463B.1 Legislative findings.

The general assembly finds that the Missouri river is an important natural resource to the state of Iowa and that the creation of comprehensive plans which lead to the purchase, development, and preservation of land adjacent to the Missouri river will provide recreational and economic benefits to the state and to the counties and cities which border on the river. The general assembly further finds that current planning and purchase efforts relating to development of Missouri riverfront property have fallen short of the goal of developing a comprehensive plan for the recreational development of the Missouri river and that the creation of an authority which has the mission of engaging in these efforts will have a greater likelihood of reaching the desired goal.

463B.2 Missouri river preservation and land use authority created--duties.

1. A Missouri river preservation and land use authority is created to engage in comprehensive planning for and the development and implementation of strategies designed to preserve and restore the natural beauty of the land adjacent to and the water of the Missouri river through state land acquisition. Planning and implementation activities shall be coordinated with plans and implementation activities of the department of natural resources for lands owned or acquired by the department. The authority shall be composed of a representative from each of the county conservation boards of the counties which border on the Missouri river, an elected official selected by the county board of supervisors of each of the counties which border on the Missouri river, six at- large public members, and four ex officio members. The board of supervisors of the counties which border on the Missouri river shall each appoint one of the at-large public members, who shall possess a demonstrated interest in or knowledge about natural resource conservation and protection and one of whom shall also be actively engaged in the business of farming. Interest or knowledge of an at-large member may be demonstrated by membership in an association or other organization which is involved in conservation, environmental protection, or related activities. The ex officio members of the authority shall be composed of a representative from the natural resource commission of the department of natural resources, a representative from the state department of transportation, a representative from the department of cultural affairs, and a representative from the office of attorney general. Members of the authority shall serve two- year terms. Members who are also members of a county conservation board or board of supervisors shall be reimbursed only for actual expenses incurred while performing duties of the authority. At-large members shall be reimbursed for actual expenses and shall receive a per diem as specified in section 7E.6 for their performance of duties for the authority.

2. The mission of the authority is to research, develop comprehensive plans, and implement strategies which emphasize the creation of multipurpose recreational areas that foster and accent the natural characteristics of the Missouri river and which provide for environmentally sound land and water use practices for land adjacent to the Missouri river; to designate and prioritize for purchase parcels of land which are located in areas critical for the environmental health of the Missouri river waterway; to develop plans for and to acquire parcels of land to establish a public greenbelt along the banks of the Missouri river; to develop plans for public recreational use of lands adjacent to the Missouri river, including but not limited to a public bicycle trail; and to cooperate with county and city authorities, and federal and state authorities in order to fulfill the mission of the authority.

3. The authority shall develop plans and proposals and conduct public hearings relating to the conservation, preservation, and acquisition of land adjacent to the Missouri river. In developing plans and proposals the authority shall consult with any person or organization which has interests that would be affected by the acquisition and development of Missouri river property in accordance with the mission of the authority, including but not limited to utility companies, municipalities, agricultural organizations, the corps of engineers, rural water districts, soil and water conservation districts, private water suppliers, business and industry organizations, drainage and levee district associations, benefited recreational lake districts, and any soil conservation organizations. The authority shall include a copy of any plans and proposals and shall document the results and findings of those hearings in a report or series of reports. The authority shall submit an initial report, including an outline for a proposed ten-year plan and strategies for the attainment of the goals of this section, to the general assembly by the first day of the legislative session which commences in 1993. As part of the authority's planning and coordinating effort, the authority shall consult, at least annually, with the Iowa boundary commission and shall send copies of the minutes of all meetings of the authority to the commission. Within one year of July 1, 1991, the authority shall meet with the Iowa boundary commission. Meetings with the Iowa boundary commission shall be held at a time and a place agreed to between the commission and the authority.

4. The authority shall administer the Missouri river preservation and land use fund, under section 463B.3, and shall deposit and expend moneys in the fund for the development of plans for, development of, and purchase of lands adjacent to the Missouri river and for annual payment of property taxes on any land purchased. The county treasurer shall certify the amount of taxes due to the authority. The assessed value of the property held by the authority shall be that value determined under section 427.1, subsection 18, and the authority may protest the assessed value in the manner provided by law for any property owner to protest an assessment. For purposes of chapter 257, the assessed value of any property which was acquired by the authority shall be included in the valuation base of the school district and the payments made by the authority shall be considered as property tax revenues and not as miscellaneous income. The expenditure of funds may include, but is not limited to, use of moneys from the Missouri river preservation and land use fund to match funds from state, federal, and private resources.

5. The title to all property purchased by the authority shall be taken in the name of the state, but no land shall be acquired through condemnation proceedings and all purchases shall be from willing sellers. The authority may transfer jurisdiction over any lands the authority acquires to the department of natural resources, or may enter into agreements with the department or the appropriate county conservation board, for the management of the lands. All lands purchased shall be for public use, and not for private commercial purposes, but the authority may permit the expenditure of private funds for the improvement of land or water adjacent to or purchased by the authority. All surveys and plats of lands purchased by the authority shall be filed in the manner provided in section 461A.22. Land purchased by the authority shall be managed and policed in the manner provided under agreements between the authority and the agency responsible for management of the property, except that, subject to the restrictions contained in chapter 455B, the authority shall not be required to obtain the prior permission of the natural resource commission when using private funds to establish land or water recreational areas, and any property purchased by the authority shall not be sold without the prior notification and consent of the authority.

463B.3 Missouri river preservation and land use fund.

A Missouri river preservation and land use fund is established in the office of treasurer of state, to be administered by and subject to the use of the Missouri river preservation and land use authority for the purposes established in section 463B.2. The Missouri river preservation and land use authority may accept gifts, grants, bequests, other moneys including but not limited to state or federal moneys, and in-kind contributions for deposit in the fund for the use of the authority to carry out the authority's mission. Gifts, grants, and bequests from public and private sources, state and federal moneys, and other moneys received by the authority shall be deposited in the fund and any interest earned on the fund shall be credited to the fund to be used for the purposes specified in section 463B.2. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any unexpended or unencumbered moneys remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund, but shall remain available for expenditure by the authority in succeeding fiscal years.