HASTINGS, Neb. – The Hastings City Council is now just one vote away from enacting certain term limits on city board and committee positions. 

At Monday night's city council meeting, the eight council members voted for the second time on Ordinance 4798, which passed the initial vote during the June 23 meeting by a vote of 5-3. 

The proposed ordinance would enact term limits on boards and committees where no individual would be able to serve more than two consecutive terms on the same city board or committee, but could serve again four years after their second term.

The ordinance did slightly change from the last time it was voted on.

New language would allow individuals to serve on no more than two committees or boards at the same time. The previous ordinance would've only permitted individuals to serve on one at a time. 

With all eight council members present Monday, the vote was a 4-4 deadlock on advancing the ordinance. 

Larry Consbruck, Steve Huntley, Michael Anderson and Marc Rowan voted 'yes'. Council members Brian Hoffman, Matt Fong, Maggie Esch and Brad Consbruck voted 'no'.

Mayor Jay Beckby then cast his tie-breaking vote in favor of the ordinance to pass it past the second round. 

Opposers of the ordinance have voiced concerns, calling it 'unnecessary' for a volunteer position, and that the city council should consider term-limiting themselves first. 

Supporters argue this ordinance would keep fresh ideas and people in these roles, and prevent 'stagnation.'

By passing the second round of voting, council members still need to vote in favor one more time at a future city council meeting to pass this ordinance into law. 

Also at Monday night's meeting, the council unanimously voted in favor 8-0 to approve the final plat of the Cedar Park Subdivision, which will build 58 units of housing on 12 lots on 3.67 acres of land southeast of the intersection of E D St. and S Cedar Ave in Hastings. 

Council members also voted unanimously in favor 8-0 to approve an administration agreement with the South Central Economic Development District for a $360,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Bruckman Rubber Company expansion project.