# Lincoln Council to tackle minimum wage, major viaduct project  
**Published:** 2026-05-04T10:00:00.000Z  
**Source:** [Lincoln City Council Agendas](https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=412)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/lincoln-council-to-tackle-minimum-wage-major-viaduct-project

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Lincoln City Council will address a contested minimum wage ordinance and approve engineering agreements for a major railroad safety project at its regular meeting Monday, according to [the city council agenda](https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=412).

The council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on [a minimum wage ordinance](https://klin.com/2026/05/01/lincoln-chamber-reacts-to-city-councils-proposed-minimum-wage-increase/) at 3 p.m. that would restore the voter-approved $15 hourly minimum wage standard without exceptions. In November 2022, 67 percent of local voters supported Initiative 433, establishing a path to a $15 minimum wage in Nebraska by 2026 with annual cost-of-living adjustments. However, on a 33-16 vote in February, the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill to cap future increases to the minimum wage based on cost-of-living at 1.75 percent annually. The proposed city ordinance would maintain the original voter intent.

The council will also approve multiple engineering service agreements related to the North 33rd and Cornhusker Project, designed to improve safety along the rail corridor between N. 27th and N. 48th streets by eliminating or reducing potential conflict points between trains and other transportation modes. The $114 million project will improve safety outcomes by eliminating two at-grade crossings that have resulted in 20 accidents with six fatalities in recent years. The Lincoln project, which could receive up to $66.7 million, includes the final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of a new bridge over the rail corridor to get rid of two at-grade crossings on North 33rd street and Adams street.

Additional agenda items include approving assessment resolutions for six business improvement districts: College View, Havelock, North 27th Street, University Place, West O Street, and South Street. The council will also consider liquor license applications for Firebirds Wood Fired Grill and Double Eagle Golf, and approve a special designated license for outdoor events at Pinewood Bowl.

The council will hear an appeal from Robert R. Otte on behalf of Black Forest Homeowners' Association regarding a proposed Willowmere Forest Estates Community Unit Plan on property at 6400 Old Cheney Road. A second reading of an ordinance amending the city's minimum wage code is also scheduled.

## Sources

- [Lincoln City Council Agendas](https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=412)
- [Lincoln Chamber reacts to proposed minimum wage increase ordinance](https://klin.com/2026/05/01/lincoln-chamber-reacts-to-city-councils-proposed-minimum-wage-increase/)
- [Councilmember announces measure to restore voter-approved minimum wage](https://www.1011now.com/2026/04/24/councilmember-introduce-measure-restore-voter-approved-minimum-wage-lincoln/)
- [Federal Register notice on 33rd and Cornhusker Project](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/09/05/2025-17078/notice-of-final-federal-agency-actions-on-transportation-project-in-nebraska)
- [City of Lincoln 33rd and Cornhusker Viaduct Project information](https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/RTSD/33rd-Cornhusker)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Lincoln City Council Agendas, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://lnklan.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=412.