Iowa Code § 368.13: Board may initiate proceedings.

Based on the results of its studies, the board may initiate proceedings for the incorporation, discontinuance, or boundary adjustment of a city. The board may request a city to submit a plan for city development or may formulate its own plan for city development. A plan submitted at the board’s initiation must include the same information as a petition and be filed and acted upon in the same manner as a petition. A petition or plan may include any information relevant to the proposal, including but not limited to results of studies and surveys, and arguments.