263—7.2(368) Contents of petition. This rule describes the information and documentation a city is required to include in its petition.
	7.2(1) Landowner application requirements. The board will verify that each landowner’s application for annexation includes the items required by Iowa Code section 368.7(1)“c” and is dated and signed by all owners of record or their authorized representatives. If voluntary annexation is requested for a parcel of land being sold on contract, the contract seller and the contract buyer should both approve the application. If voluntary annexation is requested for property owned by a business organization or entity other than a natural person or persons, the applicant should provide documentation establishing authorization to act on behalf of the owner entity.
	7.2(2) City requirements. In addition to any applicable landowner applications submitted in compliance with subrule 7.2(1), a city’s petition must include all of the following:
	a. 	A general statement of the proposed annexation, briefly describing the current and expected use of the annexation territory, any services that the city currently provides to the territory, and the reasons for a landowner’s request for annexation, if known.
	b. 	A statement indicating whether the city is a party to an existing moratorium agreement entered pursuant to Iowa Code section 368.4 and, if so, whether the proposed annexation is consistent with the terms of that agreement.
	c. 	A complete legal description of the territory proposed to be annexed, including the right-of-way to the center line of all secondary roads adjoining the territory. If the applicable county and city have entered an agreement pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 28E that allows exclusion of the right-of-way, a copy of the agreement shall be included with the petition.
	d. 	Documentation that the county auditor has verified the accuracy and completeness of the legal description of all territory proposed to be annexed and verified current ownership of the parcel(s) included in the proposed territory. If the auditor fails to respond to the city’s request for verification within 14 days, the city may provide a copy of the request and a statement indicating that no response was received.
	e. 	A map clearly showing the entire boundary of the existing city, all territory proposed to be annexed, adjacent roadways, and the relationship of the territory to the petitioning 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 information required by this paragraph.
	f. 	A statement indicating whether state-owned property or county-owned road right-of-way has been included in the proposed annexation and, if so, certification that the city has complied with the notice requirements of Iowa Code section 368.5. If the territory proposed for annexation includes right-of-way for a state highway, documentation of consultation with the Iowa department of transportation should also be included.
	g. 	Certification that the city has complied with all applicable notice and hearing requirements of Iowa Code section 368.7, including proof of mailing of the application and affidavit of publication of the required public notice. If railway right-of-way or public land is included without the written consent of the owner or agency with jurisdiction over the public land, the city shall certify notice was given to the owner or agency as required by Iowa Code section 368.7(1)“c.” For purposes of calculating the required period of notice, business days include Monday through Friday of each week, except legal holidays as set forth in Iowa Code section 4.1(34).
	h. 	A city council resolution approving the landowner’s application, including, if applicable, the terms of the transition of city taxes as provided by Iowa Code sections 368.7(5) and 368.11(3)“m.”
	7.2(3) Additional information for petitions, including nonconsenting landowners. In addition to the information to be included pursuant to subrule 7.2(2), a petition that includes property without the consent of the owner(s) must provide the additional information indicated in this subrule.
	a. 	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. 	Documentation submitted pursuant to paragraph 7.2(2)“d” relating to county auditor verification, including verification of the legal description of land owned by each nonconsenting owner.
	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 Iowa Code section 368.7(1)“a.” Only contiguous land area may be considered for purposes of calculating the amount of the land area which may be included without the owner’s consent.
	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. 	The city council’s resolution approving the annexation submitted pursuant to paragraph 7.2(2)“h” that must set forth the reason(s) that land is included without the consent of the owner(s).
[ARC 7705C, IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24]