reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 373 - CONSOLIDATED METROPOLITAN CORPORATIONS › Section 373.6 - Referendum — effective date.

373.6 Referendum — effective date.
1. If a proposed charter for consolidation is received not later than seventy-eight days before the next general election, the council of the participating city with the largest population shall, not later than sixty-nine days before the general election, direct the county commissioner of elections to submit to the registered voters of the participating cities at the next general election the question of whether the proposed charter shall be adopted. A summary of the proposed charter shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each city participating in the charter commission process at least ten but not more than twenty days before the date of the election. The proposed charter shall be effective in regard to a city only if a majority of the electors of the city voting approves the proposed charter.
2. If a proposed charter for consolidation is adopted:
a. The adopted charter shall take effect July 1 following the election at which it is approved unless the charter provides a later effective date. A special election shall be called to elect the new elective officers.
b. The adoption of the consolidated metropolitan corporation form of government does not alter any right or liability of any participating city in effect at the time of the election at which the charter was adopted.
c. All departments and agencies shall continue to operate until replaced.
d. All ordinances or resolutions in effect remain effective until amended or repealed, unless they are irreconcilable with the adopted charter.
e. Upon the effective date of the adopted charter, the participating cities shall adopt the consolidation form by ordinance, and shall file a copy with the secretary of state, and maintain available copies for public inspection.
3. If a charter is submitted to the electorate but is not adopted, another charter shall not be submitted to the electorate for two years. If a charter is adopted, it may be amended at any time. If a charter is adopted, a proposed charter for another alternative form of city government shall not be submitted to the electorate for six years.
4. Section 372.2 shall not apply to a charter commission established under this chapter.
91 Acts, ch 256, §45; 95 Acts, ch 67, §53; 2009 Acts, ch 57, §92
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 373 - CONSOLIDATED METROPOLITAN CORPORATIONS › Section 373.7 - Form of ballot.

373.7 Form of ballot.
1. The question of metropolitan consolidation shall be submitted to the electors in substantially the following form:
Should the cities of ................................ and ................................ unite to form one joint metropolitan corporation government?
2. The ballot must contain a brief description and summary of the proposed charter or amendment.
91 Acts, ch 256, §46; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §152
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 373 - CONSOLIDATED METROPOLITAN CORPORATIONS › Section 373.8 - Effect of consolidation.

373.8 Effect of consolidation.
1. Cities consolidating pursuant to this chapter shall retain all the rights, powers, and duties conferred upon them by the Constitution of the State of Iowa and shall retain all the rights, powers, and duties conferred upon them by the laws of the state of Iowa, except to the extent those statutory rights, powers, and duties are limited by the charter government in fulfilling its duty to provide efficient administration and delivery of services to its citizens.
2. The consolidation charter may provide for the replacement of the city government of the member city with the largest population, according to the most recent certified federal census. That city shall be known as the home city of the consolidated metropolitan corporation. If its government is replaced, the consolidation charter shall provide that the home city be governed either directly by the metropolitan council or by those members of the metropolitan council who reside within the corporate boundaries of the home city. The home city shall retain its geographic boundaries for the purposes of taxation.
3. Cities participating in consolidation shall be referred to as member cities of the consolidated metropolitan corporation.
4. A city may join an existing consolidated metropolitan corporation government by resolution of the city council or upon petition of eligible electors of the city equal in number to at least twenty-five percent of the persons who voted at the last general election for the office of governor or president of the United States, whichever is fewer. Within fifteen days after receiving a valid petition, the city council of the petitioning city shall adopt a resolution in favor of participation and shall immediately forward the resolution to the metropolitan council. If a majority of the metropolitan council approves the resolution, the question of joining the consolidated metropolitan corporation shall be submitted to the electorate of the petitioning city within sixty days after approval of the resolution.
91 Acts, ch 256, §47; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §76
Referred to in §373.11
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 373 - CONSOLIDATED METROPOLITAN CORPORATIONS › Section 373.9 - Metropolitan council.

373.9 Metropolitan council.
1. A consolidated metropolitan corporation shall be governed by a metropolitan council. The council shall consist of an odd number of members, not less than eleven and not more than seventeen. If a vacancy on the metropolitan council occurs more than sixty days before the next general election, the council shall direct the county commissioner of elections to conduct a special election to fill the vacancy until the next general election.
2. Unless otherwise specified in the consolidation charter, the council shall act by a majority vote of the members on the council.
91 Acts, ch 256, §48
Referred to in §373.5
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 373 - CONSOLIDATED METROPOLITAN CORPORATIONS › Section 373.10 - Taxing authority.

373.10 Taxing authority.
The metropolitan council shall have the authority to levy city taxes to the extent the city tax levy authority is transferred by the charter to the metropolitan council. A member city shall transfer a portion of the city’s tax levy authorized under section 384.1 or 384.12, whichever is applicable, to the metropolitan council. The maximum rates of taxes authorized to be levied under sections 384.1 and 384.12 by a member city shall be reduced by an amount equal to the rates of the same or similar taxes levied in the city by the metropolitan council.
91 Acts, ch 256, §49
Referred to in §373.5
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 373 - CONSOLIDATED METROPOLITAN CORPORATIONS › Section 373.11 - Service delivery.

373.11 Service delivery.
1. The charter of consolidation shall provide for the transfer into the metropolitan consolidated corporation of areawide services which had been provided by other boards, commissions, and local governments. The metropolitan council shall have the authority to determine the boundaries of the service areas, except that formation of a consolidated metropolitan corporation shall not affect the assignment of electric utility service territories pursuant to chapter 476, and shall not affect the rights of a city to grant a franchise under chapter 364.
a. For each service provided by the consolidated metropolitan corporation, the consolidated metropolitan corporation shall assume the same statutory rights, powers, and duties, except taxing authority, relating to the provision of such service as if the member city were itself providing the service to its citizens. However, the consolidated metropolitan corporation shall not assume any of the governmental functions of its member cities except as the functions relate to the delivery of services and except as provided in section 373.8.
b. If a service is being provided by the consolidated metropolitan corporation to any member city that member city shall not invoke any statutory right, power, or duty relating to the delivery of the service to its citizens.
2. A member city may apply to the metropolitan council for the purchase of any service which is being provided by the consolidated metropolitan corporation to any other member city, including the home city of the consolidated metropolitan corporation. Such an agreement to provide services shall be executed pursuant to chapter 28E and must contain provisions necessary for the lawful execution of the agreement.
91 Acts, ch 256, §50; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180
Referred to in §373.5
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.1 - City election held.

376.1 City election held.
1. A city shall hold a regular city election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year. A city shall hold regular, special, primary, or runoff city elections as provided by state law.
2. The mayor or council shall give notice of any special election to the county commissioner of elections. The county commissioner of elections shall publish notice of any city election and conduct the election pursuant to the provisions of chapters 39 through 53, except as otherwise specifically provided in chapters 362 through 392. The results of any election shall be canvassed by the county board of supervisors and certified by the county commissioner of elections to the mayor and the council of the city for which the election is held.
[R60, §1130; C73, §501; C97, §642, 936; S13, §646, 1056-a20, -a21; SS15, §1056-b5, -b6; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5627, 6488, 6494, 6507, 6514, 6643, 6644, 6737; C46, 50, §363.5, 416.12, 416.18, 416.31, 416.38, 419.29, 419.30; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.8, 363.20, 363.24, 363.26; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.1]
2020 Acts, ch 1063, §202
Referred to in §39.20, 331.383, 372.13, 388.2
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.2 - Terms.

376.2 Terms.
1. Terms of city officers begin and end at noon on the first day in January which is not a Sunday or legal holiday, following a regular city election.
2. Except as otherwise provided by state law or the city charter, terms for elective offices are two years. However, the term of an elective office may be changed to two or four years by petition and election. Upon receipt of a petition meeting the requirements of section 362.4, requesting that the term of an elective office be changed, the council shall submit the question at a special election. If a majority of the persons voting at the special election approves the changed term, it becomes effective at the beginning of the term following the next regular city election. If a majority does not approve the changed term, the council shall not submit the same proposal to the voters within the next four years.
3. At the first regular city election after the terms of council members are changed to four years, terms shall be staggered as follows:
a. If an even number of council members are elected at large, the half of the elected council members who receive the highest number of votes are elected for four-year terms. The remainder are elected for two-year terms.
b. If an odd number of council members are elected at large, the majority of the elected council members who receive the highest number of votes are elected for four-year terms. The remainder are elected for two-year terms.
c. In case of a tie the mayor and clerk shall determine by lot which council members are elected for four-year terms.
d. If the council members are elected from wards, the council members elected from the odd-numbered wards are elected for four-year terms and the council members elected from even-numbered wards are elected for two-year terms.
4. After July 1, 1986, a petition submitted under this section to change the term of council members from two to four years shall specify if the terms are to be staggered or run concurrently. If the petition provides for concurrent terms and the changed term is approved by the voters, subsection 3 shall not apply and the terms shall be concurrent. If valid petitions for staggered and concurrent terms are submitted, the first filed shall govern.
[R60, §1081, 1084, 1091, 1093, 1106; C73, §390, 511, 514, 518, 521, 535; C97, §646 – 649; S13, §646 – 649; SS15, §1056-b3; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5632, 6625, 6626; C46, 50, §363.10, 419.11, 419.12; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.9, 363.10, 363.28; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.2]
86 Acts, ch 1224, §34; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §105, 115; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §67, 71; 2017 Acts, ch 29, §106
Referred to in §39.20
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.3 - Nominations.

376.3 Nominations.
Candidates for elective city offices must be nominated as provided in sections 376.4 through 376.9 unless by ordinance a city chooses the provisions of chapter 44 or 45. However, a city acting under a special charter in 1973 and having a population of over fifty thousand shall continue to hold partisan elections as provided in sections 43.112 through 43.118 and sections 420.126 through 420.137 unless the city by election as provided in section 43.112 chooses to conduct city elections under this chapter or chapter 44 or 45. The choice of one of these options by such a special charter city does not otherwise affect the validity of the city’s charter. However, special charter cities which choose to exercise the option to conduct nonpartisan city elections may choose in the same manner the original decision was made, to resume holding city elections on a partisan basis.
[S13, §1056-a21; SS15, §1056-b4; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6492, 6496, 6634, 6638; C46, 50, §416.16, 416.20, 419.20, 419.24; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.11, 363.16; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.3; 82 Acts, ch 1097, §2]
2020 Acts, ch 1063, §203
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.4A - Change to direct election of mayor — nomination petition signature requirements.

376.4A Change to direct election of mayor — nomination petition signature requirements.
1. If there is a change in government pursuant to section 372.6, subsection 2, the number of signatures required on a nomination petition for the office of mayor for the first election that office is on the ballot shall be an amount equal to the product of the following:
a. The total number of votes cast for at-large city council offices at the last regular city election divided by the number of city council seats to be filled at the last regular city election.
b. Two hundredths.
2. If the product of subsection 1, paragraphs “a” and “b”, is less than ten, the required number of signatures is ten.
2007 Acts, ch 18, §1
Referred to in §372.13, 376.3
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.5 - Publication of ballot.

376.5 Publication of ballot.
Notice for each regular, special, primary, or runoff city election shall be published by the county commissioner of elections as provided in section 362.3, except that notice of a regular, primary, or runoff election may be published not less than four days before the date of the election. The published notice must list the names of all candidates, and must not contain any party designations. The published notice must include any question to be submitted to the voters. The notice may contain one or more facsimiles of the portion of the ballot containing the first arrangement of candidates as prescribed by section 49.31, subsection 2.
[S13, §1056-a21; SS15, §1056-b4; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6499, 6500, 6501, 6503, 6640; C46, 50, §416.23 – 416.25, 416.27, 419.26; C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.19; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.5]
2019 Acts, ch 148, §58; 2021 Acts, ch 147, §51, 54; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §98
Referred to in §372.13, 376.3
Section amended
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.6 - Primary or other method of nomination — certification.

376.6 Primary or other method of nomination — certification.
1. An individual for whom a valid petition is filed becomes a candidate in the regular city election for the office for which the individual has filed, except that a primary election must be held for offices for which the number of individuals for whom valid petitions are filed is more than twice the number of positions to be filled. However:
a. The council may by ordinance choose to have a runoff election, as provided in section 376.9, in lieu of a primary election.
b. If the council has by ordinance chosen to have nominations made in the manner provided by chapter 44 or 45, neither a primary election nor a runoff election is required.
2. Each city clerk shall certify to the city’s controlling commissioner of elections under section 47.2 the type of nomination process to be used for the city no later than ninety days before the date of the regular city election. If the city has by ordinance chosen a runoff election or has chosen to have nominations made in the manner provided by chapter 44 or 45, or has repealed nomination provisions under those sections in preference for the primary election method, a copy of the city ordinance shall be attached. No changes in the method of nomination to be used in a city shall be made after the clerk has filed the certification with the commissioner, unless the change will not take effect until after the next regular city election.
[S13, §1056-a21; SS15, §1056-b4; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6492, 6510, 6638; C46, 50, §416.16, 416.34, 419.24; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.16, 363.18; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.6]
88 Acts, ch 1119, §40; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §106, 115; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180; 2017 Acts, ch 155, §41, 44
Referred to in §372.13, 376.3
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.7 - Date of primary.

376.7 Date of primary.
1. If a primary election is necessary, it shall be held on the Tuesday four weeks before the date of the regular city election. For each office on the ballot, a voter shall only vote for the number of persons to be elected to that office at the regular city election. The county board of supervisors shall publicly canvass the tally lists of the vote cast in the primary election, following the procedures prescribed in section 50.24, at a meeting to be held on the second day following the primary election, and beginning no earlier than 1:00 p.m. on that day.
2. The names of those candidates who receive the highest number of votes for each office on the primary election ballot, to the extent of twice the number of unfilled positions, must be placed on the ballot for the regular city election as candidates for that office.
3. If the city holding a primary election is located in more than one county, the controlling commissioner for that city under section 47.2, subsection 2, shall conduct a second canvass on the first Monday or Tuesday after the day of the election. However, if a recount is requested pursuant to section 50.48, the controlling commissioner shall conduct the second canvass within two business days after the conclusion of the recount proceeding. Each commissioner conducting a canvass for the city pursuant to section 50.24, subsection 1, shall transmit abstracts for the offices of that city to the controlling commissioner for that city, along with individual tallies for each write-in candidate. At the second canvass, the county board of supervisors of the county of the controlling commissioner shall canvass the abstracts received pursuant to this subsection and shall prepare a combined city abstract stating the number of votes cast in the city for each office. The combined city abstract shall further indicate the name of each person who received votes for each office on the ballot, and the number of votes each person received for that office. The votes of all write-in candidates who each received less than five percent of the total votes cast in the city for an office shall be reported collectively under the heading “scattering”.
[S13, §1056-a21; SS15, §1056-b5; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6493, 6507, 6643; C46, 50, §416.17, 416.31, 419.29; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.17, 363.24; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.7]
86 Acts, ch 1224, §36; 2010 Acts, ch 1033, §52; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §59
Referred to in §50.48, 331.383, 372.13, 376.3
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.8 - Persons elected in city elections.

376.8 Persons elected in city elections.
1. In a regular city election following a city primary, the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes cast for each office on the ballot are elected, to the extent necessary to fill the positions open.
2. In a regular city election held for a city where the council has chosen a runoff election in lieu of a primary, candidates are elected as provided by subsection 1, except that no candidate is elected who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast for the office in question. In the case of at-large elections to a multimember body, a majority is one vote more than half the quotient found by dividing the total number of votes cast for all candidates for that body by the number of positions to be filled. In calculating the number of votes necessary to constitute a majority, fractions shall be rounded up to the next higher whole number.
3. In a regular city election held for a city where the council has chosen to have nominations made in the manner provided by chapter 44 or 45, the candidates who receive the greatest number of votes for each office on the ballot are elected, to the extent necessary to fill the positions open.
[S13, §1056-a21; SS15, §1056-b4; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6492, 6638; C46, 50, §416.16, 419.24; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.16; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.8]
88 Acts, ch 1119, §41; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §153
Referred to in §372.13, 376.3
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.9 - Runoff election.

376.9 Runoff election.
1. A runoff election may be held only for positions unfilled because of failure of a sufficient number of candidates to receive a majority vote in the regular city election. When a council has chosen a runoff election in lieu of a primary, the county board of supervisors shall publicly canvass the tally lists of the vote cast in the regular city election, following the procedures prescribed in section 50.24. Candidates who do not receive a majority of the votes cast for an office, but who receive the highest number of votes cast for that office in the regular city election, to the extent of twice the number of unfilled positions, are candidates in the runoff election.
2. a. Runoff elections shall be held four weeks after the date of the regular city election and shall be conducted in the same manner as regular city elections, except that the county board of supervisors required to canvass the vote of the runoff election pursuant to section 50.24 shall meet to canvass the vote on the Thursday following the runoff election.
b. For a city that is located in more than one county, the county board of supervisors conducting the canvass under paragraph “a” shall transmit abstracts for the offices and public measures of that city, along with individual tallies for each write-in candidate, to the city’s controlling commissioner under section 47.2 within twenty-four hours of completing the canvass. The county board of supervisors of the county of the controlling commissioner shall canvass the abstracts received pursuant to this subsection on the first Monday or the first Tuesday after the day of the runoff election and shall proceed as provided in section 50.24, subsection 4.
3. Candidates in the runoff election who receive the highest number of votes cast for each office on the ballot are elected to the extent necessary to fill the positions open.
[C71, 73, §363.16; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.9]
86 Acts, ch 1224, §37; 2010 Acts, ch 1033, §53; 2017 Acts, ch 155, §42, 44; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §60
Referred to in §50.48, 331.383, 372.13, 376.3, 376.6
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 376 - CITY ELECTIONS › Section 376.10 - Contest.

376.10 Contest.
A nomination or election to a city office may be contested in the manner provided in chapter 62 for contesting elections to county offices, except that a statement of intent to contest must be filed with the city clerk within ten days after the nomination or election.
[C97, §678, 679; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5629; C46, 50, §363.7; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §363.22; C75, 77, 79, 81, §376.10]
97 Acts, ch 170, §92
Referred to in §372.13
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.1 - Definitions.

380.1 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. “All of the members of the council” refers to all of the seats of the council including a vacant seat and a seat where the member is absent, but does not include a seat where the council member declines to vote by reason of a conflict of interest.
2. “Book”, “list”, “record”, or “schedule” kept by a county auditor, assessor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, or other county officer means the county system as defined in section 445.1.
2000 Acts, ch 1148, §1; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §124
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.1A - Title of ordinance.

380.1A Title of ordinance.
The subject matter of an ordinance or amendment must be generally described in the title of the ordinance or amendment.
[R60, §1122; C73, §489; C97, §681; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5715; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.2; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.1]
97 Acts, ch 168, §1
C2001, §380.1A
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.2 - Amendment.

380.2 Amendment.
An amendment to an ordinance or to a code of ordinances must specifically identify the ordinance or code, or the section, subsection, or paragraph to be amended, and must set forth the ordinance, code, section, subsection, or paragraph as amended, which action is deemed to be a repeal of the previous ordinance, code, section, subsection, or paragraph amended.
[R60, §1122; C73, §489; C97, §681; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5715; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.2; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.2]
91 Acts, ch 145, §3; 97 Acts, ch 168, §2
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.3 - Two considerations before final passage — how waived.

380.3 Two considerations before final passage — how waived.
A proposed ordinance or amendment must be considered and voted on for passage at two council meetings prior to the meeting at which it is to be finally passed, unless this requirement is suspended by a recorded vote of not less than three-fourths of all of the members of the council. If a proposed ordinance, amendment, or resolution fails to receive sufficient votes for passage at any consideration and vote thereon, the proposed ordinance, amendment, or resolution shall be considered defeated.
[R60, §1122; C73, §489; C97, §682; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5716; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.3; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.3]
88 Acts, ch 1246, §5; 97 Acts, ch 168, §3, 4
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.4 - Majority requirement — tie vote — conflicts of interest.

380.4 Majority requirement — tie vote — conflicts of interest.
1. Passage of an ordinance, amendment, or resolution requires a majority vote of all of the members of the council, except when the mayor may vote to break a tie vote in a city with an even number of council members, as provided in section 372.4. Passage of a motion requires a majority vote of a quorum of the council. A resolution must be passed to spend public funds in excess of one hundred thousand dollars on a public improvement project, or to accept public improvements and facilities upon their completion. Each council member’s vote on a measure must be recorded. A measure which fails to receive sufficient votes for passage shall be considered defeated.
2. A measure voted upon is not invalid by reason of a conflict of interest in a member of the council, unless the vote of the member of the council was decisive to passage of the measure. The vote must be computed on the basis of the number of members not disqualified by reason of conflict of interest. However, a majority of all members is required for a quorum. For the purpose of this section, the statement of a council member that the council member declines to vote by reason of conflict of interest is conclusive and must be entered of record.
[R60, §1122, 1134, 1135; C73, §466, 489, 493, 494; C97, §683, 684, 793; S13, §683, 693; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5717; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.4; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.4]
97 Acts, ch 168, §5; 2007 Acts, ch 144, §14; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §125
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.5 - Mayor.

380.5 Mayor.
The mayor may sign, veto, or take no action on an ordinance, amendment, or resolution passed by the council. However, the mayor may not veto an ordinance, amendment, or resolution if the mayor was entitled to vote on such measure at the time of passage.
[C97, §685; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5718; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.5; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.5]
97 Acts, ch 168, §6
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.6 - Effective date.

380.6 Effective date.
Measures passed by the council become effective in one of the following ways:
1. a. An ordinance or amendment signed by the mayor becomes effective when the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance is published, as provided in section 380.7, subsection 3, unless a subsequent effective date is provided within the ordinance or amendment.
b. A resolution signed by the mayor becomes effective immediately upon signing.
c. A motion becomes effective immediately upon passage of the motion by the council.
2. The mayor may veto an ordinance, amendment, or resolution within fourteen days after passage. The mayor shall explain the reasons for the veto in a written message to the council at the time of the veto. Within thirty days after the mayor’s veto, the council may pass the measure again by a vote of not less than two-thirds of all of the members of the council. If the mayor vetoes an ordinance, amendment, or resolution and the council repasses the measure after the mayor’s veto, a resolution becomes effective immediately upon repassage, and an ordinance or amendment becomes a law when the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance is published, unless a subsequent effective date is provided within the ordinance or amendment.
3. If the mayor takes no action on an ordinance, amendment, or resolution, a resolution becomes effective fourteen days after the date of passage and an ordinance or amendment becomes a law when the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance is published, but not sooner than fourteen days after the date of passage, unless a subsequent effective date is provided within the ordinance or amendment.
[R60, §1133; C73, §492; C97, §685 – 687; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5718, 5720, 5721, 5721-a1; C39, §5718, 5720, 5721, 5721.1; C46, 50, §366.5, 366.7 – 366.9; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.5, 366.7; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.6]
89 Acts, ch 39, §10; 97 Acts, ch 168, §7
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.7 - City clerk.

380.7 City clerk.
The city clerk shall:
1. Promptly record each measure.
2. Record a statement with the measure, where applicable, indicating whether the mayor signed, vetoed, or took no action on the measure, and whether the measure was repassed after the mayor’s veto.
3. Publish a summary of all ordinances or the complete text of ordinances and amendments in the manner provided in section 362.3. As used in this subsection, “summary” shall mean a narrative description of the terms and conditions of an ordinance setting forth the main points of the ordinance in a manner calculated to inform the public in a clear and understandable manner the meaning of the ordinance and which shall provide the public with sufficient notice to conform to the desired conduct required by the ordinance. The description shall include the title of the ordinance, an accurate and intelligible abstract or synopsis of the essential elements of the ordinance, a statement that the description is a summary, the location and the normal business hours of the office where the ordinance may be inspected, when the ordinance becomes effective, and the full text of any provisions imposing fines, penalties, forfeitures, fees, or taxes. Legal descriptions of property set forth in ordinances shall be described in full, provided that maps or charts may be substituted for legal descriptions when they contain sufficient detail to clearly define the area with which the ordinance is concerned. The narrative description shall be written in a clear and coherent manner and shall, to the extent possible, avoid the use of technical or legal terms not generally familiar to the public. When necessary to use technical or legal terms not generally familiar to the public, the narrative description shall include definitions of those terms.
4. Authenticate all measures except motions with the clerk’s signature and certification as to time and manner of publication, if any. The clerk’s certification is presumptive evidence of the facts stated therein.
5. Maintain for public use copies of all effective ordinances and codes.
[R60, §1133; C73, §492; C97, §686, 687; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5719 – 5721, 5721-a1; C39, §5719 – 5721, 5721.1; C46, 50, §366.6 – 366.9; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.6, 366.7; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.7]
96 Acts, ch 1098, §2; 97 Acts, ch 168, §8
Referred to in §380.6
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.8 - Code of ordinances published.

380.8 Code of ordinances published.
1. a. A city shall compile a code of ordinances containing all of the city ordinances in effect, except grade ordinances, bond ordinances, zoning map ordinances, ordinances vacating streets and alleys, and ordinances containing legal descriptions of urban revitalization areas and urban renewal areas.
b. A city may maintain a code of ordinances either by compiling at least annually a supplement to the code of ordinances consisting of all new ordinances and amendments to ordinances which became effective during the previous year and adopting the supplement by resolution or by adding at least annually new ordinances and amendments to ordinances to the code of ordinances itself.
c. A city which does not maintain the city code of ordinances as provided in paragraph “b” shall compile a code of ordinances at least once every five years.
2. a. If a proposed code of ordinances contains only existing ordinances without change in substance, the council may adopt the code by ordinance.
b. If a proposed code of ordinances contains a new ordinance or an amendment to existing ordinances, the council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed code before adoption. The clerk shall publish notice of the hearing as provided in section 362.3. Copies of the proposed code of ordinances must be available at the city clerk’s office and the notice must so state. Within thirty days after the hearing, the council may adopt the proposed code of ordinances. A new ordinance or an amendment to an existing ordinance becomes effective upon publication of the ordinance adopting the code of ordinances unless a subsequent effective date is provided within an ordinance. If the council substantially amends the proposed code of ordinances after the hearing, notice and hearing must be repeated before the code may be adopted.
3. A code of ordinances compiled and maintained at least annually, or compiled at least once every five years, is presumptive evidence of the passage, publication, and content of the ordinances codified therein as of the date of the clerk’s certification of the ordinance adopting the code or supplement.
[R60, §1133; C73, §492; C97, §686, 687; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5720, 5721, 5721-a1; C39, §5720, 5721, 5721.1; C46, 50, §366.7 – 366.9; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.7; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.8]
97 Acts, ch 168, §9
Referred to in §331.302, 622.62
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.9 - Fee for publication.

380.9 Fee for publication.
The compensation paid to a newspaper for any publication required by this chapter may not exceed the fee provided in section 618.11. The compensation paid to a newspaper for publication of the complete text of an ordinance shall not exceed three-fourths of the fee provided in section 618.11.
[S13, §687-b; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5723; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.11; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.9]
96 Acts, ch 1098, §3
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.10 - Adoption by reference.

380.10 Adoption by reference.
1. A city may adopt the provisions of any statewide or nationally recognized standard code or portions of any such code by an ordinance which identifies the code by subject matter, source and date, and which incorporates the provisions of the code or portions of the code by reference without setting them forth in full. Copies of the proposed code or portions of such code shall be available at the office of the city clerk.
2. a. A city may by ordinance adopt by reference any portion of the Code of Iowa in effect at the time of the adoption in the manner provided in this section, subject to the following limitations:
(1) The ordinance shall describe the subject matter and identify the portion of the Code of Iowa adopted by chapter, section, and subsection or other subpart, as applicable.
(2) A portion of the Code of Iowa may be adopted by reference only if the criminal penalty provided by the law adopted does not exceed the maximum fine and term of imprisonment for a simple misdemeanor under section 903.1, subsection 1, paragraph “a”.
(3) Amendments or other changes to those portions of the Code of Iowa which have been adopted by reference shall serve as an automatic modification of the applicable ordinance.
b. An ordinance which adopts by reference any portion of the Code of Iowa may provide that violations of the ordinance are municipal infractions and subject to the limitations of section 364.22.
3. Copies of any portions of the Code of Iowa to be adopted by reference shall be available at the city clerk’s office. The council shall hold a public hearing on any proposed standard code or on the portions of any standard code to be adopted by reference. The council shall hold a public hearing on any portion of the Code of Iowa to be adopted by reference. The clerk shall publish notice of the hearing as provided in section 362.3. The notice must state that copies of the proposed standard code or portions thereof, or of the portion of the Iowa Code, are available at the city clerk’s office. If the council substantially amends the proposed code after the hearing, notice and hearing must be repeated before the code may be adopted. Within thirty days after the hearing, the council by ordinance may adopt the proposed code which becomes effective upon publication of the ordinance adopting it, unless a subsequent effective date is provided within the adopting ordinance.
[R60, §1133; C73, §492; C97, §686, 687; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5720, 5721, 5721-a1; C39, §5720, 5721, 5721.1; C46, 50, §366.7 – 366.9; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.7; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.10]
91 Acts, ch 145, §4; 97 Acts, ch 168, §10, 11; 2000 Acts, ch 1203, §22; 2009 Acts, ch 21, §7
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 380 - CITY LEGISLATION › Section 380.11 - Certain measures recorded.

380.11 Certain measures recorded.
Immediately after the effective date of a measure establishing any zoning district, building lines, or fire limits, the city clerk shall certify the measure and a plat showing the district, lines, or limits to the recorder of any county which contains part of the city. The county recorder shall index and record the measure and plat. The city shall pay the recording fee.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §5724 – 5727; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §366.12 – 366.15; C75, 77, 79, 81, §380.11]
2001 Acts, ch 44, §17
Referred to in §331.602
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 384 - CITY FINANCE › Section 384.1 - Taxes certified.

384.1 Taxes certified.
A city may certify taxes to be levied by the county on all taxable property within the city limits, for all city government purposes. However, the tax levied by a city on tracts of land and improvements thereon used and assessed for agricultural or horticultural purposes, shall not exceed three dollars and three-eighths cents per thousand dollars of assessed value in any year. Improvements located on such tracts of land and not used for agricultural or horticultural purposes and all residential dwellings are subject to the same rate of tax levied by the city on all other taxable property within the city. A city’s tax levy for the general fund shall not exceed eight dollars and ten cents per thousand dollars of taxable value in any tax year, except for the levies authorized in section 384.12.
[C97, §616, 890; S13, §616; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6210; C46, 50, §404.4; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §404.1, 404.2, 404.15; C75, 77, 79, 81, §384.1]
89 Acts, ch 296, §39
Referred to in §331.263, 357B.8, 357J.15, 373.10, 384.12, 384.15A, 386.8, 386.9
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 384 - CITY FINANCE › Section 384.2 - Fiscal year and tax year.

384.2 Fiscal year and tax year.
1. Except as otherwise provided for special charter cities, a city’s fiscal year shall be as provided in section 24.2, subsection 3. All city property taxes must be certified by a city to the county auditor on or before March 31 of each year, unless otherwise provided by state law. However, municipal utilities, if not supported by taxation or the proceeds of outstanding indebtedness payable from taxes may, with the council’s consent, choose to operate on a fiscal year which is the calendar year. The receipt by the utility of payments from other governmental funds for public fire protection, street lighting, or other public use of the utility’s services shall not be deemed support by taxation. After notice and hearing in the same manner as required for the city’s regular budget under section 384.16, the utility budget must be approved by resolution of the council not later than twenty days prior to the beginning of the calendar year for which the budget applies.
2. The county auditor shall place city taxes and assessments upon the tax list for the current year, and the county treasurer shall collect city taxes and assessments in the same manner as other taxes. Delinquent city taxes and assessments draw the same interest as other taxes. Sales for delinquent city taxes and assessments must be made in the manner provided in chapter 446. The county treasurer shall combine in one tax sale all taxes and assessments due from the same person and collectible by the county.
[R60, §1123, 1126; C73, §495, 498; C97, §902; S13, §902, 1056-a7, 1056-a34; C24, §5678, 6227, 6228, 6570, 6571; C27, 31, 35, §5676-a1, 6227, 6228, 6570, 6871; C39, §5676.1, 6227, 6228, 6570, 6871; C46, 50, §363.51, 404.21, 404.22, 416.95, 420.212; C54, 58, §363.29, 404.3, 404.21; C62, 66, 71, 73, §363.29, 404.3, 404.22; C75, 77, 79, 81, §384.2]
92 Acts, ch 1016, §7; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §104; 2019 Acts, ch 165, §12, 17
Referred to in §331.559
2019 amendment to subsection 1 applies to city budgets and taxes for fiscal years beginning on or after July 1, 2020; 2019 Acts, ch 165, §17
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 384 - CITY FINANCE › Section 384.3 - General fund.

384.3 General fund.
All moneys received for city government purposes from taxes and other sources must be credited to the general fund of the city, except that moneys received for the purposes of the debt service fund, the trust and agency funds, the capital improvements reserve fund, the emergency fund and other funds established by state law must be deposited as otherwise required or authorized by state law. All moneys received by a city from the federal government must be reported to the department of management who shall transmit a copy to the legislative services agency.
[C50, §395.26; C54, 58, §395.26, 404.2, 404.23; C62, 66, 71, 73, §395.26, 404.2, 404.24; C75, 77, 79, 81, §384.3]
2003 Acts, ch 35, §45, 49
Property rights defense account;
2009 Acts, ch 179, §148, 153
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 384 - CITY FINANCE › Section 384.4 - Debt service fund.

384.4 Debt service fund.
1. A city shall establish a debt service fund and shall certify taxes to be levied for the debt service fund in the amount necessary to pay:
a. Judgments against the city, except those authorized by state law to be paid from other funds.
b. Interest as it becomes due and the amount necessary to pay, or to create a sinking fund to pay, the principal at maturity of all general obligation bonds issued by the city.
c. Payments required to be made from the debt service fund under a lease or lease-purchase agreement.
d. Payments required to be made from the debt service fund under a loan agreement.
e. Payments authorized to be made from the debt service fund to a flood project fund under section 418.14, subsection 4.
2. Moneys pledged or available to service general obligation bonds, and received from sources other than property taxes, must be deposited in the debt service fund.
3. If a final judgment is entered against a city with a population of five hundred or less for an amount in excess of eighty-eight thousand dollars over and above what is covered by liability insurance, such city may spread the budgeting and payment of that portion not covered by insurance over a period of time not to exceed ten years. Interest shall be paid by the city on the unpaid balance. This subsection shall only apply to final judgments entered but not fully satisfied prior to March 25, 1976.
4. The taxes realized from the tax levy imposed under section 346.27, subsection 22, for a joint county-city building shall be deposited into a separate account in the city’s debt service fund for the payment of the annual rent and shall be disbursed pursuant to section 346.27, subsection 22.
[C97, §894; SS15, §879-s, 894; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6211, 6603; C46, 50, §404.5, 416.132; C54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §404.13; C75, 77, 79, 81, §384.4]
83 Acts, ch 207, §52, 93; 85 Acts, ch 156, §4; 87 Acts, ch 103, §5; 2007 Acts, ch 22, §72; 2010 Acts, ch 1069, §126; 2012 Acts, ch 1060, §4, 7; 2012 Acts, ch 1094, §3, 18; 2014 Acts, ch 1124, §22, 25
Referred to in §357E.11A, 384.24, 384.32, 384.74
2023 Iowa Code › Title IX - LOCAL GOVERNMENT › Chapter 384 - CITY FINANCE › Section 384.5 - Excess tax.

384.5 Excess tax.
A tax levied for the debt service fund is not invalid if it raises moneys in excess of those needed for a specific purpose. Only excess moneys remaining after retirement of all indebtedness payable from the fund may be transferred from the debt service fund to any other city fund, subject to the terms of the original bond issue, and as provided in rules promulgated by the city finance committee created in section 384.13.
[C51, §123, 124; R60, §259, 260; C73, §318, 319; C97, §897; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §6222; C46, 50, §404.16; C54, 58, §404.20; C62, 66, 71, 73, §404.21; C75, 77, 79, 81, §384.5]