Iowa Code § 372.1 : LOCAL GOVERNMENT — CITIES — Organization of city government — FORMS OF GOVERNMENT — Forms of cities
1. The forms of city government are:
a. Mayor-council, or mayor-council with appointed manager.
b. Commission.
c. Council-manager-at-large.
d. Council-manager-ward.
e. Home rule charter.
f. Special charter.
g. City-county consolidated form as provided in sections
331.247 through
331.252.
h. Community commonwealth as provided in sections
331.260 through
331.263.
2. A city when first incorporated has the mayor-council form. A city retains its form of government until it adopts a different form as provided in this division.
3. A city shall adopt by ordinance a charter embodying its existing form of government, which must be one of the forms provided in this subchapter, and shall file a copy of its charter with the secretary of state, and maintain copies available for public inspection.