66.608(1)(a)
(a) "Board" means a business improvement district board appointed under
sub. (3) (a).
66.608(1)(b)
(b) "Business improvement district" means an area within a municipality consisting of contiguous parcels subject to general real estate taxes, other than railroad rights-of-way, and may include railroad rights-of-way, rivers or highways continuously bounded by the parcels on at least one side.
66.608(1)(c)
(c) "Chief executive officer" means a mayor, city manager, village president or town chairperson.
66.608(1)(d)
(d) "Local legislative body" means a common council, village board of trustees or town board of supervisors.
66.608(1)(e)
(e) "Municipality" means a city, village or town.
66.608(1)(f)
(f) "Operating plan" means a plan adopted or amended under this section for the development, redevelopment, maintenance, operation and promotion of a business improvement district, including all of the following:
66.608(1)(f)1.
1. The special assessment method applicable to the business improvement district.
66.608(1)(f)1m.
1m. Whether real property used exclusively for manufacturing purposes will be specially assessed.
66.608(1)(f)2.
2. The kind, number and location of all proposed expenditures within the business improvement district.
66.608(1)(f)3.
3. A description of the methods of financing all estimated expenditures and the time when related costs will be incurred.
66.608(1)(f)4.
4. A description of how the creation of the business improvement district promotes the orderly development of the municipality, including its relationship to any municipal master plan.
66.608(1)(g)
(g) "Planning commission" means a plan commission under
s. 62.23, or if none a board of public land commissioners, or if none a planning committee of the local legislative body.
66.608(2)
(2) A municipality may create a business improvement district and adopt its operating plan if all of the following are met:
66.608(2)(a)
(a) An owner of real property used for commercial purposes and located in the proposed business improvement district designated under
par. (b) has petitioned the municipality for creation of a business improvement district.
66.608(2)(b)
(b) The planning commission has designated a proposed business improvement district and adopted its proposed initial operating plan.
66.608(2)(c)
(c) At least 30 days before creation of the business improvement district and adoption of its initial operating plan by the municipality, the planning commission has held a public hearing on its proposed business improvement district and initial operating plan. Notice of the hearing shall be published as a class 2 notice under
ch. 985. Before publication, a copy of the notice together with a copy of the proposed initial operating plan and a copy of a detail map showing the boundaries of the proposed business improvement district shall be sent by certified mail to all owners of real property within the proposed business improvement district. The notice shall state the boundaries of the proposed business improvement district and shall indicate that copies of the proposed initial operating plan are available from the planning commission on request.
66.608(2)(d)
(d) Within 30 days after the hearing under
par. (c), the owners of property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan having a valuation equal to more than 40% of the valuation of all property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan, using the method of valuation specified in the proposed initial operating plan, or the owners of property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan having an assessed valuation equal to more than 40% of the assessed valuation of all property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan, have not filed a petition with the planning commission protesting the proposed business improvement district or its proposed initial operating plan.
66.608(2)(e)
(e) The local legislative body has voted to adopt the proposed initial operating plan for the municipality.
66.608(3)(a)(a) The chief executive officer shall appoint members to a business improvement district board to implement the operating plan. Board members shall be confirmed by the local legislative body and shall serve staggered terms designated by the local legislative body. The board shall have at least 5 members. A majority of board members shall own or occupy real property in the business improvement district.
66.608(3)(b)
(b) The board shall annually consider and may make changes to the operating plan, which may include termination of the plan, for its business improvement district. The board shall then submit the operating plan to the local legislative body for its approval. If the local legislative body disapproves the operating plan, the board shall consider and may make changes to the operating plan and may continue to resubmit the operating plan until local legislative body approval is obtained. Any change to the special assessment method applicable to the business improvement district shall be approved by the local legislative body.
66.608(3)(c)
(c) The board shall prepare and make available to the public annual reports describing the current status of the business improvement district, including expenditures and revenues. The report shall include an independent certified audit of the implementation of the operating plan obtained by the municipality. The municipality shall obtain an additional independent certified audit upon termination of the business improvement district.
66.608(3)(d)
(d) Either the board or the municipality, as specified in the operating plan as adopted, or amended and approved under this section, shall have all powers necessary or convenient to implement the operating plan, including the power to contract.
66.608(4)
(4) All special assessments received from a business improvement district and all other appropriations by the municipality or other moneys received for the benefit of the business improvement district shall be placed in a segregated account in the municipal treasury. No disbursements from the account may be made except to reimburse the municipality for appropriations other than special assessments, to pay the costs of audits required under
sub. (3) (c) or on order of the board for the purpose of implementing the operating plan. On termination of the business improvement district by the municipality, all moneys collected by special assessment remaining in the account shall be disbursed to the owners of specially assessed property in the business improvement district, in the same proportion as the last collected special assessment.
66.608(4m)
(4m) A municipality shall terminate a business improvement district if the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having a valuation equal to more than 50% of the valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, using the method of valuation specified in the operating plan, or the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having an assessed valuation equal to more than 50% of the assessed valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, file a petition with the planning commission requesting termination of the business improvement district, subject to all of the following conditions:
66.608(4m)(a)
(a) A petition may not be filed under this subsection earlier than one year after the date the municipality first adopts the operating plan for the business improvement district.
66.608(4m)(b)
(b) On and after the date a petition is filed under this subsection, neither the board nor the municipality may enter into any new obligations by contract or otherwise to implement the operating plan until the expiration of 30 days after the date of hearing under
par. (c) and unless the business improvement district is not terminated under
par. (e).
66.608(4m)(c)
(c) Within 30 days after the filing of a petition under this subsection, the planning commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed termination. Notice of the hearing shall be published as a class 2 notice under
ch. 985. Before publication, a copy of the notice together with a copy of the operating plan and a copy of a detail map showing the boundaries of the business improvement district shall be sent by certified mail to all owners of real property within the business improvement district. The notice shall state the boundaries of the business improvement district and shall indicate that copies of the operating plan are available from the planning commission on request.
66.608(4m)(d)
(d) Within 30 days after the date of hearing under
par. (c), every owner of property assessed under the operating plan may send written notice to the planning commission indicating, if the owner signed a petition under this subsection, that the owner retracts the owner's request to terminate the business improvement district, or, if the owner did not sign the petition, that the owner requests termination of the business improvement district.
66.608(4m)(e)
(e) If after the expiration of 30 days after the date of hearing under
par. (c), by petition under this subsection or subsequent notification under
par. (d), and after subtracting any retractions under
par. (d), the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having a valuation equal to more than 50% of the valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, using the method of valuation specified in the operating plan, or the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having an assessed valuation equal to more than 50% of the assessed valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, have requested the termination of the business improvement district, the municipality shall terminate the business improvement district on the date that the obligation with the latest completion date entered into to implement the operating plan expires.
66.608(5)(a)(a) Real property used exclusively for residential purposes may not be specially assessed for purposes of this section.
66.608(5)(b)
(b) A municipality may terminate a business improvement district at any time.
66.608(5)(c)
(c) This section does not limit the power of a municipality under other law to regulate the use of or specially assess real property.
66.608 History
History: 1983 a. 184;
1989 a. 56 s.
258.
66.609
66.609
Architectural conservancy districts. 66.609(1)(a)
(a) "Architectural conservancy district" means an area within a municipality consisting of contiguous parcels subject to general real estate taxes, other than railroad rights-of-way.
66.609(1)(b)
(b) "Board" means an architectural conservancy district board appointed under
sub. (3) (a).
66.609(1)(c)
(c) "Chief executive officer" means a mayor, city manager, village president or town chairperson.
66.609(1)(cm)
(cm) "Historic property" means any building or structure that is any of the following:
66.609(1)(cm)1.
1. Listed on, or has been nominated by the state historical society for listing on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.
66.609(1)(cm)2.
2. Included in a district that is listed on, or has been nominated by the state historical society for listing on, the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places, and has been determined by the state historical society to contribute to the historic significance of the district.
66.609(1)(cm)3.
3. Included on a list of properties that have been determined by the state historical society to be eligible for listing on the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state register of historic places.
66.609(1)(d)
(d) "Local legislative body" means a common council, village board of trustees or town board of supervisors.
66.609(1)(e)
(e) "Municipality" means a city, village or town.
66.609(1)(f)
(f) "Operating plan" means a plan that is adopted or amended under this section for the development, redevelopment, maintenance, operation and promotion of an architectural conservancy district and that includes all of the following:
66.609(1)(f)1.
1. The special assessment method applicable to the architectural conservancy district.
66.609(1)(f)2.
2. The kind, number and location of all proposed expenditures within the architectural conservancy district.
66.609(1)(f)3.
3. A description of the methods of financing all estimated expenditures and the time when related costs will be incurred.
66.609(1)(f)4.
4. A description of how the creation of the architectural conservancy district promotes the orderly development of the municipality, including its relationship to any municipal master plan.
66.609(1)(g)
(g) "Planning commission" means a plan commission under
s. 62.23 or, if one does not exist, a board of public land commissioners or, if neither exists, a planning committee of the local legislative body.
66.609(2)
(2) A municipality may create an architectural conservancy district and adopt its operating plan if all of the following are met:
66.609(2)(a)
(a) An owner of real property located in the proposed architectural conservancy district designated under
par. (b) petitions the municipality for creation of an architectural conservancy district.
66.609(2)(am)
(am) At least 50% of the properties included within the proposed architectural conservancy district are historic properties.
66.609(2)(b)
(b) The planning commission designates a proposed architectural conservancy district and adopts its proposed initial operating plan.
66.609(2)(c)
(c) At least 30 days before the creation of the architectural conservancy district and adoption of its initial operating plan by the municipality, the planning commission holds a public hearing on the proposed architectural conservancy district and initial operating plan. Notice of the hearing shall be published as a class 2 notice under
ch. 985. Before publication of the notice, a copy of that notice, a copy of the proposed initial operating plan and a copy of a detail map showing the boundaries of the proposed architectural conservancy district shall be sent by certified mail to all owners of real property within the proposed architectural conservancy district. The notice shall state the boundaries of the proposed architectural conservancy district and shall indicate that copies of the proposed initial operating plan are available on request from the planning commission.
66.609(2)(d)
(d) Within 30 days after the hearing under
par. (c), the owners of property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan having a valuation equal to more than 40% of the valuation of all property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan, using the method of valuation specified in the proposed initial operating plan, or the owners of property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan having an assessed valuation equal to more than 40% of the assessed valuation of all property to be assessed under the proposed initial operating plan, have not filed a petition with the planning commission protesting the proposed architectural conservancy district or its proposed initial operating plan.
66.609(2)(e)
(e) The local legislative body votes to adopt the proposed initial operating plan for the municipality.
66.609(3)(a)(a) The chief executive officer shall appoint members to an architectural conservancy district board to implement the operating plan. Board members shall be confirmed by the local legislative body and shall serve staggered terms designated by the local legislative body. The board shall have at least 5 members. A majority of board members shall own or occupy real property in the architectural conservancy district.
66.609(3)(b)
(b) The board shall annually consider and may make changes to the operating plan, which may include termination of the plan, for its architectural conservancy district. The board shall then submit the operating plan to the local legislative body for its approval. If the local legislative body disapproves the operating plan, the board shall consider and may make changes to the operating plan and may continue to resubmit the operating plan until local legislative body approval is obtained. Any change to the special assessment method applicable to the architectural conservancy district shall be approved by the local legislative body.
66.609(3)(c)
(c) The board shall prepare and make available to the public annual reports describing the current status of the architectural conservancy district, including expenditures and revenues. The report shall include an independent certified audit of the implementation of the operating plan that shall be obtained by the municipality. The municipality shall obtain an additional independent certified audit upon termination of the architectural conservancy district.
66.609(3)(d)
(d) Either the board or the municipality, as specified in the operating plan as adopted, or as amended and approved under
par. (b), shall have all powers necessary or convenient to implement the operating plan, including the power to contract.
66.609(4)
(4) All special assessments received from an architectural conservancy district, all other appropriations by the municipality and all other moneys received for the benefit of the architectural conservancy district shall be placed in a segregated account in the municipal treasury. No disbursements from the account may be made except to reimburse the municipality for appropriations other than special assessments, to pay the costs of audits required under
sub. (3) (c) or on order of the board for the purpose of implementing the operating plan. On termination of the architectural conservancy district by the municipality, all moneys collected by special assessment that remain in the account shall be disbursed to the owners of specially assessed property in the architectural conservancy district in the same proportion as the last collected special assessment.
66.609(5)
(5) A municipality shall terminate an architectural conservancy district if the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having a valuation equal to more than 50% of the valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, using the method of valuation specified in the operating plan, or the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having an assessed valuation equal to more than 50% of the assessed valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, file a petition with the planning commission requesting termination of the architectural conservancy district, subject to all of the following conditions:
66.609(5)(a)
(a) A petition may not be filed under this subsection earlier than one year after the date on which the municipality first adopts the operating plan for the architectural conservancy district.
66.609(5)(b)
(b) On and after the date on which a petition is filed under this subsection, neither the board nor the municipality may enter into any new obligations by contract or otherwise to implement the operating plan until 30 days after the date of hearing under
par. (c) and unless the architectural conservancy district is not terminated under
par. (e).
66.609(5)(c)
(c) Within 30 days after the filing of a petition under this subsection, the planning commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed termination. Notice of the hearing shall be published as a class 2 notice under
ch. 985. Before publication of the notice, a copy of that notice, a copy of the operating plan and a copy of a detail map showing the boundaries of the architectural conservancy district shall be sent by certified mail to all owners of real property within the architectural conservancy district. The notice shall state the boundaries of the architectural conservancy district and shall indicate that copies of the operating plan are available on request from the planning commission.
66.609(5)(d)
(d) Within 30 days after the hearing held under
par. (c), every owner of property assessed under the operating plan may send written notice to the planning commission indicating, if the owner signed a petition under this subsection, that the owner retracts the owner's request to terminate the architectural conservancy district or, if the owner did not sign the petition, that the owner requests termination of the architectural conservancy district.
66.609(5)(e)
(e) If on the 31st day after the hearing held under
par. (c), the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having a valuation equal to more than 50% of the valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, using the method of valuation specified in the operating plan, or the owners of property assessed under the operating plan having an assessed valuation equal to more than 50% of the assessed valuation of all property assessed under the operating plan, after adding subsequent notifications under
par. (d) and after subtracting any retractions under
par. (d), have requested the termination of the architectural conservancy district, the municipality shall terminate the architectural conservancy district on the date that the obligation with the latest completion date entered into to implement the operating plan expires.
66.609(6)(a)(a) A municipality may terminate an architectural conservancy district at any time.
66.609(6)(b)
(b) This section does not limit the authorities of a municipality to regulate the use of or specially assess real property.
66.609 History
History: 1991 a. 269.
66.610
66.610
Pedestrian malls in cities of the 1st class. 66.610(1)(1)
Purpose. The purpose of this section is to authorize any city of the 1st class to undertake, develop, finance, construct and operate pedestrian malls as local improvements.
66.610(2)
(2) Definitions. As used in this section:
66.610(2)(a)
(a) "Annual pedestrian mall improvement" includes, without limitation because of enumeration, any reconstruction, replacement or repair of trees, plantings, furniture, shelters or other pedestrian mall facilities.
66.610(2)(b)
(b) "Annual pedestrian mall improvement cost" includes, without limitation because of enumeration, planning consultant fees, public liability and property damage insurance premiums, reimbursement of the city's reasonable and necessary costs incurred in operating and maintaining a pedestrian mall, levying and collecting special assessments and taxes, publication costs, and any other costs related to annual improvements and the operation and maintenance of a pedestrian mall.
66.610(2)(c)
(c) "Board of assessment" means the board created under
subch. II of ch. 32, for the purpose of estimating benefits and damages in connection with the creation or improvement of a pedestrian mall.
66.610(2)(d)
(d) "Business district" means an existing recognized area of a city principally used for commerce or trade.
66.610(2)(f)
(f) "Commissioner of public works" means the board of public works, commissioner of public works, or any other city board or officer vested with authority over public works.
66.610(2)(g)
(g) "Community development advisory body" means any corporation or unincorporated association whose shareholders or members are owners or occupants of property included in a proposed or existing pedestrian mall district.
66.610(2)(h)
(h) "Council" and "common council" mean the governing body of the city.
66.610(2)(i)
(i) "Intersecting street" means, unless the council declares otherwise, any street which meets or intersects a pedestrian mall, but includes only those portions thereof which lay between the mall or mall intersection and the first intersection of such intersecting street with a street open to general vehicular traffic.
