Opinion ID: 1833363
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Heading: Dismissal of the Declaratory Judgment Actions.

Text: The Objectors appeal the trial court's dismissal of their declaratory judgment claims against the Boards. A declaratory judgment is an action in which a court declares the rights, duties, status or other legal relationships of the parties. Iowa R. Civ. P. 261; Dubuque Policemen's Protective Ass'n v. City of Dubuque, 553 N.W.2d 603, 606 (Iowa 1996). Courts have discretion to not render a declaratory judgment where it would not, if rendered, terminate the uncertainty or controversy giving rise to the proceeding. Iowa R. Civ. P. 265. Under our declaratory judgment rules any person ... whose rights, status, or other legal relations are affected by ... any municipal ordinance... may ... obtain a declaration of rights, status or legal relations thereunder. Iowa R. Civ. P. 262. The trial court found: The petitioners have an adequate remedy through the certiorari action which makes declaratory judgment inappropriate. The purpose of petitioners wanting to pursue the declaratory judgment claims was to present the testimony of their expert witness, Dr. Kelly. Since they were permitted to present such expert testimony under Count I and III, there is no reason to consider the declaratory judgment claims under Count II and IV and they were dismissed. A declaratory judgment action is appropriate to test the legality of an amendment to a city's comprehensive zoning ordinance. Keller v. City of Council Bluffs, 246 Iowa 202, 206, 66 N.W.2d 113, 115 (1954). The existence of another remedy which will afford complete relief does not preclude a judgment for declaratory relief in cases where it is appropriate; the test is whether the legislature has prescribed an exclusive remedy. Rich Mfg. Co. v. Petty, 241 Iowa 840, 847, 42 N.W.2d 80, 84 (1950). We have stated: The discretion to grant or refuse declaratory relief is broad in nature, and should be liberally exercised to effectuate the purpose of the statute,.... This discretion may be exercised only at such time during the trial when the court has the evidence before it and can properly make such a final determination, and can be exercised only on the record as it exists when the entry of a judgment would be appropriate. Such discretion should not be exercised on motion to dismiss ... unless the court is fully satisfied that on its allegations the bill must be dismissed after a hearing on the merits.... Wright v. Thompson, 254 Iowa 342, 350, 117 N.W.2d 520, 525 (1962). Although certiorari is an appropriate means to review a board of supervisors' zoning decision, see City of Grimes v. Polk County Board of Supervisors, 495 N.W.2d 751, 752 (Iowa 1993), it is not an exclusive remedy. We agree the legality of the Boards' action was addressed by the trial court in the certiorari actions. Although both the certiorari and declaratory judgment actions raise the legality issue, the declaratory judgment petition against the Board of Supervisors also requested the court declare the rezoning constituted a public taking of property without just compensation. The court should have allowed evidence on the taking issue before dismissing or ruling on the declaratory judgment petition. We find the trial court committed error when it dismissed the declaratory judgment actions before hearing evidence.