Bettendorf City Council approves Devil's Glen road widening, zoning amendment, school speed zone and I‑80 TIF ordinance

Bettendorf City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a set of measures that include a resolution to widen Devil's Glen Road, second readings of a zoning map amendment and a school speed zone ordinance, and final adoption of a tax increment financing ordinance for the I‑80 urban renewal area.

The council opened a public hearing on the Devil's Glen Road widening project, which covers the corridor from 50 Third Avenue to Crow Lake Drive, and then approved plans, specifications and the form of contract by resolution. Council member Jaeger moved approval; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll call.

The council also held and approved two second readings: amending the city zoning map for 438 Sixteenth Street from R‑2 (single‑family residence) to C‑2 (community commercial), and adding a school zone on Maplecrest Drive by amending Bettendorf City Code section 6‑1‑285. Both ordinances advanced on unanimous second‑reading votes.

At the third and final reading the council approved an ordinance that directs tax increment revenues levied on property in the I‑80 urban renewal area to a special fund for repayment of indebtedness associated with the urban renewal project. The ordinance statement names the City of Bettendorf, Scott County and Pleasant Valley Community School District among the taxing districts associated with the I‑80 urban renewal area; the council approved the ordinance on a unanimous roll call.

The council also approved its consent agenda unanimously. No written correspondence was reported for the Devil's Glen public hearing, and no members of the public spoke during that hearing.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution: Approve plans, specifications and form of contract for Devil's Glen Road widening (Devil's Glen Road to Crow Lake Drive). Moved by Council member Jaeger; second not specified. Roll call: Sechsar (Aye), Baden (Aye), Palczynski (Aye), Adamson (Aye), Jaeger (Aye), Naumann (Aye). Outcome: approved (unanimous). - Ordinance (second reading): Rezoning 438 Sixteenth Street (Lots 1–3, Block 4) from R‑2 to C‑2. Moved by Council member Sechser; second not specified. Roll call: unanimous. Outcome: passed second reading. - Ordinance (second reading): Amend Bettendorf City Code §6‑1‑285 to add a school zone on Maplecrest Drive. Moved by Council member Naumann; second not specified. Roll call: unanimous. Outcome: passed second reading. - Ordinance (third/final reading & adoption): Direct tax increment revenues for property in the I‑80 urban renewal area to a special fund for repayment of related indebtedness (Iowa urban renewal/TIF ordinance). Moved by Council member Palczynski; second not specified. Roll call: unanimous. Outcome: adopted. - Consent agenda: Motion to approve all consent items; mover/second not specified. Roll call: unanimous. Outcome: approved.

Council discussion before the Devil's Glen vote included a question from Council member Saxer about the trail adjacent to the road. A city staff member explained the trail already exists on the east side of Devil's Glen Road and that the project will add a missing five‑foot sidewalk section from Field Psych (as described in the staff remarks) down to the bridge and improve a crossing signal near Field Psych. The staff member said, "the trail already exists on the east side of the road and what we're going to be doing with this project is installing the 5 foot section of sidewalk that currently does not exist from field psych down to where the quartet is at that location. We're going to extend that down all the way to the bridge. That's why we're going to be taken out with this project. Those, those, that signal there that we have in between so that we can actually have a safe crossing at that location, up there at Field Psych and, up, over to the other side of to the trail." The staff member also stated, "But the trail is only gonna exist on the East side."

No substantive public testimony was recorded for the Devil's Glen public hearing. The council chair closed the hearing before taking the motion and the roll call vote followed.

The city clerk called the roll for each item; all votes reported in the official roll calls were recorded as aye. The meeting moved on to a consent agenda and was adjourned after a brief operational update on Frozen Landing.