There are numerous agencies and programs that cities use, many of which are referred to by an acronym. Additionally, there is a variety of common terms used when discussing city government issues. The following is a glossary for city government officials of the different acronyms and other terms.
# 28E Joint service contracts under Chapter 28E of state code 411 Chapter 411 of state code, which governs the MFPRSI (see MFPRSI below) $8.10 General fund levy limit ($8.10 per $1,000 of taxable value)
A ABI Association of Business and IndustryACA Affordable Care Act ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ADAA Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act AFSCME American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees AG Attorney General AGO Attorney General’s Opinion APA American Planning Association APWA American Public Works Association
B BOA Board of Adjustment (also Zoning Board of Adjustment) BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand
C CATV Cable Access Television CAFR Certified Annual Financial Report CBD Central Business District CDB City Development Board CDBG Community Development Block Grant CEBA Community Economic Betterment Account CIP Capital Improvements Program CMC Certified Municipal Clerk COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act COG Council of Governments CPA Certified Public Accountant CPI Consumer Price Index
D DATA Drug and Alcohol Testing Alliance DNR Department of Natural Resources DOL U.S. Department of Labor DOM Department of Management
E EDA Economic Development Administration EEO Equal Employment Opportunity EIS Environmental Impact Statement EMS Emergency Medical Services EMT Emergency Medical Technician EPA Environmental Protection Agency
F FAA Federal Aviation Administration FCC Federal Communications Commission FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FHA Federal Housing Agency FICA Federal Insurance Contribution Act (Social Security) FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act FMLA Family and Medical Leave Act FOIA Freedom of Information Act
G GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GASB Governmental Accounting Standards Board GIS Geographical Information System GO Bond General Obligation Bond
H HAZ-MAT Hazardous Materials HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HSEMD Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department (Iowa) HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
I IaCMA Iowa City/County Management Association IAMU Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities IARC Iowa Association of Regional Councils of Government ICAAP Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program ICAP Iowa Communities Assurance Pool IDNR Iowa Department of Natural Resources IDOT Iowa Department of Transportation ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement IECDB Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board IEDA Iowa Economic Development Authority ILEA Iowa Law Enforcement Academy ILOC Iowa League of Cities IMAA Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association IMFOA Iowa Municipal Finance Officers Association IMWCA Iowa Municipalities Workers Compensation Association IPAIT Iowa Public Agency Investment Trust IPERS Iowa Public Employees Retirement System ISAC Iowa State Association of Counties ISU Iowa State University IUB Iowa Utility Board IWD Iowa Workforce Development
L LMI Low and Moderate Income LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank
M MFPRSI Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets MSWLFC Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Criteria
N NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NFIP National Flood Insurance Program NLC National League of Cities NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
O OM/OR Open Meetings/Open Records, reference to state laws governing each topic OSHA Occupation Safety and Health Administration
P P & Z Planning and Zoning PERB Public Employment Relations Board PILOT Payment in Lieu of Taxes PO Purchase Order PWS Public Water Supply
Q Quorum A majority of all council members
R RC&D Resource, Conservation and Development RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act RDA Rural Development Administration (U.S. Department of Agriculture) REAP Resource Enhancement and Protection Act RFP Request for Proposal RFQ Request for Qualifications RIG Rural Innovation Grant RISE Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy Roll Call Method to determine vote of each council member Rollback Reference to state property tax system that limits taxable valuation growth ROW Right-of-Way RPC Regional Planning Commission RUTF Road Use Tax Fund RWA Rural Water Association
S SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act Section 8 Federally Subsidized Housing Program SOP Standard Operating Procedure SRF State Revolving Fund SSMID Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District
T T & A Trust and Agency TIF Tax Increment Financing
U U of I University of Iowa UNI University of Northern Iowa UST Underground Storage Tank
W WHP Well Head Protection WWTP Waste Water Treatment Plant
Z ZBA Zoning Board of Adjustment
