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House File 2479

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  1  1                           DIVISION I
  1  2    Section 1.  Section 358C.1, subsection 2, paragraph d, Code
  1  3 Supplement 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  1  4    d.  "District" means a real estate improvement district as
  1  5 created in this chapter, in a county designated as a pilot
  1  6 county under section 358C.2.  A real estate improvement
  1  7 district shall not be created after June 30, 2000.
  1  8    Sec. 2.  Section 358C.3, subsection 6, Code Supplement
  1  9 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  1 10    6.  The petition shall propose the names of three or more
  1 11 trustees who shall be owners of real estate in the proposed
  1 12 district or the designees of owners of property in the
  1 13 proposed district, to serve as a board of trustees until their
  1 14 successors are elected and qualified if the district is
  1 15 organized.  The board of trustees shall only carry out those
  1 16 purposes which are authorized in this chapter and listed in
  1 17 the petition.  Each person proposed as a trustee shall
  1 18 disclose whether the person has any financial interest in any
  1 19 business which is or may be a developer or contractor for
  1 20 public improvements within the proposed real estate
  1 21 improvement district and the extent of the person's land
  1 22 ownership in the district, if any.
  1 23    Sec. 3.  Section 358C.10, Code Supplement 1995, is amended
  1 24 by adding the following new subsection:
  1 25    NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  A candidate to fill a vacancy or as a
  1 26 successor trustee shall disclose prior to selection as a
  1 27 trustee whether the person has any financial interest in any
  1 28 business which is or may be a developer or contractor for
  1 29 public improvements within the real estate improvement
  1 30 district and the extent of the person's land ownership in the
  1 31 district, if any.
  1 32    Sec. 4.  Section 358C.13, Code Supplement 1995, is amended
  1 33 by adding the following new subsections:
  1 34    NEW SUBSECTION.  1A.  The board of trustees shall maintain
  1 35 the official records of the district, which shall include
  2  1 information regarding the service of any indebtedness of the
  2  2 district, including special assessment bonds.  The board shall
  2  3 report annually on the progress of the district in retiring
  2  4 indebtedness.
  2  5    NEW SUBSECTION.  2A.  The board of trustees shall provide
  2  6 public notice prior to each meeting of the board.  The notice
  2  7 shall contain the agenda of the meeting which shall describe
  2  8 the proposed actions to be taken by the board at the meeting.
  2  9    NEW SUBSECTION.  6.  The board of trustees shall not
  2 10 prohibit or restrict the construction of manufactured homes in
  2 11 a real estate improvement district.  As used in this
  2 12 subsection, "manufactured home" has the same meaning as under
  2 13 section 435.1, subsection 2.
  2 14    NEW SUBSECTION.  7.  The board of trustees shall not enter
  2 15 into a contract for public improvements or other services with
  2 16 a board member or with any person owning more than twenty-five
  2 17 percent of the land of a real estate improvement district
  2 18 except as a result of competitive bidding.
  2 19    Sec. 5.  Section 358C.17, Code Supplement 1995, is amended
  2 20 by adding the following new subsection:
  2 21    NEW SUBSECTION.  4.  A special assessment under this
  2 22 section shall be recorded in the county in which the district
  2 23 is located for each lot in the district.
  2 24    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  358C.24  DISCLOSURE OF SPECIAL
  2 25 ASSESSMENT.
  2 26    The seller of property in a real estate improvement
  2 27 district or a person acting on behalf of a seller shall
  2 28 disclose the amount of any special assessment under this
  2 29 chapter against the property during negotiations for the sale
  2 30 of the property.
  2 31    Sec. 7.  Section 543B.56, subsection 1, Code Supplement
  2 32 1995, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
  2 33    NEW PARAGRAPH.  e.  Disclose the amount of any special
  2 34 assessments, if any, against property in a real estate
  2 35 improvement district established under chapter 358C.
  3  1    Sec. 8.  Section 358C.2, Code Supplement 1995, is repealed.  
  3  2                           DIVISION II
  3  3    Sec. 9.  Section 403.2, subsection 3, Code 1995, is amended
  3  4 to read as follows:
  3  5    3.  It is further found and declared that there exists in
  3  6 this state the continuing need for programs to alleviate and
  3  7 prevent conditions of unemployment and a shortage of housing;
  3  8 and that it is accordingly necessary to assist and retain
  3  9 local industries and commercial enterprises to strengthen and
  3 10 revitalize the economy of this state and its municipalities;
  3 11 that accordingly it is necessary to provide means and methods
  3 12 for the encouragement and assistance of industrial and
  3 13 commercial enterprises in locating, purchasing, constructing,
  3 14 reconstructing, modernizing, improving, maintaining,
  3 15 repairing, furnishing, equipping, and expanding in this state
  3 16 and its municipalities, for the provision of public
  3 17 improvements related to housing and residential development,
  3 18 and for the provision construction of housing and residential
  3 19 development for low and moderate income families; that
  3 20 accordingly it is necessary to authorize local governing
  3 21 bodies to designate areas of a municipality as economic
  3 22 development areas for commercial and industrial enterprises,
  3 23 public improvements related to housing and residential
  3 24 development, or construction of housing and residential
  3 25 development for low and moderate income families; and that it
  3 26 is also necessary to encourage the location and expansion of
  3 27 commercial enterprises to more conveniently provide needed
  3 28 services and facilities of the commercial enterprises to
  3 29 municipalities and the residents of the municipalities.
  3 30 Therefore, the powers granted in this chapter constitute the
  3 31 performance of essential public purposes for this state and
  3 32 its municipalities.
  3 33    Sec. 10.  Section 403.5, subsection 2, unnumbered paragraph
  3 34 1, Code 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  3 35    The municipality may itself prepare or cause to be prepared
  4  1 an urban renewal plan; or any person or agency, public or
  4  2 private, may submit such a plan to a municipality.  Prior to
  4  3 its approval of an urban renewal plan, the local governing
  4  4 body shall submit such plan to the planning commission of the
  4  5 municipality, if any, for review and recommendations as to its
  4  6 conformity with the general plan for the development of the
  4  7 municipality as a whole.  The planning commission shall submit
  4  8 its written recommendations with respect to the proposed urban
  4  9 renewal plan to the local governing body within thirty days
  4 10 after receipt of the plan for review.  Upon receipt of the
  4 11 recommendations of the planning commission or, if no
  4 12 recommendations are received within the thirty days, then,
  4 13 without such recommendations, the local governing body may
  4 14 proceed with the hearing on the proposed urban renewal project
  4 15 plan prescribed by subsection 3.
  4 16    Sec. 11.  Section 403.5, subsection 3, Code 1995, is
  4 17 amended to read as follows:
  4 18    3.  The local governing body shall hold a public hearing on
  4 19 an urban renewal project plan after public notice thereof by
  4 20 publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the
  4 21 area of operation of the municipality.  The notice shall
  4 22 describe the time, date, place and purpose of the hearing,
  4 23 shall generally identify the urban renewal area covered by the
  4 24 plan, and shall outline the general scope of the urban renewal
  4 25 project activities under consideration.  A copy of the notice
  4 26 shall be sent by ordinary mail to each affected taxing entity.
  4 27    Sec. 12.  Section 403.5, subsection 4, paragraph b,
  4 28 subparagraph (1), Code 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  4 29    (1)  If it is to be developed for residential uses, the
  4 30 local governing body shall determine that a shortage of
  4 31 housing of sound standards and design with decency, safety and
  4 32 sanitation exists in the municipality; that the acquisition of
  4 33 the area for residential uses is an integral part of and
  4 34 essential to the program of the municipality; and that one or
  4 35 more of the following conditions exist:
  5  1    (a)  That the need for housing accommodations has been or
  5  2 will be increased as a result of the clearance of slums in
  5  3 other areas, including other portions of the urban renewal
  5  4 area.; that the
  5  5    (b)  That conditions of blight in the area municipality and
  5  6 the shortage of decent, safe and sanitary housing cause or
  5  7 contribute to an increase in and spread of disease and crime,
  5  8 and so as to constitute a menace to the public health, safety,
  5  9 morals, or welfare; and that the acquisition of the area for
  5 10 residential uses is an integral part of and essential to the
  5 11 program of the municipality.
  5 12    (c)  That the provision of public improvements related to
  5 13 housing and residential development will encourage housing and
  5 14 residential development which is necessary to encourage the
  5 15 retention or relocation of industrial and commercial
  5 16 enterprises in this state and its municipalities.
  5 17    (d)  The acquisition of the area is necessary to provide
  5 18 for the construction of housing for low and moderate income
  5 19 families.
  5 20    Sec. 13.  Section 403.6, Code 1995, is amended by adding
  5 21 the following new unnumbered paragraph:
  5 22    NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH.  The provisions of this chapter
  5 23 shall be liberally interpreted to achieve the purposes of this
  5 24 chapter.
  5 25    Sec. 14.  Section 403.9, subsection 3, Code 1995, is
  5 26 amended by adding the following new unnumbered paragraph:
  5 27    NEW UNNUMBERED PARAGRAPH.  Before the local governing body
  5 28 may institute proceedings for the issuance of bonds under this
  5 29 section, a notice of the proposed action, including a
  5 30 statement of the amount and purposes of the bonds and the time
  5 31 and place of the meeting at which the local governing body
  5 32 proposes to take action for the issuance of the bonds, must be
  5 33 published as provided in section 362.3.  At the meeting, the
  5 34 local governing body shall receive oral or written objections
  5 35 from any resident or property owner of the municipality.
  6  1 After all objections have been received and considered, the
  6  2 local governing body, at that meeting or any subsequent
  6  3 meeting, may take additional action for the issuance of the
  6  4 bonds or abandon the proposal to issue the bonds.  Any
  6  5 resident or property owner of the municipality may appeal the
  6  6 decision of the local governing body to take additional action
  6  7 to the district court of the county in which any part of the
  6  8 municipality is located, within fifteen days after the
  6  9 additional action is taken.  The additional action of the
  6 10 local governing body is final and conclusive unless the court
  6 11 finds that the municipality exceeded its authority.
  6 12    Sec. 15.  Section 403.9, subsection 4, Code 1995, is
  6 13 amended to read as follows:
  6 14    4.  Such bonds may be sold at not less than ninety-eight
  6 15 percent of par at public or private sale, or may be exchanged
  6 16 for other bonds on the basis at not less than ninety-eight
  6 17 percent of par.
  6 18    Sec. 16.  Section 403.10, Code 1995, is amended to read as
  6 19 follows:
  6 20    403.10  BONDS AS LEGAL INVESTMENT.
  6 21    All banks, trust companies, building and loan associations,
  6 22 savings and loan associations, investment companies and other
  6 23 persons carrying on an investment business; all insurance
  6 24 companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying
  6 25 on an insurance business; and all executors, administrators,
  6 26 curators, trustees, and other fiduciaries, may legally invest
  6 27 any sinking funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them or
  6 28 within their control in any bonds or other obligations issued
  6 29 by a municipality pursuant to this chapter, or those issued by
  6 30 any urban renewal agency vested with urban renewal project
  6 31 powers under section 403.14:  Provided, that such bonds and
  6 32 other obligations shall be secured by an agreement between the
  6 33 issuer and the federal government, in which the issuer agrees
  6 34 to borrow from the federal government and the federal
  6 35 government agrees to lend to the issuer, prior to the maturity
  7  1 of such bonds or other obligations, moneys in an amount which,
  7  2 together with any other moneys irrevocably committed to the
  7  3 payment of interest on such bonds or other obligations, will
  7  4 suffice to pay the principal of such bonds or other
  7  5 obligations with interest to maturity thereon, which moneys
  7  6 under the terms of said agreement are required to be used for
  7  7 the purpose of paying the principal of and the interest on
  7  8 such bonds or other obligations at their maturity.  Such bonds
  7  9 and other obligations shall be authorized security for all
  7 10 public deposits.  It is the purpose of this section to
  7 11 authorize any persons, political subdivisions and officers,
  7 12 public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by
  7 13 them for the purchase of any such bonds or other obligations.
  7 14 Nothing contained in this section with regard to legal
  7 15 investments shall be construed as relieving any person of any
  7 16 duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.
  7 17    Sec. 17.  Section 403.17, subsection 9, Code 1995, is
  7 18 amended to read as follows:
  7 19    9.  "Economic development area" means an area of a
  7 20 municipality designated by the local governing body as
  7 21 appropriate for commercial and industrial enterprises, public
  7 22 improvements related to housing and residential development,
  7 23 or construction of housing and residential development for low
  7 24 and moderate income families, including single or multifamily
  7 25 housing.  If an urban renewal plan for an urban renewal area
  7 26 is based upon a finding that the area is an economic
  7 27 development area and that no part contains slum or blighted
  7 28 conditions, then the division of revenue provided in section
  7 29 403.19 and stated in the plan shall be limited to twenty years
  7 30 from the calendar year following the calendar year in which
  7 31 the city first certifies to the county auditor the amount of
  7 32 any loans, advances, indebtedness, or bonds which qualify for
  7 33 payment from the division of revenue provided in section
  7 34 403.19.  Such area designated before July 1, 1994, shall not
  7 35 include land which is part of a century farm.
  8  1    Sec. 18.  Section 403.19, subsection 2, Code 1995, is
  8  2 amended to read as follows:
  8  3    2.  That portion of the taxes each year in excess of such
  8  4 amount shall be allocated to and when collected be paid into a
  8  5 special fund of the municipality to pay the principal of and
  8  6 interest on loans, moneys advanced to, or indebtedness,
  8  7 whether funded, refunded, assumed, or otherwise, including
  8  8 bonds issued under the authority of section 403.9, subsection
  8  9 1, incurred by the municipality to finance or refinance, in
  8 10 whole or in part, an urban renewal project within the area,
  8 11 and to provide assistance for low and moderate income family
  8 12 housing as provided in section 403.22, except that taxes for
  8 13 the payment of bonds and interest of each taxing district must
  8 14 be collected against all taxable property within the taxing
  8 15 district without limitation by the provisions of this
  8 16 subsection.  Unless and until the total assessed valuation of
  8 17 the taxable property in an urban renewal area exceeds the
  8 18 total assessed value of the taxable property in such area as
  8 19 shown by the last equalized assessment roll referred to in
  8 20 subsection 1, all of the taxes levied and collected upon the
  8 21 taxable property in the urban renewal area shall be paid into
  8 22 the funds for the respective taxing districts as taxes by or
  8 23 for the taxing districts in the same manner as all other
  8 24 property taxes.  When such loans, advances, indebtedness, and
  8 25 bonds, if any, and interest thereon, have been paid, all
  8 26 moneys thereafter received from taxes upon the taxable
  8 27 property in such urban renewal area shall be paid into the
  8 28 funds for the respective taxing districts in the same manner
  8 29 as taxes on all other property.
  8 30    Sec. 19.  NEW SECTION.  403.22  FINANCING PUBLIC
  8 31 IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO LOW INCOME HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL
  8 32 DEVELOPMENT.
  8 33    1.  With respect to any urban renewal area established upon
  8 34 the determination that the area is an economic development
  8 35 area, a division of revenue as provided in section 403.19
  9  1 shall not be allowed for the purpose of providing or aiding in
  9  2 the provision of public improvements related to housing and
  9  3 residential development, unless the municipality assures that
  9  4 the project will include assistance for low and moderate
  9  5 income family housing.  For a municipality with a population
  9  6 of over fifteen thousand, the amount to be provided for low
  9  7 and moderate income family housing for such projects shall be
  9  8 either equal to or greater than the percentage of the original
  9  9 project cost that is equal to the percentage of low and
  9 10 moderate income residents for the county in which the urban
  9 11 renewal area is located as determined by the United States
  9 12 department of housing and urban development using section 8
  9 13 guidelines or such other amount as set out in a plan adopted
  9 14 by the municipality and approved by the Iowa department of
  9 15 economic development if the municipality can show that it
  9 16 cannot undertake the project if it has to meet the low and
  9 17 moderate income assistance requirements.  However, the amount
  9 18 provided for low and moderate income family housing for such
  9 19 projects shall not be less than an amount equal to ten percent
  9 20 of the original project cost.
  9 21    For a municipality with a population of fifteen thousand or
  9 22 less, the amount to be provided for low and moderate income
  9 23 family housing shall be the same as for a municipality of over
  9 24 fifteen thousand in population, except that a municipality of
  9 25 fifteen thousand or less in population is not subject to the
  9 26 requirement to provide not less than an amount equal to ten
  9 27 percent of the original project cost for low and moderate
  9 28 income family housing.
  9 29    2.  The assistance to low and moderate income housing may
  9 30 be in, but is not limited to, any of the following forms:
  9 31    a.  Lots for low and moderate income housing within or
  9 32 outside the urban renewal area.
  9 33    b.  Construction of low and moderate income housing within
  9 34 or outside the urban renewal area.
  9 35    c.  Grants, credits or other direct assistance to low and
 10  1 moderate income families living within or outside the urban
 10  2 renewal area, but within the area of operation of the
 10  3 municipality.
 10  4    d.  Payments to a low and moderate income housing fund
 10  5 established by the municipality to be expended for one or more
 10  6 of the above purposes, including matching funds for any state
 10  7 or federal moneys used for such purposes.
 10  8    3.  Sources for low and moderate income family housing
 10  9 assistance may include the following:
 10 10    a.  Proceeds from loans, advances, bonds or indebtedness
 10 11 incurred.
 10 12    b.  Annual distributions from the division of revenues
 10 13 pursuant to section 403.19 related to the urban renewal area.
 10 14    c.  Lump sum or periodic direct payments from developers or
 10 15 other private parties under an agreement for development or
 10 16 redevelopment between the municipality and a developer.
 10 17    d.  Any other sources which are legally available for this
 10 18 purpose.
 10 19    4.  The assistance to low and moderate income family
 10 20 housing may be expended outside the boundaries of the urban
 10 21 renewal area.
 10 22    5.  Except for a municipality with a population under
 10 23 fifteen thousand, the division of the revenue under section
 10 24 403.19 for each project under this section shall be limited to
 10 25 tax collections for ten fiscal years beginning with the second
 10 26 fiscal year after the year in which the municipality first
 10 27 certifies to the county auditor the amount of any loans,
 10 28 advances, indebtedness, or bonds which qualify for payment
 10 29 from the division of the revenue in connection with the
 10 30 project.  A municipality with a population under fifteen
 10 31 thousand may, with the approval of the governing bodies of all
 10 32 other affected taxing districts, extend the division of
 10 33 revenue under section 403.19 for up to five years if necessary
 10 34 to adequately fund the project.  The portion of the urban
 10 35 renewal area which is involved in a project under this section
 11  1 shall not be subject to any subsequent division of revenue
 11  2 under section 403.19.  
 11  3                          DIVISION III
 11  4    Sec. 20.  Section 331.384, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code
 11  5 1995, is amended to read as follows:
 11  6    c.  Require the removal, repair, or dismantling of a an
 11  7 abandoned or dangerous building or structure.
 11  8    Sec. 21.  NEW SECTION.  364.12A  CONDEMNATION OF
 11  9 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS – PUBLIC PURPOSE.
 11 10    For the purposes of section 6A.4, subsection 6, a city may
 11 11 condemn a residential building found to be a public nuisance
 11 12 and take title to the property for the public purpose of
 11 13 disposing of the property under section 364.7 by conveying the
 11 14 property to a private individual for rehabilitation or for
 11 15 demolition and construction of housing.
 11 16    Sec. 22.  Section 657A.1, subsections 1, 3, and 4, Code
 11 17 1995, are amended to read as follows:
 11 18    1.  "Abandoned" or "abandonment" means that a building has
 11 19 remained vacant and has been in violation of the housing code
 11 20 of the city in which the property is located or the housing
 11 21 code applicable in the county in which the property is located
 11 22 if outside the limits of a city for a period of six
 11 23 consecutive months.
 11 24    3.  "Building" means a building or structure located in a
 11 25 city or outside the limits of a city in a county, which is
 11 26 used or intended to be used for residential purposes, and
 11 27 includes a building or structure in which some floors may be
 11 28 used for retail stores, shops, salesrooms, markets, or similar
 11 29 commercial uses, or for offices, banks, civic administration
 11 30 activities, professional services, or similar business or
 11 31 civic uses, and other floors are used, designed, or intended
 11 32 to be used for residential purposes.
 11 33    4.  "Interested person" means an owner, mortgagee,
 11 34 lienholder, or other person that possesses an interest of
 11 35 record or an interest otherwise provable in property that
 12  1 becomes subject to the jurisdiction of the court pursuant to
 12  2 this chapter, the city in which the property is located, the
 12  3 county in which the property is located if the property is
 12  4 located outside the limits of a city, and an applicant for the
 12  5 appointment as receiver pursuant to this chapter.
 12  6    Sec. 23.  Section 657A.2, subsections 1 and 2, Code 1995,
 12  7 are amended to read as follows:
 12  8    1.  A petition for abatement under this chapter may be
 12  9 filed in the district court of the county in which the
 12 10 property is located, by the city in which the property is
 12 11 located, by the county if the property is located outside the
 12 12 limits of a city, a neighboring landowner, or a duly organized
 12 13 nonprofit corporation which has as one of its goals the
 12 14 improvement of housing conditions in the county or city in
 12 15 which the property in question is located.  Service on the
 12 16 owner shall be by personal service or by certified mail, or if
 12 17 service cannot be made by either method, by posting the notice
 12 18 in a conspicuous place on the building and by publication.
 12 19    2.  If a petition filed pursuant to this chapter alleges
 12 20 that a building is abandoned or is in a dangerous or unsafe
 12 21 condition, the city, county, if the property is located
 12 22 outside the limits of a city, neighboring landowner, or
 12 23 nonprofit corporation may apply for an injunction requiring
 12 24 the owner of the building to correct the condition or to
 12 25 eliminate the condition or violation.  The court shall conduct
 12 26 a hearing at least twenty days after written notice of the
 12 27 application for an injunction and of the date and time of the
 12 28 hearing is served upon the owner of the building.  Notice of
 12 29 the hearing shall be served in the manner provided in
 12 30 subsection 1.
 12 31    Sec. 24.  Section 657A.4, Code 1995, is amended to read as
 12 32 follows:
 12 33    657A.4  APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER.
 12 34    After conducting a hearing pursuant to section 657A.3, the
 12 35 court may appoint a receiver to take possession and control of
 13  1 the property in question.  A person shall not be appointed as
 13  2 a receiver unless the person has first provided the court with
 13  3 a viable financial and construction plan for the
 13  4 rehabilitation of the property in question and has
 13  5 demonstrated the capacity and expertise to perform the
 13  6 required work in a satisfactory manner.  The appointed
 13  7 receiver may be a financial institution that possesses an
 13  8 interest of record in the property, a nonprofit corporation
 13  9 that is duly organized and exists for the primary purpose of
 13 10 improving housing conditions in the county or city in which
 13 11 the property in question is located, or any person deemed
 13 12 qualified by the court.  No part of the net earnings of a
 13 13 nonprofit corporation serving as a receiver under this section
 13 14 shall benefit a private shareholder or individual.  Membership
 13 15 on the board of trustees of a nonprofit corporation does not
 13 16 constitute the holding of a public office or employment and is
 13 17 not an interest, either direct or indirect, in a contract or
 13 18 expenditure of money by a city or county.  No member of a
 13 19 board of trustees of a nonprofit corporation appointed as
 13 20 receiver is disqualified from holding public office or
 13 21 employment, nor is a member required to forfeit public office
 13 22 or employment by reason of the membership on the board of
 13 23 trustees.  
 13 24                           DIVISION IV
 13 25    Sec. 25.  NEW SECTION.  446.19A  PURCHASE BY COUNTY OR CITY
 13 26 FOR LOW OR MODERATE INCOME HOUSING.
 13 27    Notwithstanding section 446.18, a city or county may
 13 28 purchase abandoned property assessed as residential or
 13 29 commercial multifamily housing which did not sell at an annual
 13 30 tax sale under section 446.7 for the total amount due.  Money
 13 31 shall not be paid by the county or other tax-levying or tax-
 13 32 certifying body for the purchase, but each of the tax-levying
 13 33 and tax-certifying bodies having any interest in the taxes
 13 34 shall be charged with the total amount due the tax-levying or
 13 35 tax-certifying body as its just share of the purchase price.
 14  1 Prior to the purchase the city or county shall file with the
 14  2 county treasurer a verified statement that a parcel to be
 14  3 purchased is abandoned and deteriorating in condition or is,
 14  4 or is likely to become, a public nuisance, and that the parcel
 14  5 is suitable for use for low or moderate income housing
 14  6 following rehabilitation.
 14  7    The city or county may sell the certificate of purchase.
 14  8 Preference shall be given to purchasers who are low or
 14  9 moderate income families or organizations which assist low and
 14 10 moderate income families to obtain housing.  For the purpose
 14 11 of this section, "low or moderate income families" has the
 14 12 same meaning as in section 403.17.  All persons who purchase
 14 13 certificates under this section shall demonstrate the intent
 14 14 to rehabilitate the property for habitation if the property is
 14 15 not redeemed.
 14 16    Sec. 26.  Section 447.9, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
 14 17 Supplement 1995, is amended to read as follows:
 14 18    After one year and nine months from the date of sale, or
 14 19 after nine months from the date of a sale made under section
 14 20 446.18, 446.38 or 446.39, or following the date of a sale made
 14 21 under section 446.19A of abandoned property assessed for
 14 22 taxation as residential property or as multifamily commercial
 14 23 property, the holder of the certificate of purchase may cause
 14 24 to be served upon the person in possession of the parcel, and
 14 25 also upon the person in whose name the parcel is taxed, in the
 14 26 manner provided for the service of original notices in R.C.P.
 14 27 56.1, if the person resides in Iowa, or otherwise as provided
 14 28 in section 446.9, subsection 1, a notice signed by the
 14 29 certificate holder or the certificate holder's agent or
 14 30 attorney, stating the date of sale, the description of the
 14 31 parcel sold, the name of the purchaser, and that the right of
 14 32 redemption will expire and a deed for the parcel be made
 14 33 unless redemption is made within ninety days from the
 14 34 completed service of the notice.  The ninety-day redemption
 14 35 period begins as provided in section 447.12.  When the notice
 15  1 is given by a county as a holder of a certificate of purchase
 15  2 the notice shall be signed by the county treasurer or the
 15  3 county attorney, and when given by a city, it shall be signed
 15  4 by the city officer designated by resolution of the council.
 15  5 When the notice is given by the Iowa finance authority or a
 15  6 city or county agency holding the parcel as part of an Iowa
 15  7 homesteading project, it shall be signed on behalf of the
 15  8 agency or authority by one of its officers, as authorized in
 15  9 rules of the agency or authority.  
 15 10                           DIVISION V
 15 11    Sec. 27.  Section 16.100, Code 1995, is amended by adding
 15 12 the following new subsection:
 15 13    NEW SUBSECTION.  1A.  The authority shall use moneys
 15 14 received from the real estate transfer tax under section
 15 15 428A.8 to supplement expenditures for programs under this
 15 16 section which promote housing development and ownership.
 15 17    Sec. 28.  Section 428A.8, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
 15 18 1995, is amended to read as follows:
 15 19    On or before the tenth day of each month the county
 15 20 recorder shall determine and pay to the treasurer of state
 15 21 eighty-two and three-fourths forty percent of the receipts
 15 22 from the real estate transfer tax collected during the
 15 23 preceding month and the treasurer of state shall deposit
 15 24 ninety-five percent of the receipts in the general fund of the
 15 25 state and transfer five percent of the receipts to the Iowa
 15 26 finance authority for deposit in the housing improvement fund
 15 27 created in section 16.100.
 15 28    Sec. 29.  Section 428A.8, unnumbered paragraph 2, Code
 15 29 1995, is amended to read as follows:
 15 30    The county recorder shall deposit the remaining seventeen
 15 31 and one-fourth sixty percent of the receipts in the county
 15 32 general fund to be used by the county to fund a local housing
 15 33 trust fund or programs which facilitate housing development
 15 34 through new construction or rehabilitation and promote home
 15 35 ownership.  The county may participate in an agreement under
 16  1 chapter 28E regarding these programs.  
 16  2                           DIVISION VI
 16  3    Sec. 30.  Section 404.2, subsection 6, Code 1995, is
 16  4 amended to read as follows:
 16  5    6.  The city or county has adopted the proposed or amended
 16  6 plan for the revitalization area after the requisite number of
 16  7 hearings.  The city or county may subsequently amend this plan
 16  8 after a hearing.  Notice of the hearing shall be published as
 16  9 provided in section 362.3 or 331.305, except that at least
 16 10 seven days' notice must be given and the public hearing shall
 16 11 not be held earlier than the next regularly scheduled city
 16 12 council or board of supervisors meeting following the
 16 13 published notice.  A city which has adopted a plan for a
 16 14 revitalization area which covers all property within the city
 16 15 limits may amend that plan at any time, pursuant to this
 16 16 section, to include property which has been or will be annexed
 16 17 to the city.  The provisions of the original plan shall be
 16 18 applicable to the property which is annexed and the property
 16 19 shall be considered to have been part of the revitalization
 16 20 area as of the effective date of its annexation to the city.  
 16 21                          DIVISION VII
 16 22    Sec. 31.  EFFECTIVE DATES.  Divisions I, II, and VI of this
 16 23 Act, being deemed of immediate importance, take effect upon
 16 24 enactment.  Division V of this Act takes effect July 1, 1997.  
 16 25                           EXPLANATION
 16 26    Division I.  Sections 1 and 8 repeal the pilot program
 16 27 which limits the establishment of real estate improvement
 16 28 districts to six counties, thus allowing the statewide
 16 29 establishment of real estate improvement districts.  Section 1
 16 30 also provides that real estate improvement districts cannot be
 16 31 created after June 30, 2000.
 16 32    Sections 2 and 3 provide that a person proposed to be a
 16 33 trustee, successor trustee, or to fill a vacancy on the board
 16 34 of trustees must disclose, prior to selection as a trustee,
 16 35 any financial interest the person has in a developer or
 17  1 contractor who may receive a contract for public improvements
 17  2 or other services in the district.  A person proposed as a
 17  3 trustee, successor trustee, or to fill a vacancy on the board
 17  4 of trustees must also disclose the amount of land the person
 17  5 owns in the district.
 17  6    Section 4 requires real estate improvement districts to
 17  7 allow the building of manufactured homes by prohibiting
 17  8 actions by the board of trustees of the district to prohibit
 17  9 or restrict the construction of manufactured homes.
 17 10    Section 4 also requires the board of trustees to maintain
 17 11 the official records of the district, including information
 17 12 regarding the debt service of the district and to make an
 17 13 annual report of the progress made by the district in retiring
 17 14 the debt.
 17 15    In addition, section 4 requires meeting notices to be made
 17 16 public and to state the actions which will be taken by the
 17 17 board at the meeting.  Finally, that section prohibits the
 17 18 board from entering into a contract for public improvements or
 17 19 other development services with a person owning more than 25
 17 20 percent of the land in the district without competitive
 17 21 bidding.
 17 22    Section 5 requires the existence of a special assessment to
 17 23 be recorded, regarding each lot, in the county in which the
 17 24 real estate improvement district is located.
 17 25    Section 6 requires the seller of property in a real estate
 17 26 improvement district or a person acting on the seller's behalf
 17 27 to disclose the amount of a special assessment during sale
 17 28 negotiations.
 17 29    Section 7 provides that real estate brokers must disclose
 17 30 the existence of a special assessment against property in a
 17 31 district to a potential buyer.
 17 32    Division I takes effect upon enactment.
 17 33    Division II makes the following changes to chapter 403
 17 34 regarding urban renewal:
 17 35    Section 9 adds to the declaration of policy regarding urban
 18  1 renewal that a need exists for programs to alleviate and
 18  2 prevent a shortage of housing and that programs which provide
 18  3 for public improvements related to housing and residential
 18  4 development and the construction of housing are essential
 18  5 public purposes for the state and its municipalities.
 18  6    Sections 10 and 11 provide that public hearings are to be
 18  7 held on a proposed urban renewal plan, rather than on each
 18  8 urban renewal project undertaken in accordance with the plan.
 18  9    Section 12 requires the municipality to make a finding that
 18 10 acquisition of land for residential uses is essential to the
 18 11 municipality's urban renewal plan.  Section 11 also requires
 18 12 the municipality to find that one of four conditions exist
 18 13 including that the provision of public improvements related to
 18 14 housing and residential development will encourage residential
 18 15 development and the retention or relocation of industrial or
 18 16 commercial enterprises or that the area to be acquired under
 18 17 the plan is necessary to provide for the construction of low
 18 18 and moderate income housing.
 18 19    Section 14 requires a public notice and hearing before
 18 20 bonds may be issued for urban renewal and provides a 15 day
 18 21 window, following the decision of the municipality to take
 18 22 additional action to issue the bonds, for a resident or
 18 23 property owner to appeal the additional action to the district
 18 24 court.  The additional action is final and conclusive unless
 18 25 the court finds that the municipality exceeded its authority.
 18 26    Section 15 provides that bonds may be sold or exchanged at
 18 27 98 percent of par value or higher.
 18 28    Section 16 removes the requirement that bonds and other
 18 29 obligations under chapter 403 be secured by an agreement
 18 30 between the issuer of the bonds and the federal government
 18 31 obligating the issuer to borrow from the federal government if
 18 32 necessary to pay off the bonds or obligations.
 18 33    Section 17 adds public improvements related to housing
 18 34 development to the definition of economic development area and
 18 35 makes construction of low and moderate income housing an
 19  1 alternative use (along with commercial and industrial
 19  2 enterprises and public improvements for housing) for an
 19  3 economic development area.  The division of revenue under tax
 19  4 increment financing based upon a finding that the area is an
 19  5 economic development area is limited to 20 years.
 19  6    Sections 18 and 19 add low and moderate income housing
 19  7 assistance to the uses for which revenue from tax increment
 19  8 financing may be used and set out the manner in which
 19  9 assistance for public improvements related to housing and
 19 10 residential development, both low and moderate income and
 19 11 otherwise, may be provided.
 19 12    Section 19 also provides that property in an urban renewal
 19 13 area upon which public improvements related to housing and
 19 14 residential development are being placed as part of a project
 19 15 financed by tax increment financing can only be used for tax
 19 16 increment financing once.
 19 17    Tax increment financing for housing or residential
 19 18 development is not allowed unless the municipality assures
 19 19 that the project will include assistance for low and moderate
 19 20 income family housing in an amount either based on the
 19 21 percentage of low and moderate income persons in the county or
 19 22 in some other amount as determined by the municipality and
 19 23 agreed to by the department of economic development.  A
 19 24 municipality of over 15,000 in population must provide low-
 19 25 income and moderate-income housing assistance of at least 10
 19 26 percent of the total project cost.  A municipality of 15,000
 19 27 in population or under is not subject to the 10 percent
 19 28 limitation.  The municipality shall, however, provide some
 19 29 amount of low-income and moderate-income assistance.
 19 30    Assistance for low and moderate income housing may take
 19 31 many forms, including lots for low and moderate income housing
 19 32 within or outside the urban renewal area or payments to a low
 19 33 and moderate income housing fund established by the
 19 34 municipality.  Funding sources may include revenue from tax
 19 35 increment financing or any other legal source.  Tax increment
 20  1 financing for housing projects is limited in duration to 10
 20  2 years except for municipalities of under 15,000 in population,
 20  3 which may extend the tax increment financing for up to five
 20  4 years with the approval of all affected taxing jurisdictions.
 20  5    Division II takes effect upon enactment.
 20  6    Division III provides that counties may utilize the
 20  7 abatement procedure regarding property which is abandoned or
 20  8 deemed to constitute a public nuisance currently only
 20  9 available to cities, neighboring landowners, and nonprofit
 20 10 housing corporations.  The county may file a petition for
 20 11 abatement if the property is located outside the limits of a
 20 12 city and is either abandoned and in violation of the housing
 20 13 code applicable to the county or is deemed a public nuisance.
 20 14    Division III also provides that a city may condemn a
 20 15 residential building under its power of eminent domain and
 20 16 dispose of the property to a private person for rehabilitation
 20 17 or demolition and new construction of housing.  The city is
 20 18 required to follow the procedures of section 364.7, including
 20 19 a public hearing and adoption of an ordinance authorizing the
 20 20 conveyance.
 20 21    Division IV provides that cities or counties may purchase
 20 22 abandoned single or multifamily housing which is tax
 20 23 delinquent and which did not sell at the annual tax sale.  The
 20 24 city or county may retain the tax sale certificate or sell it.
 20 25 If sold, preference in the sale must go to low or moderate
 20 26 income families or organizations which provide housing
 20 27 assistance for low or moderate income families.  The holder of
 20 28 the certificate may immediately send notice that the right to
 20 29 redeem the property shall expire in 90 days.
 20 30    Only property which is assessed for tax purposes as
 20 31 residential property or as multifamily commercial housing is
 20 32 eligible for purchase by a city or county in this manner and
 20 33 for the shortened redemption period.
 20 34    Division V.  Sections 27 and 28 direct 40 percent of the
 20 35 proceeds of the real estate transfer tax to the Iowa finance
 21  1 authority for use to supplement programs which promote housing
 21  2 development and ownership.  Section 28 provides that 40
 21  3 percent of the proceeds from the real estate transfer tax paid
 21  4 to the treasurer of state shall be transferred to the housing
 21  5 improvement fund in the Iowa finance authority.  Currently,
 21  6 only 5 percent of the proceeds from the transfer tax are
 21  7 deposited in the housing improvement fund.  The county in
 21  8 which the tax was collected shall keep 60 percent of the
 21  9 proceeds for use for local housing programs.
 21 10    Division V takes effect July 1, 1997.
 21 11    Division VI.  Section 30 provides that, where a city has
 21 12 adopted an urban revitalization plan covering all property
 21 13 within the city, the plan shall also apply to property annexed
 21 14 by the city.  Division VI takes effect upon enactment.  
 21 15 LSB 3872HZ 76
 21 16 mk/jw/5
     

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