Iowa · statute · Iowa Code ch. 372 · 16 active provisions
1. The forms of city government are: a. Mayor-council, or mayor-council with appointed manager. b. Commission. c. Council-manager-at-large. d. Council-manager-ward. e. Home rule charter. f. Special charter. g. City-county consolidated form as provided in sections 331.247 through 331.252. h. Community commonwealth as pr…
Unless otherwise provided by law, a city may adopt a different form of government not more often than once in a six-year period. A different form, other than a home rule charter, special charter, city-county consolidated government, or community commonwealth, must be adopted as follows: 1. Eligible electors of the city…
If a petition for appointment of a home rule charter commission is filed with the city clerk not more than ten days after the council has published the first notice announcing the date of the special election on adoption of another form of government, the special election shall not be held until the charter proposed by…
1. a. A city governed by the mayor-council form has a mayor and five council members elected at large, unless the council representation plan is changed pursuant to section 372.13, subsection 11. The council may, by ordinance, provide for a city manager and prescribe the manager’s powers and duties, and as long as the…
1. A city governed by the commission form has five departments as follows: a. Department of public affairs. b. Department of accounts and finances. c. Department of public safety. d. Department of streets and public improvements. e. Department of parks and public property. 2. a. A city governed by the commission form h…
1. A city governed by the council-manager-at-large form has five council members elected at large for staggered four-year terms. At the first meeting of the new term following each city election, the council shall elect one of the council members to serve as mayor, and one to serve as mayor pro tem. The mayor is a memb…
1. A city governed by council-manager-ward form has a council composed of a mayor and six council members. Of the six council members, two may be elected at large and one elected from each of four wards, or one may be elected from each of six wards. The mayor and other council members serve four-year staggered terms. T…
When a city adopts a council-manager-at-large or council-manager-ward form of government: 1. The city manager is the chief administrative officer of the city. 2. The city manager shall: a. Supervise enforcement and execution of the city laws. b. Attend all meetings of the council. c. Recommend to the council any measur…
A city to be governed by the home rule charter form shall adopt a home rule charter in which its form of government is set forth. A city may adopt a home rule charter only by the following procedures: 1. A home rule charter may be proposed by: a. The council, causing a charter to be prepared and filed and by resolution…
A home rule charter must contain provisions for: 1. A council of an odd number of members, not less than five. 2. A mayor, who may be one of those council members. 3. Two-year or staggered four-year terms of office for the mayor and council members. 4. The powers and duties of the mayor and the council, consistent with…
A home rule charter may be amended by one of the following methods: 1. The council, by resolution, may submit a proposed amendment to the voters at a special city election, and the proposed amendment becomes effective if approved by a majority of those voting. 2. The council, by ordinance, may amend the charter. Howeve…
1. A city may not adopt the special charter form but a city governed by a special charter on July 1, 1975, is considered to have the special charter form although it may utilize elements of the mayor-council form in conjunction with the provisions of its special charter. In adopting and filing its charter as required i…
1. A majority of all council members is a quorum. 2. A vacancy in an elective city office during a term of office shall be filled, at the council’s option, by one of the two following procedures: a. 1. By appointment by the remaining members of the council, except that if the remaining members do not constitute a quoru…
1. If concurrent vacancies exist on the council and the remaining council members do not constitute a quorum of the full membership, the city clerk is authorized to make the following payments without prior approval of the council: a. For fixed charges including but not limited to freight, express, postage, water, ligh…
1. The mayor is the chief executive officer of the city and presiding officer of the council. Except for the supervisory duties which have been delegated by law to a city manager, the mayor shall supervise all city officers and departments. 2. The mayor may take command of the police and govern the city by proclamation…
Except as otherwise provided by state or city law, all persons appointed to city office may be removed by the officer or body making the appointment, but every such removal shall be by written order. The order shall give the reasons, be filed in the office of the city clerk, and a copy shall be sent by certified mail t…