Closed Sessions Procedures There are times when it is necessary for a city council to discuss city business in a closed session prior…

Conflict of interest is a broad and often misunderstood concept. In Iowa, officers and employees of governmental entities are required to avoid…

Running efficient and successful city council meetings requires a lot of preparation and knowledge of proper procedures. The roles of the mayor,…

There are numerous requirements that cities must follow regarding the publishing or posting of its city council minutes. While this task can…

One of the fundamental activities in municipal government is the meetings of its governing body. These meetings are open to the public…

In May of 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Town of Greece v. Galloway, a case in which a town’s practice of…

Public hearings are intended to provide the public in general and those particularly affected by a proposed municipal action the opportunity to…

​Public notices are used to inform the public of city government matters and when certain actions will occur. Cities are required to…

City council members must have a good understanding of voting laws and what is needed to approve motions, resolutions and ordinances. In…

The city council is the policy arm of the municipal government and is responsible for determining the direction of the city. The…

Those elected to serve on a public body have a tremendous responsibility to help resolve issues and improve their community. City council…

Following municipal elections, a city council often sees new members taking a seat. With varying levels of understanding of how a city government…

A clear understanding of what each member of the city is responsible for and where to turn for help on different items…

Anger and complaints from local citizens may be a challenge to address, but learning the source of the issue and providing information…

Cities are required to complete a number of items at the beginning of the year as well as a few other things…

The basis of any accounting system (manual or electronic) is a systematic use of numeric or alpha numeric segments organized in such…

By state law, every city council must appoint a city clerk in order to fulfill many duties. Recognizing the important job city clerks perform, the League is providing this separate resource area for city clerks.

There are times due to illness, emergency or an immediate position vacancy that a community finds itself without a city clerk. To…

The League has compiled the following list of Web resources that cities often use. If you have suggestions for a link to…

Various actions and documents related to city business might require notarization. As such, many cities have a staff member (often the city…

​Before beginning their official duties, newly elected and reelected city officials need to take an oath of office. There are several rules as…

The Iowa League of Cities Clerk Mentor Program matches experienced city clerks (mentors) with new or less experienced clerks (mentees) who feel…

Citizen engagement is one of the most important aspects of municipal governance as a successful city will keep its public informed while…

Citizen surveys can provide cities with helpful insights into how their community feels about different issues. They also encourage citizens to communicate with…

Working with the press is an important responsibility for elected officials and city staff members. Whether it is broadcasting an event, getting…

Volunteers help provide needed services to the community ​and add to what the city’s workforce can do. Working with volunteers not only…

Code of Iowa Chapter 28E provides the ability for governmental entities to enter into contracts with one another. The purpose of the law…

​​Many organizations from both the private and public sectors run a combined charities campaign. In the public sector, campaigns occur among federal,…

As the governing document for the community, the city code book is vital to a successfully managed city. Included are local laws that describe how the municipal government…

​Cities have the ability to contract with independent contractors for the provision of services that citizens need. This is often done when…

​It is estimated that millions of drones were sold in the U.S. in 2015 as more people find benefits from uses, including…

One of the most important and critical decisions in a person’s life is whether to resign their current job or position and…

​Code of Iowa Section 68B.22 prohibits public officials, employees and candidates from accepting or soliciting gifts from anyone defined as a restricted donor.…

One of the pillars upon which local governments in Iowa stand is the law of Home Rule. In a basic sense, this law…

It is common for public officials to take on additional public responsibilities, including an additional public office or employment in a government job.…

​Knowing state laws and city codes is essential to performing the duties of a city council member, mayor and city employee. In…

Appointing city officials and key personnel to help carry out municipal services is an important duty for city council members. While there…

Productive city boards and commissions can provide insights and energy essential for creating better communities. They help make important decisions, bring expertise…

During the campaign and election season some cities are approached about the use of city buildings, facilities and grounds for political events. Whether…

There are numerous agencies and programs that cities use, many of which are referred to by an acronym. Additionally, there is a…

​Cities in Iowa are required to follow proper bid and quote procedures when contracting for public improvement projects. Many of the rules,…

A construction manager can provide planning expertise, helping to ensure a proper design is used while keeping expenses low and protecting the city’s…

Most cities provide compensation for council members for attending meetings and other official du­ties (albeit a very small wage for the vast…

City council vacancies can occur in a number of ways, including a council member resigning, moving out of the city or ward…

Cyberattacks have drastically grown and are specifically targeting government entities. The majority of cyber-related claims are due to phishing, ransomware or third-party…

When reviewing the fiscal condition of a city, the collection of fees and charges is an important element to consider. In other words, a city must be able…

Cities are an integral part of the municipal election process. There are numerous requirements in the candidate qualifying and nominating process that city…

Whether you are hosting a statewide conference, presiding over a city council meeting or convening a working lunch with three employees, there…

Many communities celebrate holidays and other events by dis­playing the American flag. Federal law governs how the flag must be displayed, maintained and,…

Many grant applications will ask for basic demographic information such as population and income levels, which are available through the U.S. Census Bureau.…

​The Iowa League of Cities is excited to announce our partnership with Lexipol, an information service that tracks innovative solutions to fiscal…

The Index of Iowa Laws links to Code of Iowa chapters and sections that are applicable to municipal government. Users should be…

Legislation approved during the 2012 legislative session made changes to Iowa’s open meetings and open records laws, including the creation of the Iowa…

​One of the many services a city provides is licensing liquor establishments in its community. Knowing the various rules and regulations that are involved will…

City governments face numerous requirements regarding public records, including how long they must be kept and when they are able to be…

Many community leaders ask for guidance regarding steps to follow when considering public improvement projects. Types of projects may vary from a…

In most instances, governmental entities in Iowa that intend to construct a public improvement must have a licensed architect or engineer prepare…

Public improvement contracts involve many different kinds of contracts – from architect, engineer and consultant agreements to contractor, construction manager, bond and…

If a governmental issuer such as a city, county, utility, rural water district or school district (the “issuer”) is planning a project…

Code of Iowa Chapter 573 provides the laws on how the retainment of payments to those who furnish labor and materials for a…

City governments provide a wide variety of services to citizens which requires them to hire quality professionals and use different types of…

What is the census data used for? Census data is used annually to distribute more than $1.5 trillion in federal funds. Nearly…

The U.S. Census has announced a delay in its planned release of redistricting data​ to states. The Census has indicated that this data will…