Complete Streets Complete streets are designed and operated so they are safe, comfortable and convenient for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists…

Assessing sanitary sewer infrastructure is an important part of managing city utilities and helps prevent problems before they arise. Sanitary sewer infrastructure can be quite complex and …

City compost facilities can offer many benefits to a community, including ways to handle yard waste more effectively while also using better…

The rules for disconnecting utility services are often a blend of ordinances approved by the city council and regulations established by the…

Energy conservation is an important part of a city’s efforts to reduce consumption and increase efficiency. The energy conservation challenge has been…

There continues to be improvements made in energy efficient traffic and street lighting products. By converting to newer systems, a city can reduce energy…

Whether you are purchasing vehicles for a municipal fleet or your city only buys a vehicle every couple of years, there are…

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

The Code of Iowa in Section 364.2 allows cities to grant franchises to any person to “erect, maintain, and operate plants and…

To move cash from one fund to another, a council must be prepared to take formal action during the budget or budget…

This index includes links to Code of Iowa citations that apply to city government operations. Please understand that there is a large…

Heating and Cooling Heating and cooling of buildings is where much energy is used and wasted. Controlling temperature settings is part of the…

Permeable pavements are alternative paving surfaces with a high porosity that allows rainwater to pass through it into the ground below. The permeable…

Cities can play an important role in creating a positive environment for economic development in their community. By preparing properly and ensuring…

Rain Gardens Rain gardens (often referred to by the technical term bioretention cells) are shallow depressions designed to slow, capture and filtrate…

Cities are faced with many questions when dealing with buildings in disrepair. Can it be renovated? Does it have any historical significance? Should…

Cities are responsible for maintaining most of the public property in the community, including the city streets. However, there are some questions…

Is solar too expensive to be economically viable? Businesses and municipalities go solar for economic reasons as often as they go solar…

Federal Guidelines for Sign Standards Federal guidelines governing street signs, pavement markings and all other standards for streets and roads open to…

The rules for running municipal utilities are a blend of local ordinances approved by the council and regulations of the Iowa Utility…

One of the most effective ways of collecting delinquent utility bills is to certify the unpaid bills to the county treasurer for…

The League recently conducted its biennial Utility Rate Survey, concluding in winter 2020. With 365 cities and local government organizations participating, we hope this information…

Cities frequently offer services that are financed and operated through direct charges for services in a manner similar to a business. These…

Asphalt has long been used as a pavement option on Iowa’s roadway, offering various benefits to local governments. While many cities use…

Certification Requirement of City Water and Wastewater Operators Code of Iowa Section 455B.223 states that it is unlawful for any “firm, corporation,…

Resident Responsibilities Citizen cooperation is important to having safe and efficient snow and ice removal. To encourage this cooperation many communities have ordinances…