said it would draft models and options for council consideration.

All three major council actions were unanimous. The ordinance amending procurement rules, the CFD resolution accepting the fiscal analysis, and the Sorrento Village bond authorization each passed 5–0. Staff said next steps include publishing the required procurement postings, implementing the revised CFD tax methodology per the adopted resolution, and moving forward with the bond refunding process when market and procedural conditions allow.