Iowa Code 372.6 – Council-manager-at-large form
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1. A city governed by the council-manager-at-large form has five council members elected at large for staggered four-year terms. At the first meeting of the new term following each city election, the council shall elect one of the council members to serve as mayor, and one to serve as mayor pro tem. The mayor is a member of the council and may vote on all matters before the council. As soon as possible after the beginning of the new term following each city election, the council shall appoint a manager.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 372.6
- Clerk: means the recording and recordkeeping officer of a city regardless of title. See Iowa Code 362.2
- Council: means the governing body of a city. See Iowa Code 362.2
- Council member: means a member of a council, including an alderman. See Iowa Code 362.2
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- motion: means a council statement of policy or a council order for action to be taken, but "motion" does not require a recorded vote. See Iowa Code 362.2
- Ordinance: means a city law of a general and permanent nature. See Iowa Code 362.2
2. a. The city council of a city governed by the council-manager-at-large form may adopt a resolution on its own motion, or shall adopt a resolution if a petition valid under section 362.4 is filed with the city clerk, proposing that the city be governed by a mayor elected by the people for a four-year term and four council members elected at large. After adoption of the resolution, the council shall direct the county commissioner of elections to put the proposal on the ballot for the next general election or the next regular city election, whichever occurs first. If the ballot proposal is approved, the city council shall adopt an ordinance meeting the requirements of paragraph “b”, and the ordinance is effective beginning with the next following regular city election.
b. The ordinance shall provide that the mayor is a member of the council and may vote on all matters before the council. The ordinance shall provide that the term of office of the mayor is four years and, after each regular city election, the mayor shall appoint a council member as mayor pro tem. The ordinance shall provide that the mayor is a member of the council for purposes of maintaining staggered terms on the council. A council member’s term shall not be shortened or lengthened as a means of initially implementing the ordinance.
c. An ordinance adopted and approved under this subsection is not subject to repeal until the ordinance has been in effect for at least six years. The question of repeal of the ordinance is subject to the requirements of paragraph “a”.
3. The council may by ordinance provide that the city will be governed by council-manager-ward form. The ordinance must provide for the election of the mayor and council members required under council-manager-ward form at the next regular city election.