Iowa Code Title IX. Local Government [Chs. 331-420] § 331.232. Plan for an alternative form of government

1. A charter to change a form of county government may be submitted to the electors of a county only by a commission established by resolution of the board upon petition of the number of eligible electors of the county equal to at least twenty-five percent of the votes cast in the county for the office of president of the United States or governor at the preceding general election or the signatures of at least ten thousand eligible electors of the county, whichever number is fewer. The board shall within ten days of the filing of a valid petition adopt such a resolution.

2. The council of any city wishing to participate in a city-county consolidation charter commission must notify the board by resolution within thirty days of the creation of the commission pursuant to subsection 1. A city's participation in a city-county consolidation charter commission may be proposed by the city council adopting a resolution in favor of participation or by eligible electors of the city equal in number to at least twenty-five percent of the persons who voted at the last regular city election petitioning the council to adopt a resolution in favor of participation. The council shall within ten days of the filing of a valid petition adopt such a resolution.

3. An alternative form of county government shall be submitted to the electorate by the commission in the form of a charter.