229.41(6)
(6) "Exposition center" means one or more related structures, including fixtures and equipment, owned, operated or leased by a district and used primarily for conventions, expositions, trade shows, musical or dramatic events or other events involving educational, cultural or commercial activities, and not primarily for recreational or sporting activities.
229.41(7)
(7) "Exposition center facilities" means land or structures, including fixtures and equipment, owned, operated or leased by a district that are used primarily to support the activities of an exposition center, and are functionally related to the exposition center, such as offices, parking lots and garages, storage or loading facilities, access ways, transportation facilities, restaurants and stores.
229.41(8)
(8) "Exposition center site" means land owned, operated or leased by a district upon which an exposition center or exposition center facilities exist or may be constructed.
229.41(9)
(9) "Private sector entity" means an entity that is not a public sector entity.
229.41(10)
(10) "Public sector entity" means this state, a city, village, town or county or a quasi-governmental entity.
229.41(11)
(11) "Sponsoring municipality" means any city, village, town or county that creates a district either separately or in combination with another city, village, town or county.
229.41(12)
(12) "Transfer agreement" means the contract between a district and a sponsoring municipality that provides the terms and conditions upon which the ownership and operation of an exposition center and exposition center facilities are transferred from a sponsoring municipality to the district.
229.41 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.42
229.42
Creation and organization. 229.42(1)
(1) A sponsoring municipality may create a special purpose district that is a unit of government, that is a body corporate and politic, that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the state and the sponsoring municipality, and that has the powers under
s. 229.44, if the sponsoring municipality does all of the following:
229.42(1)(a)
(a) Adopts an enabling resolution, subject to
sub. (2), that does all of the following:
229.42(1)(a)4.
4. Contains a description of the exposition center to be developed, owned, leased or operated by the district.
229.42(1)(a)5.
5. If the sole sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, states that the municipality agrees to stop imposing and collecting its room tax under
s. 66.0615 (1m) (a).
229.42(1)(b)
(b) Files copies of the enabling resolution with the secretary of administration, the secretary of revenue and the county executive, if the sponsoring municipality is not a county.
229.42(2)
(2) A district may have more than one sponsoring municipality if each sponsoring municipality is identified in a substantially similar enabling resolution that is adopted by the governing body of each sponsoring municipality within a 90-day period commencing with the date of adoption of the first enabling resolution.
229.42(3)
(3) The district shall be governed by its board of directors and, except for the 3rd member described under
sub. (4) (d) who is either a chief executive officer of a municipality or a resident of the district, may not act until all of the persons appointed to its board are certified under
s. 229.435. The board of directors shall adopt bylaws to govern the district's activities, subject to this subchapter.
229.42(4)
(4) If the sole sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 15 members, who shall be qualified and appointed, subject to
sub. (7) (b), as follows:
229.42(4)(a)
(a) Two members, who shall be residents of the sponsoring municipality and primarily employees or officers of a private sector entity, shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the sponsoring municipality.
229.42(4)(b)
(b) Three members, each of whom shall be a resident of the sponsoring municipality and primarily an employee or officer of a public sector entity, shall be appointed by the president of the governing body of the sponsoring municipality and the president may appoint himself or herself.
229.42(4)(c)
(c) One member shall be the comptroller of the sponsoring municipality, except that if the sponsoring municipality does not have a comptroller one member shall be the chief financial officer of the sponsoring municipality.
229.42(4)(d)
(d) Three members, 2 of whom shall be primarily employees or officers of a private sector entity, shall be appointed by the county executive of the most populous county in which the sponsoring municipality is located and the 2 private sector entity members shall reside in the county but may not reside in the sponsoring municipality. The 3rd member shall be the chief executive officer of a municipality that contributes a minimum of five-fourteenths of its room tax to an entity which promotes tourism and conventions within the jurisdiction of the district, as that term is used in
s. 229.43, except that if no municipality makes this minimum contribution the 3rd member shall be a resident of the district. The room tax contribution shall be at least $150,000 each year. The chief executive officer appointed under this paragraph shall serve a term that expires 2 years after his or her appointment, or shall serve until the expiration of his or her term of elective office, whichever occurs first.
229.42(4)(e)
(e) Four members, one of whom shall be the secretary of administration, or the secretary's designee, and 3 of whom shall be primarily employees or officers of a private sector entity, who shall be appointed by the governor. Of the 3 members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity, at least one of the appointees shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district's jurisdiction and that has significant involvement with the food and beverage industry and at least one of the appointees shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district's jurisdiction and that has significant involvement with the lodging industry. At least 2 of the appointees under this paragraph shall reside in the district's jurisdiction but may not reside in the sponsoring municipality.
229.42(4)(f)
(f) Two members, each of whom shall be a cochairperson of the joint committee on finance, or his or her designee if the designee is a member of the same house of the legislature as the cochairperson who makes the designation.
229.42(5)(a)(a) If a district has 2 or more sponsoring municipalities, one of which is a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 8 members appointed by the chief executive officers of the sponsoring municipalities. The allocation of appointments by the chief executive officers and the expiration dates of the terms of office shall be specified in the enabling resolutions. The directors shall be subject to
sub. (7) (a).
229.42(5)(b)
(b) If a district has 2 or more sponsoring municipalities, none of which is a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 6 members appointed by the chief executive officer of each sponsoring municipality. The allocation of appointments by the chief executive officers and the expiration dates of the terms of office shall be specified in the enabling resolutions. The directors shall be subject to
sub. (7) (a).
229.42(6)
(6) If the sole sponsoring municipality is not a 1st class city, the board of directors shall consist of 6 members, all of whom shall reside in the area of the district's jurisdiction and shall be appointed by the sponsoring municipality's chief executive officer, subject to
sub. (7) (a). The expiration dates of the members' terms of office shall be specified in the enabling resolution. Three of the directors shall be elected or appointed public officials of the sponsoring municipality, one shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district's jurisdiction and that has a significant involvement with the hotel, motel and lodging industry, one shall own, operate or manage an enterprise that is located within the district's jurisdiction and that has a significant involvement with the food and beverage industry and one shall be an at-large appointment who is an employee or officer of a private sector entity.
229.42(7)(a)(a) Appointments by the chief executive officer under
subs. (5) and
(6) shall be subject to confirmation by the governing body of the sponsoring municipality. The terms of office of the public sector members of the board of directors shall be 3 years and shall expire upon the earlier of a date specified in the enabling resolution or the expiration of their respective terms of public office. The terms of office of the members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity shall be 3 years, except that for the initial appointments for a newly created district one-third of the appointments of such members shall be for one year, one-third shall be for 2 years and one-third shall be for 3 years. If the number of members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity is not divisible by 3, for the initial appointments of such members for a newly created district, approximately one-third of the appointments shall be for one year, approximately one-third shall be for 2 years and approximately one-third shall be for 3 years. No members who are officers or employees of a private sector entity may serve more than 2 consecutive full terms. Members may be removed from the board of directors prior to the expiration of their terms only by the chief executive officer and only for malfeasance or nonfeasance in office.
229.42(7)(b)1.1. Subject to
subds. 2. and
3., the terms of office of the members of the board shall be 3 years, except that for the initial appointments for a newly created district, as specified in the enabling resolution, 4 of the appointments shall be for one year, 4 appointments, including the 3 members appointed under
sub. (4) (d), shall be for 2 years and 4 appointments shall be for 3 years. The cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance or their designees shall serve on the board for a term that is concurrent with their terms in office and the comptroller's appointment shall be for the comptroller's tenure in his or her position.
229.42(7)(b)2.
2. The term of a public sector member shall expire or terminate upon the earliest occurrence of one of the following:
229.42(7)(b)2.c.
c. The member is removed by his or her appointing authority for malfeasance or nonfeasance in office.
229.42(7)(b)3.
3. The term of a member who is an officer or employee of a private sector entity shall expire or terminate upon the earliest occurrence of one of the following:
229.42(7)(b)3.b.
b. A member that is subject to a residency requirement establishes a nonqualifying residence.
229.42(7)(b)3.c.
c. A member that is appointed as a member from the food and beverage industry or the lodging industry no longer qualifies as an industry representative as described in
sub. (4) (e).
229.42(7)(b)3.d.
d. The member is removed by his or her appointing authority for malfeasance or nonfeasance in office.
229.42(8)
(8) The board of directors shall elect from its membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. A majority of the current membership of the board of directors constitutes a quorum to do business. Except as provided in
ss. 66.0615 (1m) (b) and
77.981, the district may take action based on the affirmative vote of a majority of a quorum.
229.42(9)
(9) The members of the board of directors shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
229.43
229.43
Jurisdiction. A district's jurisdiction is the sponsoring municipality's geographical area, except that, if the sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, the district's jurisdiction is that city and each city and village that is wholly or partly contained within the most populous county in which that city is located and except that no territory may be included within the jurisdiction of more than one district.
229.43 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.435
229.435
Certification of board members. Within 30 days after a sponsoring municipality files an enabling resolution under
s. 229.42 (1) (b), each person who may appoint members to a board of directors under
s. 229.42 (4),
(5) or
(6) shall certify to the department of administration the names of the persons appointed to the board of directors under
s. 229.42 (5) or
(6) or, if the sole sponsoring municipality is a 1st class city, the names of the persons appointed to the board of directors under
s. 229.42 (4).
229.435 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.44
229.44
Powers of a district. A district has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this subchapter. In addition to all other powers granted by this subchapter, a district may do any of the following:
229.44(1)
(1) Adopt and alter an official seal.
229.44(2)
(2) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded.
229.44(4)
(4) Do any of the following in connection with an exposition center and exposition center facilities:
229.44(4)(a)
(a) Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the exposition center and exposition center facilities, or engage other persons to do these things.
229.44(4)(b)
(b) Acquire, lease, use or transfer property. With the approval of all sponsoring municipalities of the district, the district may acquire property by condemnation using the procedure under
s. 32.05 or
32.06.
229.44(4)(d)
(d) Enter into contracts. All contracts, the estimated costs of which exceed $30,000, except contracts subject to
s. 229.46 (5) and contracts for personal or professional services, shall be subject to bid and shall be awarded to the lowest qualified and competent bidder. The district may reject any bid that is submitted under this paragraph.
229.44(5)
(5) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under
s. 66.0301 or
229.47 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan.
229.44(6)
(6) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance or, subject to an agreement with another governmental entity under
s. 66.0301 or
229.47, participate in a governmental plan of insurance or self-insurance.
229.44(7)
(7) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the district's property or funds.
229.44(8)
(8) Issue bonds under
ss. 229.48 to
229.56 and enter into agreements related to the issuance of bonds, including liquidity and credit facilities, remarketing agreements, insurance policies, guaranty agreements, letter of credit or reimbursement agreements, indexing agreements, interest exchange agreements and currency exchange agreements.
229.44(9)
(9) Maintain funds and invest the funds in any investment that the board considers appropriate.
229.44(10)
(10) Direct its agents or employees, if properly identified in writing, to enter upon real property within its jurisdiction to make surveys and examinations before locating or constructing an exposition center or exposition center facilities, without incurring liability by the district, its agents or employees except for actual damage done. Before directing anyone to enter real property under this subsection, the district shall give the owner and occupant of the property at least 5 days' written notice.
229.44(11)
(11) Promote, advertise and publicize its exposition center, exposition center facilities and related activities.
229.44(12)
(12) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its exposition center and exposition center facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order.
229.44(13)
(13) Establish rates or other charges for the use of its exposition center and exposition center facilities or for services rendered by the district.
229.44(14)
(14) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures or other arrangements with other persons, including other districts created under this subchapter, to further the district's purposes.
229.44(15)
(15) If the district's sponsoring municipality adopts a resolution described under
s. 229.50 (1) (a), and if the district's sponsoring municipality agrees to stop imposing and collecting its room tax under
s. 66.0615 (1m) (a), adopt a resolution to impose the taxes under
ss. 66.0615 (1m),
77.98 and
77.99, except that, if a district adopts a resolution under this subsection, it shall deliver a certified copy of the resolution to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days before its effective date.
229.44 History
History: 1993 a. 263;
1999 a. 150 s.
672.
229.45
229.45
Powers granted to sponsoring municipality. In addition to any powers that it may otherwise have, a sponsoring municipality may do any of the following:
229.45(1)
(1) Make grants or loans to a district upon terms that the sponsoring municipality considers appropriate.
229.45(2)
(2) Expend public funds to subsidize a district.
229.45(3)
(3) Borrow money under
ss. 67.04 and
67.12 (12) for exposition center facilities or to fund grants, loans or subsidies to a district.
229.45 History
History: 1993 a. 263.
229.46
229.46
Certain contracting requirements. 229.46(1)(c)
(c) "Women's business" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture or corporation that is at least 51% owned, controlled and actively managed by women.
229.46(2)
(2) A person who is awarded a contract by a district shall agree, as a condition to receiving the contract, that at least 25% of the employees hired because of the contract will be minority group members and at least 5% of the employees hired because of the contract will be women if any of the following applies:
229.46(2)(a)
(a) The contract is for the construction of any part of an exposition center.
229.46(2)(b)
(b) The contract results in the hiring of individuals who will work at the exposition center.
229.46(3)
(3) At least 25% of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to minority businesses and at least 5% of the aggregate dollar value of contracts awarded by the district in the following areas shall be awarded to women's businesses:
229.46(3)(a)
(a) Contracts for the construction of an exposition center.
229.46(3)(b)
(b) Contracts entered into by the district for the purchase of services to be performed at the exposition center.
