Section 263.7.2. Contents of request.

A request for board approval of an application for voluntary annexation of territory within another city’s urbanized area shall be initiated pursuant to Iowa Code section 368.7 and shall include the following:

       7.2(1) Landowner’s application. Written application(s) for annexation of the territory must include:

        a.           A request for annexation of identified property, dated and signed by all owners of record or their authorized representatives;

       (1)             In the event that voluntary annexation is sought for a parcel of land which is being sold on contract, the contract seller and the contract buyer must both approve the annexation application;

       (2)             In the event that property for which annexation is sought is owned by a business organization or entity other than a natural person or persons, documentation establishing that the applicant is authorized to act on behalf of the owner shall be provided with the application.

        b.           A legal description of the property for which annexation is sought; and

        c.           A map of the property for which annexation is sought.

       7.2(2) Documentation of the city’s approval of the application. The following documentation must be included in a city’s request for board approval of a voluntary annexation application:

        a.           A general statement of the proposal, briefly describing the current and expected use of the annexation territory, any services which the city currently provides to the territory, and the reasons for the property owners’ request for annexation, if known.

        b.           A statement indicating whether the annexation territory is subject to an existing moratorium agreement and, if so, whether the proposed annexation is consistent with the terms of that agreement.

        c.           A complete legal description of the territory for which application is made, including the right-of-way to the center line of all secondary roads adjoining the annexation territory, unless a 28E agreement between the county and the city allowing exclusion of the right-of-way is in place and a copy of the agreement is included with the application, as required by Iowa Code section 368.1(14).

        d.           Prior to approval of a voluntary annexation application by the city council, the city shall provide a copy of the landowner’s annexation application and the legal description of the entire annexation territory to the county auditor with a request that the auditor verify the accuracy and completeness of the legal description and verify current ownership of the parcel(s) involved. The auditor’s response shall be included in the city’s filing with the board. If the auditor fails to respond to the request within 14 days, the city may provide a copy of the request and a statement indicating that no response was received in lieu of the auditor’s verification.

        e.           A map clearly showing the entire boundary of the existing city, the entire annexation territory, adjacent roadways, and the relationship of the territory to the annexing city and, if the annexation territory is within the urbanized area of another city, the relationship of the territory to the neighboring city. More than one map may be submitted if necessary to provide all of the required information to the board.

        f.            A statement indicating whether state-owned property or county-owned road right-of-way has been included in the proposal pursuant to Iowa Code section 368.5 and, if so, certification that the city has complied with the notice requirement of that section.

        g.           Certification that the city has complied with the notice requirements of Iowa Code section 368.7, including proof of mailing of the application and affidavit of publication of the required public notice, and, if railway right-of-way is included or public land is included without the written consent of the agency with jurisdiction over the public land, certification of notice to the owner as required by Iowa Code section 368.7(1). For purposes of calculating the required period of notice, “business days” shall include Monday through Friday of each week, excluding “legal holidays” as set forth in Iowa Code section 4.1(34).

        h.           The city may, but is not required to, include a provision for transition of the imposition of city taxes against property within the annexation territory. The provision shall not allow greater exemption for taxation than the tax exemption formula schedule provided under Iowa Code section 427B.3, subsections 1 through 5, and shall be applied in the levy and collection of taxes. The provision may also allow for the partial provision of city services during the time in which the exemption from taxation is in effect.

        i.            A resolution of the council of the city to which the application for annexation is directed approving the application. If the council opts to provide for transition of the imposition of city taxes, the terms of the transition shall be included in the resolution.

        j.            Rescinded IAB 8/10/11, effective 7/20/11.

       7.2(3) Additional information to accompany requests which include land area without the consent of the owner(s). In addition to the information which must be filed pursuant to subrule 7.2(2), a city’s request that includes property without the consent of the owner(s) must provide the following additional information within the application submitted to the board:

        a.           The names and addresses of all owners of land included without the owners’ consent and a legal description of all land owned by each nonconsenting owner;

        b.           Prior to filing the annexation application, the city shall provide a copy of the legal description and map of the annexation territory and the list of property owners identified by the city to the county auditor with a request that the auditor verify the accuracy and completeness of the legal description and verify current ownership of the parcel(s) involved. A copy of the auditor’s response shall be included in the application. If the auditor fails to respond to the request within 14 days, the city may provide a copy of the request and a statement indicating that no response was received in lieu of the auditor’s verification;

        c.           The acreage of each parcel or parcels owned by each voluntary applicant and nonconsenting landowner, the acreage of any railroad right-of-way included pursuant to Iowa Code section 368.7(1), and the acreage of any state- or county-owned property included pursuant to Iowa Code section 368.5;

        d.           A calculation showing the percentage of the territory for which voluntary annexation applications have been received by the city and the percentage of territory included without the consent of the owner(s), prepared in a manner consistent with subrule 7.8(2);

        e.           A map indicating the relationship of the parcels included without the consent of the owner(s) to the rest of the territory and to the city;

        f.            Certification that the city has complied with the notice and public hearing requirements of Iowa Code section 368.7(1). For purposes of calculating the required period of notice, “business days” shall include Monday through Friday of each week, excluding “legal holidays” as set forth in Iowa Code section 4.1(34); and

        g.           A statement in the city council’s resolution approving the annexation which sets forth the reason(s) that land is included in the proposal without the consent of the owner(s).

[ARC 9278B, IAB 12/15/10, effective 1/19/11; ARC 9546B, IAB 6/1/11, effective 7/6/11 (See Delay note at end of chapter); ARC 9664B, IAB 8/10/11, effective 7/20/11]