Lawmakers must move cautiously in some of their flood prevention efforts or risk impeding redevelopment and squashing the tax base, a local government advocate said Monday in response to a new report.

The report, released Monday by the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission, outlines 12 key recommendations and dozens of possible strategies for state leaders to use in helping Iowans recover from this year's storms and prevent losses in future disasters.

"We cannot rest until we learn the lessons of this disaster and take the necessary steps to keep disasters from devastating our people, our community, our land and our economy," said Iowa National Guard Adj. Gen. Ron Dardis, chairman of the Rebuild Iowa Advisory Commission.

One of the key issues outlined in the report focuses on the creation of a land-use policy throughout the state. The report says the state must work with local governments to develop such policies. Some worry, however, that it could lead to strict mandates that give locally elected officials few redevelopment options in flooded areas.

That, in turn, could curb development in large swathes of Iowa and even prevent entire towns from rebuilding, said Alan Kemp, executive director of the Iowa League of Cities.

"It's not going to be uncontroversial - not only with some cities but also with private landowners," Kemp said. "It's one of those things that would have to be very carefully crafted to make it work."

The report, delivered to Gov. Chet Culver on Monday, does not outline costs or timelines for the recommendations. It does offer dozens of possible strategies for state leaders to use to accomplish the goals.

"We look forward to a thoughtful conversation with the Legislature and local leaders," Culver said. "The bottom line is there will be significant state money and legislative action next session that tie into our flood recovery efforts."

Rep. Tyler Olson, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, said it's appropriate for state leaders to discuss how taxpayer money is spent in rebuilding flooded areas. However, he generally believes lawmakers should leave most of the decisions to local governments.

"If a city decides to take no steps to prevent future risks and then builds along the river again, should the state use its resources to clean up should another disaster happen? I think that's a fair discussion," Olson said.

Sen. Brad Zaun, a Republican and former mayor of Urbandale, said he strongly opposes taking decisions out of the hands of local governments. At the same time, lawmakers must make sure millions of dollars in assistance is properly spent.

"Obviously, this is an extraordinary circumstance," Zaun said. "The bottom line is to make darn sure that taxpayer money is not reinvested in an area that floods all the time."

House Democrats announced last week that they would create a special committee to consider the recommendations. Monday's report is expected to be one of the key documents used to draft recovery proposals during next year's legislative session, which begins Jan. 12.