Discussion and Review of Tiffin Municipal Code Revisions – Preparation for Setting the Public Hearing — Memo - Code Updates

AGENDA ITEM # WS -C AGENDA INFORMATION TIFFIN CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION DATE: September 9, 2026 AGENDA ITEM: City of Tiffin – 2026 Code Codification: Summary of Significant Changes ACTION: Discussion The City has been working with Iowa Codification to update and reorganize the City Code. The August 2026 draft represents the current draft for Council review; however, it does not yet include legislation that took effect July 1, 2026. The Iowa Codification team is currently incorporating those changes and will also make any additional revisions identified by the City before the Code is brought forward for final adoption. The codification process includes: • Updating the Code to reflect current Iowa Code requirements. • Incorporating ordinances adopted by the City since the existing Code was prepared. • Updating outdated references and terminology. • Clarifying City procedures and responsibilities. • Incorporating City-specific standards that have previously existed outside the Code. • Removing obsolete or duplicative provisions. • Reorganizing certain chapters to make the Code easier to administer and enforce. The proposed Code continues to contain the City's existing major regulatory chapters, including municipal infractions, public safety, nuisance and animal control, traffic, utilities, building regulations, zoning, and subdivision regulations. I. General Code & Administration Chapter 1 – Code of Ordinances • Updated general provisions and definitions. • Updated references to the Code of Iowa. • Clarified rules regarding construction and interpretation of the Code. • Clarified the ability of authorized assistants, subordinates, and designees to perform duties assigned to City officers. • Updated right-of-entry provisions, including the process for obtaining an administrative search warrant when entry is refused. • Updated the City's standard penalty provision to reflect current Iowa Code penalty amounts. The final draft specifically provides that authorized assistants, subordinates, or duly authorized designees may perform duties assigned to City officers or employees. A significant amount of the Code has been updated from older bracket-style statutory references to the current parenthetical citation format, such as (Code of Iowa, Sec. 372.13(4)). This is primarily a codification/housekeeping change and does not necessarily represent a change in City policy. 1