Opinion ID: 1723577
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Jurisdiction and the Board's Findings.

Text: Gorman first contends the district court should have determined as a matter of law that the error in the legal description failed to satisfy the statutory requirements; thus, the Board did not acquire jurisdiction of the proceedings. In other words, Gorman claims the Board did not have authority to approve the annexation without a correct legal description and without the consent of all landowners included in the description. We reject this argument. The Board clearly has jurisdiction over voluntary annexation proceedings. Iowa Code chapter 368 created the Board for the express purpose of handling city development proceedings, including annexations. See id. §§ 368.7(3), 368.9. Before it can approve an annexation application, the Board must determine whether there is substantial compliance with the statute. It can only do this by exercising its jurisdiction and examining the application. If the application does not substantially comply with statutory requirements, the Board must deny the application. Gorman further claims that the Board never actually determined whether the application, resolution, and notice substantially complied with the statute. Therefore, he argues, the district court erred in determining that no person was misled by the error and that the application substantially complied with the statutory requirements. We disagree. The Board clearly made a determination that the City's request for approval and the annexation were in substantial compliance with the statute. In its conclusions of law, the Board stated: The City of Cedar Rapids' request for Board approval and the annexation is in substantial compliance with Iowa Administrative Code rule 263-1.7, which is the rule implementing Iowa Code section 368.7. Gorman is correct in noting that, in appeals from chapter 368 cases, an appellate court may not determine the merits of the controversy before it. City of Waukee, 514 N.W.2d at 90. However, if the agency has considered and acted upon a specific issue, the appellate court may review the agency's action. See Ravreby v. United Airlines, Inc., 293 N.W.2d 260, 264 (Iowa 1980). In this case, the Board specifically concluded that the City Council's resolution conformed with Iowa Code section 368.7 and that the annexation was in substantial compliance with administrative rules. Based on the Board's findings and conclusions of law, the district court had jurisdiction to review the Board's actions.