Topic areas on this page:
Open Meeting | Effective Elective Officials | City Clerk Resources
Citizen Engagement | Legal Topics | Additional Administration Topics
Administration
Open Meeting Resources
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…
Effective Elective Officials Resources
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…
City Clerk Resources
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…
City Clerk Resources By state law, every city council must appoint a city clerk in order to fulfill duties such as publishing…
There are times due to illness, emergency or an immediate position vacancy that a community finds itself without a city clerk. To…
Citizen Engagement Resources
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…
Legal Topics
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…
Additional Administration Topics
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…
Related Publications
Check out our publications.
City officials need to be aware of requirements relating to open meetings and open records and develop plans to efficiently manage these important topics.
Learn why and how home rule came to be in Iowa and examine more recent court decisions regarding local control.
City governments large and small have collaborated with a host of public, nonprofit and private partners to deliver services to citizens. Learn the specifics of these kind of partnerships.