Bettendorf — The Bettendorf City Council unanimously approved a fiscal year 2024–25 budget amendment and passed a sign ordinance on its third and final reading during the May 20 council meeting, while holding first readings on multiple zoning- and code-related ordinances.

The council adopted a resolution approving amendments to the current-year budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Council member Nauman moved adoption of the resolution; the roll call vote was recorded as unanimous. Michelle (staff member) confirmed that notice of the public hearing was published though she said she did not yet have the paper’s affidavit of publication in hand.

Council member Baden moved and the council adopted the sign ordinance on its third and final reading. Several other ordinances were advanced on their first reading with unanimous votes: an amendment to Bettendorf City Code Chapter 7, Section 4 (location of polls); two companion rezoning requests to change property generally located north of Forest Grove Drive, west of Wells Ferry Road and south of Interstate 80 (one from A-1 agricultural/urban reserve district to R-2 single-family residence district; the other from A-1 to C-3 general business district); and an amendment to the commercial and parking permitted-use table in Title 11, Section 4-5(b) of the city code.

The council approved the consent agenda unanimously, during which members referenced an emailed cost breakdown for the HDR contract on the I‑80 Middle Road Corridor. No public comments were recorded on the budget amendment or the listed rezoning items during their public hearings.

Quotes and process notes

"Yes. We did, your honor. And I do have affidavit of publication," Michelle said when asked whether notice had been published for one of the hearings; earlier she stated she had seen the notice in the paper but did not yet have the affidavit from the publisher for the budget hearing. Council members confirmed they had been briefed on a number of ordinances before voting and recorded no further discussion on the motions before roll calls.

What passed (selected items)

- Resolution adopting fiscal year 2024–25 budget amendment — moved by Council member Nauman; outcome: approved (unanimous roll call).
- Ordinance amending Bettendorf City Code Title 11, Chapter 14 (sign ordinance) — third and final reading; moved by Council member Baden; outcome: adopted (unanimous roll call).
- Ordinance amending Bettendorf City Code Chapter 7, Section 4 (location of polls) — first reading; moved by Council member Jaeger; outcome: approved at first reading (unanimous).
- Rezoning (North of Forest Grove Drive / West of Wells Ferry Road / South of I‑80) A-1 to R-2 (single-family) — first reading; moved by Council member Brown; outcome: approved at first reading (unanimous).
- Rezoning (same general area) A-1 to C-3 (general business) — first reading; moved by Council member Palczynski; outcome: approved at first reading (unanimous).
- Ordinance amending commercial and parking permitted-use table (Title 11, Sec. 4-5(b)) — first reading; moved by Council member Sechsor; outcome: approved at first reading (unanimous).
- Consent agenda, including contract for HDR at the I‑80 Middle Road Corridor (breakout provided by Public Works Director Brian Schmidt) — outcome: approved (unanimous).

Nut graf

The meeting centered on routine but consequential municipal actions: formalizing a midyear budget amendment, adopting a sign ordinance on final reading and advancing multiple land‑use and code amendments on their first readings. All recorded votes on motions and ordinances in the meeting record were unanimous.

Background and next steps

First readings do not enact ordinances; most of the code and zoning amendments advanced on first reading will return to the council for subsequent readings (and public notice) before final adoption. The budget amendment took effect with the council resolution at this meeting. The HDR contract referenced during the consent agenda was reported to have a breakout in an email from Public Works Director Brian Schmidt; details beyond that breakout were not stated on the record.