Opinion ID: 1723768
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Exercise of the city's powers. Iowa Code section 364.3 provides:

Text: The following are limitations upon the powers of the city: 1. A city council shall exercise a power only by the passage of a motion, a resolution, an amendment, or an ordinance. The requirements of section 364.3 are consistent with statutes in other jurisdictions. See 10 Eugene McQuillin, The Law of Municipal Corporations § 29.19, at 335 (3d ed.1990) [hereinafter McQuillin] (Municipal contracts frequently are required to be authorized by an ordinance or resolution, adopted in accordance with formal procedures, in compliance with the rules relating to the enactment of ordinances and resolutions generally.). See generally 63 C.J.S. Municipal Corporations § 979 (1950) (concerning limitations of a municipal corporation's power to contract). Although the 1987 lease was signed by the mayor and city clerk, Riley concedes that the city council did not contemporaneously approve it by motion, resolution, or ordinance as required by section 364.3.