AB784,22,6
123.09 (26) (b) The county board of any county, which, by resolution, indicates
2its desire
Any county or any local park district that wishes to receive aids under this
3subsection shall apply to the department on forms prescribed by the department and
4submit required documentation as set forth promulgated by rule on or before April
515, beginning in 1978 of each year. A decision on an aid application shall be made
6by the department on or before the following July 1, beginning in 1978.
AB784, s. 51 7Section 51. 23.09 (26) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:
AB784,22,138 23.09 (26) (bg) The department shall review the aid application as it considers
9necessary to determine whether the approval of the application will best serve the
10public interest and need. In making its decision, the department shall give careful
11consideration to whether the proposal is an integral part of an official comprehensive
12land and water use plan for the area as well as the relationship of the proposal to
13similar proposals on other public lands.
AB784, s. 52 14Section 52. 23.09 (26) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,22,2015 23.09 (26) (d) Distribution of snowmobile trail development funds shall be
16limited to trails which provide a primary access route through one county and
17connect with another county's trails, provide access from population centers to main
18access trails or support a high volume of use. Counties and local park districts
19applying for aid for snowmobile trail development shall identify the type of trail for
20which aid is being sought on the forms under par. (b).
AB784, s. 53 21Section 53. 23.09 (26) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
AB784,23,422 23.09 (26) (h) Trails, areas, facilities, or other structures for which aid granted
23under this subsection is provided may not be converted to uses that are inconsistent
24with the purposes of this subsection without the approval of the department. The
25department shall not grant approval unless there is evidence that these uses are

1essential to and in accordance with an official comprehensive land and water use
2plan for the area. The department shall require that the proceeds from the sale or
3other disposal of trails, areas, facilities, or other structures for which aid is provided
4under this subsection be used to further the purposes of this subsection.
AB784, s. 54 5Section 54. 23.175 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,23,76 23.175 (1) (a) "Political subdivision" means a city, a village, a town or, a county,
7or a local park district created under s. 27.161.
AB784, s. 55 8Section 55. 23.305 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,23,99 23.305 (1) (intro.) In this section, "spectator sports":
AB784,23,12 10(bm) "Spectator sports" means events or contests in which the general public
11spectates but does not participate, including without limitation because of
12enumeration:
AB784, s. 56 13Section 56. 23.305 (1) (a) to (i) of the statutes are renumbered 23.305 (1) (bm)
141. to 9.
AB784, s. 57 15Section 57. 23.305 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB784,23,1716 23.305 (1) (am) "Local park district" means a local park district created under
17s. 27.161 but not with the participation of any city.
AB784, s. 58 18Section 58. 23.305 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,23,2119 23.305 (2) Notwithstanding ss. 23.30 and 28.04, the department may lease
20state park land or state forest land to towns, villages or , counties, or local park
21districts
for outdoor recreational purposes associated with spectator sports.
AB784, s. 59 22Section 59. 23.33 (1) (im) of the statutes is created to read:
AB784,23,2423 23.33 (1) (im) "Local park district" means a local park district created under
24s. 27.161.
AB784, s. 60 25Section 60. 23.33 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,24,4
123.33 (8) (c) Trails. A town, a village, a city, a county, or a local park district
2or the department may designate corridors through land which it owns or controls,
3or for which it obtains leases, easements or permission, for use as all-terrain vehicle
4trails.
AB784, s. 61 5Section 61. 23.33 (9) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,24,96 23.33 (9) (c) Signs. In addition to the projects listed in par. (b), the department
7may provide aid under this subsection to a town, village, city or, county, or local park
8district
for up to 100% 100 percent of the cost of placing signs developed under sub.
9(4z) (a) 2.
AB784, s. 62 10Section 62. 23.33 (11) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,24,1411 23.33 (11) (a) Counties, towns, cities and villages A county, city, town, or village
12may enact ordinances regulating all-terrain vehicles on all-terrain vehicle trails
13maintained by or on all-terrain vehicle routes designated by under the jurisdiction
14of
the county, city, town, or village.
AB784, s. 63 15Section 63. 25.50 (1) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act 20,
16is amended to read:
AB784,25,217 25.50 (1) (d) "Local government" means any county, town, village, city, power
18district, sewerage district, drainage district, town sanitary district, public inland
19lake protection and rehabilitation district, local professional baseball park district
20created under subch. III of ch. 229, long-term care district under s. 46.2895, local
21professional football stadium district created under subch. IV of ch. 229, local
22cultural arts district created under subch. V of ch. 229, local park district created
23under s. 27.161,
public library system, school district or technical college district in
24this state, any commission, committee, board, or officer of any governmental
25subdivision of this state, any court of this state, other than the court of appeals or the

1supreme court, or any authority created under s. 114.61, 149.41, 231.02, 233.02, or
2234.02.
AB784, s. 64 3Section 64. 27.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,25,104 27.01 (3) Transfer of state park land to municipalities. The department may
5not transfer the ownership of any state park or land within any state park to any
6county, city, village or, town, county, or local park district created under s. 27.161
7unless it the department receives the approval of the joint committee on finance
8regarding the appropriate level of reimbursement to be received by the state to
9reflect the state's cost in acquiring and developing the state park or land within the
10state park.
AB784, s. 65 11Section 65. 27.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,26,512 27.02 (1) Except as provided under sub. (2) and except in counties that are part
13of a local park district created under s. 27.161
, in every county with a population of
14at least 150,000, but less than 500,000, and in any other county with a population
15of less than 150,000 wherein the county board has by resolution provided for a county
16park commission subject to ss. 27.02 to 27.06, the chairperson of the county board
17shall appoint a county park commission consisting of 7 members, any number of
18which may be members of the county board. The appointments shall be made in
19writing and filed in the office of the county clerk. The term of each member, except
20county board members, is 7 years following July 1 of the year in which the
21appointment is made and until the appointment and qualification of a successor,
22except that the first 7 members shall be appointed respectively for such terms that
23on July 1 in each of the 7 years following the year in which they are appointed the
24term of one member will expire. After the original appointments one commissioner
25shall be appointed annually in the month of June to succeed the member whose term

1will expire on July 1 following, except that in counties with a population of at least
2150,000 but less than 500,000 the members shall be elected by the county board of
3supervisors. The term of any park commissioner appointed to the commission while
4serving as a county board member shall end when the commissioner's membership
5on the county board terminates, unless thereafter reappointed to the commission.
AB784, s. 66 6Section 66. 27.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,26,167 27.03 (2) In any county with a county executive or a county administrator, other
8than in a county that is part of a local park district created under s. 27.161,
the county
9executive or county administrator shall appoint and supervise a general manager of
10the park system. The appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the county
11board unless the county board, by ordinance, elects to waive confirmation or unless
12the appointment is made under a civil service system competitive examination
13procedure established under s. 59.52 (8) or ch. 63. In any county with a population
14of 500,000 or more, the general manager of the park system shall be in the
15unclassified civil service and is subject to confirmation by the county board unless
16the county board, by ordinance, elects to waive confirmation.
AB784, s. 67 17Section 67. 27.05 (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,26,25 1827.05 Powers of commission or general manager. (intro.) The Except in
19a county that is part of a local park district created under s. 27.161, the
county park
20commission, or the general manager in counties with a county executive or county
21administrator, shall have charge and supervision of all county parks and all lands
22acquired by the county for park or reservation purposes. The county park
23commission or general manager, subject to the general supervision of the county
24board and regulations prescribed by the county board, except as provided under s.
2527.03 (2), may do any of the following:
AB784, s. 68
1Section 68. 27.06 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,27,7 227.06 Mill-tax appropriation. The Except in a county that is part of a local
3park district created under s. 27.161, the
county board may annually, at the same
4time that other county taxes are levied, levy a tax upon the taxable property of such
5county for the purchase of land and the payment of expenses incurred in carrying on
6the work of the park commission. In every county having a population of 500,000 or
7more, the county park commission shall be subject to s. 59.60.
AB784, s. 69 8Section 69. 27.075 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,28,79 27.075 (1) The Except in a county that is part of a local park district created
10under s. 27.161, the
county board of any county with a population of less than 500,000
11is hereby vested with all powers of a local, legislative, and administrative character
12for the purpose of governing, managing, controlling, improving, and caring for public
13parks, parkways, boulevards, and pleasure drives; and to carry out these powers in
14districts which it may create for different purposes, or throughout the county, and for
15such purposes to levy county taxes, to issue bonds, assessment certificates, and
16improvement bonds, or any other evidence of indebtedness. The powers hereby
17conferred under this section may be exercised by the county board in any town, city
18or village
city, village, or town, or part thereof located in such the county upon the
19request of any such town, city or village city, village, or town, evidenced by a
20resolution adopted by a majority vote of the members-elect of its governing body,
21designating the particular park function, duty, or act, and the terms, if any, upon
22which the same shall be exercised by the county board. Such The resolution shall
23state whether the authority or function is to be exercised exclusively by the county
24or jointly by the county and the town, city or village city, village, or town, and shall
25also state that the exercise of such the power by the county is in the public interest.

1Upon the receipt of the resolution, the county board may, by a resolution adopted by
2a majority vote of its membership, elect to assume the exercise of such the authority
3or function, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the resolution presented by
4the town, city or village city, village, or town. A city, village, or town that wishes to
5create or participate in a local park district under s. 27.161, or terminate its
6participation with a county under s. 27.161 (1) (a) 4., may negotiate the termination
7of any agreement entered into with a county under this subsection
.
AB784, s. 70 8Section 70. 27.075 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,28,249 27.075 (2) The county board of any such county, or the commission of a local
10park district created under s. 27.161,
may, by a resolution adopted by a majority of
11its membership, propose to the towns, cities and villages cities, villages, and towns
12located in such the county, or any of them, that it offers to exercise such the powers
13and functions therein in order that are necessary to consolidate municipal park
14services and functions in said the county. Such The resolution shall designate the
15particular function, duty, or act and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the
16county board or district will perform the same. The powers conferred in sub. (1) and
17designated in such the resolution may thereafter be exercised by the county board,
18or commission,
in each such town, city or village which shall accept such city, village,
19or town which accepts the
proposal by the adoption of a resolution by a majority vote
20of the members-elect of its governing body, except that no governing body may accept
21any proposal described under this subsection unless it contains a provision under
22which the city, village, or town may terminate its agreement with the county or the
23district so that the city, village, or town may create or participate in a local park
24district under s. 27.161
.
AB784, s. 71 25Section 71. 27.075 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,29,6
127.075 (3) After the adoption of resolutions by the county board, the county
2board shall have full power to
or the commission as defined in s. 27.16 (2), the board
3or commission may
legislate upon and administer the entire subject matter
4committed to it, and among other things, to and may determine, where not otherwise
5provided by law, the manner of exercising the power thus assumed. No county may
6exercise any power under this section in a local park district created under s. 27.161.
AB784, s. 72 7Section 72. 27.075 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,30,48 27.075 (4) The town, city or village concerned A city, village, or town may enter
9into necessary contracts with the county, or the district as defined in s. 27.16 (4), and
10appropriate money to pay the county or the district, for the reasonable expenses
11incurred in rendering the park services assumed. Such The contract shall also
12provide a procedure for the termination of the contract by any city, village, or town
13that wishes to create or participate in a local park district under s. 27.161. The

14expenses may be certified, returned, and paid as are other county charges, and, in
15the case of services performed pursuant to under a proposal for the consolidation
16thereof of municipal park services initiated by the county board or district and made
17available to each town, city and village city, village, and town in the county on the
18same terms, the expenses thereof shall be certified, returned, and paid as county
19charges; but in the event that each and every town, city and village if every city,
20village, and town
in the county shall accept such accepts the proposal of the county
21board or district the expenses thereof shall be paid by county or district taxes to be
22levied and collected as are other taxes for county purposes. Said towns, cities and
23villages are vested with all necessary power to do the things herein required, and to
24do all things and to exercise or relinquish any of the powers herein provided or
25contemplated.
The procedure herein provided in this section for the request or

1acceptance of the exercise of the powers conferred on the county board or district
2commission
in cities and villages is hereby prescribed as a special method of
3determining the local affairs and government of such cities and villages pursuant to
4article XI, section 3, of the constitution.
AB784, s. 73 5Section 73. 27.08 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,30,126 27.08 (1) Every city that is not part of a local park district created under s.
727.161
may by ordinance create a board of park commissioners subject to this section,
8or otherwise as provided by ordinance. Such, and if the city has a board of park
9commissioners the city shall terminate that board and end the board's authority
10under this section upon the city's creation of or participation in a local park district
11under s. 27.161. The
board shall be organized as directed by the common council
12shall provide.
AB784, s. 74 13Section 74. 27.08 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB784,30,2214 27.08 (3) In any city having no If a city does not have a board of park
15commissioners its and is not part of a local park district created under s. 27.161, the
16city's
public parks, parkways, boulevards, and pleasure drives shall be under the
17charge of its board of public works, if it has such last named board; otherwise or, if
18it does not have such a board,
under the charge of its common council. When so in
19charge, the board of public works or the common council may exercise all of the
20powers of a board of park commissioners. Upon a city's creation of or participation
21in a local park district under s. 27.161, the city's board of public works or common
22council may not exercise any authority under this section.
AB784, s. 75 23Section 75. 27.16 of the statutes is created to read:
AB784,30,24 2427.16 Local park districts; definitions. In ss. 27.16 to 27.165:
AB784,31,5
1(1) "Chief executive officer" means, as to a sponsoring political subdivision or
2as to a municipality or county that is wholly within the jurisdiction of a district, the
3mayor or city manager of a city, the village president of a village, the town board
4chairperson of a town, the county executive of a county or, if the county does not have
5a county executive, the chairperson of the county board.
AB784,31,6 6(2) "Commission" means the governing body of a district.
AB784,31,7 7(3) "Commissioners" means the commissioners of a district.
AB784,31,9 8(4) "District" means a local park district which is a special purpose district
9created under s. 27.161.
AB784,31,12 10(5) "Enabling resolution" means a resolution, or an amendment of a resolution,
11adopted by the governing body of a municipality or county and signed by the chief
12executive officer to create a district.
AB784,31,13 13(6) "Municipality" means a city, village, or town.
AB784,31,17 14(7) "Park facilities" means a public park, including improvements, that is
15owned by a district, or a public park, including improvements, that is owned by a
16municipality or a county, but is under the management and control of a district, or
17both.
AB784,31,18 18(8) "Political subdivision" means a municipality or county.
AB784,31,20 19(9) "Regular election" means an election that is described in s. 5.02 (5), (18),
20(21), or (22).
AB784,31,21 21(10) "Sponsoring political subdivision" means any of the following:
AB784,31,2322 (a) A municipality that creates a district on its own or in combination with
23another municipality or county.
AB784,31,2524 (b) A county that creates a district on its own or in combination with another
25municipality or county.
AB784, s. 76
1Section 76. 27.161 of the statutes is created to read:
AB784,32,7 227.161 Local park districts; creation, organization, and
3administration.
(1) Subject to sub. (5), one or more political subdivisions may
4provide for the creation of a special purpose district that is a unit of government, that
5is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent
6of, the state and the sponsoring political subdivisions, and that has the powers under
7s. 27.163, if the sponsoring political subdivisions do all of the following:
AB784,32,98 (a) Adopt an enabling resolution, subject to sub. (2), that does all of the
9following:
AB784,32,1010 1. Declares the need for establishing the district.
AB784,32,1111 2. Contains findings of public purpose.
AB784,32,1212 3. Contains a description of the boundaries of the proposed district.
AB784,32,1513 4. If the sponsoring political subdivision is a municipality, declares an intention
14to negotiate with a county the termination of any agreement entered into under s.
1527.075 (1), (2), or (4).
AB784,32,1916 5. Except in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, the number of
17commissioners, which shall be at least 3 but not more than 9, and the number of those
18commissioners who will be elected at large and the number of those commissioners
19who will be elected from election districts.
AB784,32,2520 6. If the sponsoring political subdivision is a county, declare an intention to
21negotiate with each municipality that is subject to an agreement or contract with the
22county under s. 27.075 (1), (2), or (4) the termination of any such agreements or
23contracts, or negotiate an agreement under which each such municipality may
24remain as a party to the agreement or contract knowing that the district will assume
25the county's responsibility under the agreement or contract.
AB784,33,3
17. If the sponsoring political subdivision is a county, declare an intention to
2separate its local park commission or local park department from the county as part
3of the process of creating a district.
AB784,33,54 (b) File copies of the enabling resolution with the clerk of each municipality and
5county that is wholly or partly within the boundaries of the proposed district.
AB784,33,10 6(2) Subject to sub. (5), a district shall consist of one or more political
7subdivisions. Each sponsoring political subdivision shall be identified in a
8substantially similar enabling resolution that is adopted by the governing body of
9each sponsoring political subdivision within a 90-day period beginning with the date
10of adoption of the first enabling resolution.
AB784,33,15 11(3) The creation of a district may also be provided for, subject to subs. (4) and
12(5), by referendum if a petition requesting the creation of a district is filed in
13accordance with this subsection and the question is approved by a majority of the
14electors of each of the political subdivisions where park facilities are to be included
15in the proposed district. The petition shall conform to the following requirements:
AB784,33,1816 (a) The petition shall be in the form specified in s. 8.40, shall specify each
17political subdivision whose park facilities are to be included in the proposed district,
18and shall contain a description and scale map of the proposed district.
AB784,33,2219 (b) Except in counties having a population of 500,000 or more, the petition shall
20specify the number of commissioners, and the number of those commissioners who
21will be elected at large and the number of those commissioners who will be elected
22from election districts.
AB784,33,2423 (c) The petition may be circulated on or after January 1 of any year and may
24be filed not later than 5 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday in February.
AB784,34,3
1(d) The petition shall be signed by at least 100 qualified electors residing in
2each political subdivision whose park facilities are to be included in the proposed
3district.
AB784,34,54 (e) The petition shall be filed with the clerk of each political subdivision whose
5park facilities are to be included in the proposed district.
AB784,34,18 6(4) If all of the steps in sub. (3) occur, each political subdivision in which a
7petition containing the requisite number of signatures are submitted to the clerk
8shall hold a referendum at the next succeeding spring election. The referendum
9question shall be substantially as follows: "Shall a local park district, the territory
10of which includes in whole the .... [name of municipality or county], be created?"
11Subject to sub. (5), if the question submitted at the referendum is approved by a
12majority of the electors who vote in the referendum in at least one political
13subdivision, a special purpose district that is a unit of government, that is a body
14corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the
15state and each political subdivision, and that has the powers under s. 27.163 is
16created, the boundaries of which include each political subdivision in which the
17question is approved. If a referendum question is not approved in at least one
18political subdivision, no district may be created.
AB784,34,20 19(5) (a) A district is created on January 1 following the date on which all of the
20following occur:
AB784,34,2321 1. An enabling resolution is adopted in one or more political subdivisions under
22sub. (1), or a referendum question is approved in one or more political subdivisions
23under sub. (4).
AB784,34,2424 2. The initial commissioners are elected under sub. (7) (a) 4. and assume office.
AB784,35,7
1(b) Before a district is created, the governing bodies of each political subdivision
2that has adopted a resolution under sub. (1) or in which a referendum question has
3been approved under sub. (4) shall adopt a resolution or enact an ordinance, which
4shall become effective not later than September 1 following the date on which the
5resolution under sub. (1) or the referendum question is approved, that contains an
6agreement among each of the governing bodies which addresses at least all of the
7following provisions:
AB784,35,108 1. A method to transfer title of the county or municipal facilities within their
9individual jurisdictions to the district and a description of any restrictions or
10encumbrances that run with the land or facilities that are transferred.
AB784,35,1411 2. A method to select an arbitrator who will decide any issues relating to the
12creation or dissolution of a district, under s. 27.165 (2) that the sponsoring political
13subdivisions, or governing bodies of political subdivisions that join a district,
14question or are unable to resolve.
AB784,35,15 15(6) If a district is created, on the date that the creation becomes effective:
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