*Source: packet briefing source file.
The August 3, 2026 Dyersville City Council meeting is centered on one major policy decision that will influence how the city grows over the coming decade: approval of Resolution No. 70-26 authorizing an agreement with RDG Planning & Design, Inc. to update both Dyersville's Comprehensive Plan and its zoning regulations. According to city staff, the current comprehensive plan was adopted in 2018 and no longer reflects current development patterns, updated census information, traffic data, or recent growth. The proposed agreement has a not-to-exceed cost of $18,000 and is expected to take approximately five months to complete.
Although only one formal action item appears outside the consent agenda, the consent agenda itself contains several matters with practical community importance. These include approval of a fireworks permit for Field of Dreams events in August, appointment of a new Planning and Zoning Commission member, a request to move the September council meeting because of Labor Day, receipt of the city's annual sewer jetting notice, routine financial approvals, and several informational correspondence items.
The financial materials accompanying the meeting document approximately $295,159 in purchase-order expenditures and approximately $51,535 in additional in-house expenditures covering public safety, transportation, parks, utilities, capital projects, debt-related obligations, and routine city operations. Several large capital and infrastructure payments are included alongside a significant tax rebate within the city's TIF district.
Residents interested in long-term land use, development, infrastructure planning, and future zoning decisions will likely find the RDG agreement to be the meeting's most consequential item because it establishes the framework that will guide future rezoning requests, development proposals, and growth policies across the community.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Resolution No. 70-26 – Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code Update
The council is scheduled to consider approving an agreement with RDG Planning & Design, Inc. to update both the City's Comprehensive Plan and Chapter 165 of the zoning code.
City staff explain that the current comprehensive plan was adopted in July 2018 and now contains outdated population figures, traffic information, land use maps, and growth assumptions. Several areas identified as future growth have already been developed. Because Iowa law requires zoning regulations to be consistent with the comprehensive plan, updating both documents together is intended to provide a stronger legal and planning foundation for future development decisions. The proposed agreement caps consultant compensation at $18,000, billed monthly, without additional written authorization. The anticipated work schedule is approximately five months after the notice to proceed.
Comprehensive Planning Scope
The proposed planning work includes updates to virtually every major chapter of the existing comprehensive plan.
The consultant would update demographic information, transportation planning, parks, community development, economic development, tourism, community character, public facilities, infrastructure, implementation tables, and future land-use maps. Existing goals would generally be reviewed and updated with city staff rather than creating an entirely new planning process. The proposal also updates growth and annexation maps where appropriate.
Zoning Code Modernization
The proposal also includes reviewing Chapter 165 of the municipal zoning regulations.
According to city staff, several land uses and business types now present in Dyersville either were not contemplated or were not defined when the code was last updated. RDG would prepare new definitions and regulations for these uses, produce both marked-up and clean ordinance versions, and provide documentation explaining the recommended changes and planning rationale. Three video conferences with city staff are planned during the project.
Fireworks Permit for Field of Dreams Events
The consent agenda includes consideration of a fireworks permit associated with Field of Dreams Minor and Major League events scheduled for August 11 and August 13, 2026.
Supporting documents include both the permit application and an updated fireworks map. Approval would authorize the requested displays under the city's permitting process for these nationally recognized events.
Planning and Zoning Commission Appointment
Council members are asked to approve the appointment of Tom Westhoff to fill an open seat on the Planning & Zoning Commission.
The proposed appointment would extend through June 30, 2028, helping maintain membership on the commission that reviews development proposals, zoning requests, and planning recommendations before they reach the City Council.
Council Schedule Change
The City Clerk requests moving the regularly scheduled council meeting from Monday, September 7, 2026, to Tuesday, September 8, 2026, because September 7 is Labor Day. Approval would avoid scheduling a regular council meeting on a federal holiday.
Financial Matters
The packet includes extensive financial documentation supporting routine operations and capital activities.
Highlights include:
- Approximately $295,159.04 in purchase-order expenditures.
- Approximately $51,534.90 in additional in-house expenditures.
- A $162,769.66 tax rebate from the Dyersville TIF District.
- Nearly $60,194 in Capital Projects Fund expenditures.
- Approximately $15,957 for engineering work associated with the Westlinden Lift Station final design.
- Approximately $49,633 in contracted capital-project services, including communications network work.
- Approximately $9,955 for wastewater treatment variable-frequency drive capital improvements.
- Approximately $25,196 for Field of Dreams network hardware and approximately $24,436 for West Side Park network work.
- A $5,000 contribution to the Dyersville Area Historical Society.
- Transportation purchases including more than $10,473 for new truck equipment installation.
April revenue reports show substantial receipts from property taxes, utility payments, local option sales taxes, water and sewer revenues, building permits, and state revenue sources across multiple city funds.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Resolution No. 70-26 is the principal governance item before the council.
Approval would authorize the mayor to execute the consulting agreement, authorize the city clerk to attest the agreement, and authorize the city administrator to issue the notice to proceed and administer the project.
The accompanying staff memorandum explains that updating both the comprehensive plan and zoning code together is intended to strengthen consistency between planning policy and zoning administration while providing updated regulations for newer land uses that have emerged since 2018.
The council will receive several informational items without separate action beyond acknowledgement.
These include:
- 2026 Sewer Jetting Notice.
- Greater Dubuque Development Corporation July 2026 correspondence.
- Keep Iowa Beautiful July newsletter.
- Trees Forever July newsletter.
These materials provide updates regarding utility maintenance planning, regional economic development activities, beautification efforts, and urban forestry initiatives but do not appear to require separate policy decisions at this meeting.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
The principal personnel-related item is the appointment of Tom Westhoff to the Planning & Zoning Commission through June 30, 2028.
Routine insurance, utility, operational, and administrative expenditures are included throughout the financial reports, but the packet does not identify significant staffing reorganizations, employment contracts, resignations, or retirements requiring council action.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Infrastructure planning is a major focus of this meeting.
The proposed RDG project updates planning for transportation, parks, land use, annexation, infrastructure, community development, tourism, and economic development. Although no major construction contracts are being awarded through Resolution 70-26, the planning work establishes the framework for future infrastructure investment and land-use decisions.
Operational materials also reference ongoing utility work, sewer maintenance, communications network improvements, engineering services, wastewater equipment upgrades, road maintenance, and other capital projects already underway.
The regular meeting agenda provides opportunities for public comments on both agenda and non-agenda items before council action.
The planning update itself does not complete the comprehensive plan or zoning revisions. According to city staff, once draft documents are prepared they will proceed to the Planning & Zoning Commission, followed by public hearings and eventual council consideration before adoption, creating additional opportunities for community participation later in the process.
Residents may ultimately see updated land-use policies that better reflect current development patterns and future growth expectations.
Property owners and developers could be affected by revised zoning definitions and updated regulations for newer business or building types.
Businesses associated with the Field of Dreams events would benefit from timely approval of the requested fireworks permit.
Citizens who attend council meetings should note the proposed September meeting date change.
Taxpayers may also be interested in the city's ongoing investment in transportation equipment, utilities, parks, communications infrastructure, wastewater improvements, and long-range planning reflected throughout the financial reports.
- Why is updating the comprehensive plan considered necessary eight years after its adoption?
- Which portions of the 2018 comprehensive plan are most outdated?
- Which zoning uses currently lack clear definitions?
- Will additional public engagement occur before the comprehensive plan is adopted?
- How will the updated zoning code affect future development applications?
- What deliverables will the city receive for the $18,000 planning contract?
- How will the city measure the success of the planning update?
- What projects are driving the communications network expenditures?
- How does the large TIF tax rebate fit within broader redevelopment goals?
- What timeline is anticipated for Planning & Zoning Commission review and final council adoption?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- August 3, 2026: City Council considers Resolution No. 70-26 and the consent agenda.
- August 11 and August 13, 2026: Proposed fireworks displays for Field of Dreams events.
- Approximately five months after notice to proceed: Estimated completion period for RDG planning work.
- Future Planning & Zoning Commission meetings: Draft comprehensive plan and zoning updates are expected to be reviewed before public hearings.
- Future public hearings: Required before adoption of updated planning and zoning documents.
- September 8, 2026: Proposed rescheduled regular council meeting if approved in place of Labor Day.
Key Takeaways
- Resolution No. 70-26 is the meeting's principal policy decision.
- The RDG agreement is capped at $18,000.
- The comprehensive plan dates from 2018 and is being updated.
- Zoning regulations will also be revised to address newer land uses.
- Project completion is estimated at about five months.
- The consent agenda includes a fireworks permit for August Field of Dreams events.
- Tom Westhoff is proposed for appointment to Planning & Zoning through June 2028.
- The September council meeting may move to September 8 because of Labor Day.
- Financial reports include roughly $295,159 in purchase-order expenditures.
- Capital spending continues across transportation, utilities, communications, and wastewater infrastructure.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: City of Dyersville
- Organization type: municipality
- Government body: city-council
- Location: Dyersville, iowa
- County: Dubuque And Delaware Counties
- Provider: municode-meetings
Keywords
City of Dyersville, Dyersville City Council, August 3 2026, Resolution 70-26, RDG Planning & Design, comprehensive plan, zoning code update, Chapter 165, land use, planning, annexation, transportation, parks, infrastructure, Planning and Zoning Commission, Tom Westhoff, Field of Dreams, fireworks permit, sewer jetting, capital projects, TIF district, utilities, wastewater, communications network, engineering services, public hearing, municipal planning, Iowa, city council, development
