61.325
61.325
Trustee may be appointed president. A village trustee shall be eligible for appointment as village president to fill an unexpired term.
61.34
61.34
Powers of village board. 61.34(1)
(1)
General grant. Except as otherwise provided by law, the village board shall have the management and control of the village property, finances, highways, streets, navigable waters, and the public service, and shall have power to act for the government and good order of the village, for its commercial benefit and for the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public, and may carry its powers into effect by license, regulation, suppression, borrowing, taxation, special assessment, appropriation, fine, imprisonment, and other necessary or convenient means. The powers hereby conferred shall be in addition to all other grants and shall be limited only by express language.
61.34(2)
(2) Cooperation with other municipalities. The village board, in behalf of the village, may join with other villages or cities in a cooperative arrangement for executing any power or duty in order to attain greater economy or efficiency, including joint employment of appointive officers and employees.
61.34(3)
(3) Acquisition and disposal of property. The village board may acquire property, real or personal, within or outside the village, for parks, libraries, recreation, beautification, streets, water systems, sewage or waste disposal, harbors, improvement of watercourses, public grounds, vehicle parking areas, and for any other public purpose; may acquire real property within or contiguous to the village, by means other than condemnation, for industrial sites; may improve and beautify the same; may construct, own, lease and maintain buildings on such property for instruction, recreation, amusement and other public purposes; and may sell and convey such property. Condemnation shall be as provided by
ch. 32.
61.34(3m)
(3m) Acquisition of easements and property rights. Confirming all powers granted to the village board and in furtherance thereof, the board is expressly authorized to acquire by gift, purchase or condemnation under
ch. 32 any and all property rights in lands or waters, including rights of access and use, negative or positive easements, restrictive covenants, covenants running with the land, scenic easements and any rights for use of property of any nature whatsoever, however denominated, which may be lawfully acquired for the benefit of the public or for any public purpose, including the exercise of powers granted under
ss. 61.35 and
62.23; and may sell and convey such easements or property rights when no longer needed for public use or protection.
61.34(4)
(4) Village finances. The village board may levy and provide for the collection of taxes and special assessments; may refund any tax or special assessment paid, or any part thereof, when satisfied that the same was unjust or illegal; and generally may manage the village finances. The village board may loan money to any school district located within the village or within which the village is wholly or partially located in such sums as are needed by such district to meet the immediate expenses of operating the schools thereof, and the board of the district may borrow money from such village accordingly and give its note therefor. No such loan shall be made to extend beyond August 30 next following the making thereof or in an amount exceeding one-half of the estimated receipts for such district as certified by the state superintendent of public instruction and the local school clerk. The rate of interest on any such loan shall be determined by the village board.
61.34(5)
(5) Construction of powers. For the purpose of giving to villages the largest measure of self-government in accordance with the spirit of
article XI, section 3, of the constitution it is hereby declared that this chapter shall be liberally construed in favor of the rights, powers and privileges of villages to promote the general welfare, peace, good order and prosperity of such villages and the inhabitants thereof.
61.34 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
118.105 for control of traffic on school premises.
61.34 Annotation
When a municipality's power to contract is improperly or irregularly exercised and the municipality receives a benefit under the contract, it is estopped from asserting the invalidity of the contract. Village of McFarland v. Town of Dunn,
82 Wis. 2d 469,
263 N.W.2d 167 (1978).
61.34 Annotation
A village was authorized under ss. 30.77 (3) and 61.34 (1) to enact an ordinance granting exclusive temporary use of a portion of a lake for public water exhibition licensees. State v. Village of Lake Delton,
93 Wis. 2d 78,
286 N.W.2d 622 (Ct. App. 1979).
61.34 Annotation
The delegation of village powers to a non-governmental entity is discussed. Save Elkhart Lake v. Elkhart Lake Village,
181 Wis. 2d 778,
512 N.W.2d 202 (Ct. App. 1993).
61.34 Annotation
The state regulatory scheme for tobacco sales preempts municipalities from adopting regulations that are not in strict conformity with those of the state. U.S. Oil, Inc. v. City of Fond du Lac,
199 Wis. 2d 333,
544 N.W.2d 589 (Ct. App. 1995),
95-0213.
61.34 Annotation
It was not a violation of this section, s. 236.45, or the public purpose doctrine for a municipality to assume the dual role of subdivider of property it owned and reviewer of the plat under ch. 236. Town of Beloit v. Rock County,
2001 WI App 256,
249 Wis. 2d 88,
637 N.W.2d 71,
00-1231.
61.34 Annotation
One who deals with a municipality does so at his or her own risk and may be subject to any provisions of law that might prevent him or her from being paid by a municipality even though the services are rendered. Unless the power to bind the municipality financially has been specifically delegated, the only entity with the statutory authority to contract is the municipality. Holzbauer v. Safway Steel Products, Inc.
2005 WI App 240,
288 Wis. 2d 250,
711 N.W.2d 672,
04-2058.
61.34 Annotation
The line distinguishing general police power regulation from zoning ordinances is far from clear. The question of whether a particular enactment constitutes a zoning ordinance is often a matter of degree. Broad statements of the purposes of zoning and the purposes of an ordinance are not helpful in distinguishing a zoning ordinance from an ordinance enacted pursuant to non-zoning police power. The statutorily enumerated purposes of zoning are not the exclusive domain of zoning regulation. A more specific and analytically helpful formulation of the purpose of zoning, at least in the present case, is to separate incompatible land uses. Multiple factors are considered and discussed. Zwiefelhofer v. Town of Cooks Valley,
2012 WI 7,
338 Wis. 2d 488,
809 N.W.2d 362,
10-2398.
61.34 Annotation
State statutory enabling legislation is required to authorize enactment of typical rent control ordinances. 62 Atty. Gen. 276.
61.34 Annotation
Local units of government may not create and accumulate unappropriated surplus funds. However, a local unit of government may maintain reasonable amounts necessary in the exercise of sound business principles to meet the immediate cash flow needs of the municipality during the current budgetary period or to accumulate needed capital in non-lapsing funds to finance specifically identified future capital expenditures.
76 Atty. Gen. 77.
61.34 Annotation
Article VIII, section 5 restricts the state from levying taxes to create a surplus having no public purpose. Although the constitutional provision does not apply directly to municipalities, the same limitation applies indirectly to them because the state cannot delegate more power than it has.
76 Atty. Gen. 77.
61.34 Annotation
Conflicts between state statutes and local ordinances in Wisconsin. 1975 WLR 840.
61.342
61.342
Direct legislation. The provisions of
s. 9.20, relating to direct legislation, shall be applicable to villages.
61.342 History
History: 1989 a. 273.
61.345
61.345
Recycling or resource recovery facilities. A village may establish and require use of facilities for the recycling of solid waste or for the recovery of resources from solid waste as provided under
s. 287.13.
61.35
61.35
Village planning. Section 62.23 applies to villages, and the powers and duties conferred and imposed by
s. 62.23 upon mayors, councils and specified city officials are hereby conferred upon presidents, village boards, and village officials performing duties similar to the duties of such specified city officials, respectively. Any ordinance or resolution passed prior to May 30, 1925, by any village board under s.
61.35, 1923 stats., shall remain in effect until repealed or amended by such village board.
61.35 History
History: 1981 c. 390.
61.35 Annotation
The line distinguishing general police power regulation from zoning ordinances is far from clear. The question of whether a particular enactment constitutes a zoning ordinance is often a matter of degree. Broad statements of the purposes of zoning and the purposes of an ordinance are not helpful in distinguishing a zoning ordinance from an ordinance enacted pursuant to non-zoning police power. The statutorily enumerated purposes of zoning are not the exclusive domain of zoning regulation. A more specific and analytically helpful formulation of the purpose of zoning, at least in the present case, is to separate incompatible land uses. Multiple factors are considered and discussed. Zwiefelhofer v. Town of Cooks Valley,
2012 WI 7,
338 Wis. 2d 488,
809 N.W.2d 362,
10-2398.
61.351
61.351
Zoning of wetlands in shorelands. 61.351(1)
(1)
Definitions. As used in this section:
61.351(2)
(2) Filled wetlands. Any wetlands which are filled prior to the date on which a village receives a final wetlands map from the department of natural resources in a manner which affects their characteristics as wetlands are filled wetlands and not subject to an ordinance adopted under this section.
61.351(2m)
(2m) Certain wetlands on landward side of an established bulkhead line. Any wetlands on the landward side of a bulkhead line, established by the village under
s. 30.11 prior to May 7, 1982 and between that bulkhead line and the ordinary high-water mark are exempt wetlands and not subject to an ordinance adopted under this section.
61.351(3)
(3) Adoption of ordinance. To effect the purposes of
s. 281.31 and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, each village shall zone by ordinance all unfilled wetlands of 5 acres or more which are shown on the final wetland inventory maps prepared by the department of natural resources for the village under
s. 23.32, which are located in any shorelands and which are within its incorporated area. A village may zone by ordinance any unfilled wetlands which are within its incorporated area at any time.
61.351(4)(a)(a)
Powers and procedures. Except as provided under
sub. (5),
s. 61.35 applies to ordinances and amendments enacted under this section.
61.351(4)(b)
(b)
Impact on other zoning ordinances. If a village ordinance enacted under
s. 61.35 affecting wetlands in shorelands is more restrictive than an ordinance enacted under this section affecting the same lands, it continues to be effective in all respects to the extent of the greater restrictions, but not otherwise.
61.351(5)
(5) Repair and expansion of existing structures permitted. Notwithstanding
s. 62.23 (7) (h), an ordinance adopted under this section may not prohibit the repair, reconstruction, renovation, remodeling or expansion of a nonconforming structure in existence on the effective date of an ordinance adopted under this section or any environmental control facility in existence on the effective date of an ordinance adopted under this section related to that structure.
61.351(5m)
(5m) Restoration of certain nonconforming structures. 61.351(5m)(a)(a) Restrictions that are applicable to damaged or destroyed nonconforming structures and that are contained in an ordinance adopted under this section may not prohibit the restoration of a nonconforming structure if the structure will be restored to the size, subject to
par. (b), location, and use that it had immediately before the damage or destruction occurred, or impose any limits on the costs of the repair, reconstruction, or improvement if all of the following apply:
61.351(5m)(a)1.
1. The nonconforming structure was damaged or destroyed on or after March 2, 2006.
61.351(5m)(a)2.
2. The damage or destruction was caused by violent wind, vandalism, fire, flood, ice, snow, mold, or infestation.
61.351(5m)(b)
(b) An ordinance adopted under this section to which
par. (a) applies shall allow for the size of a structure to be larger than the size it was immediately before the damage or destruction if necessary for the structure to comply with applicable state or federal requirements.
61.351(6)
(6) Failure to adopt ordinance. If any village does not adopt an ordinance required under
sub. (3) within 6 months after receipt of final wetland inventory maps prepared by the department of natural resources for the village under
s. 23.32, or if the department of natural resources, after notice and hearing, determines that a village adopted an ordinance which fails to meet reasonable minimum standards in accomplishing the shoreland protection objectives of
s. 281.31 (1), the department of natural resources shall adopt an ordinance for the village. As far as applicable, the procedures set forth in
s. 87.30 apply to this subsection.
61.351 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
NR 117, Wis. adm. code.
61.352
61.352
Required notice on certain approvals. 61.352(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), a village that issues a building permit or other approval for construction activity, shall give the applicant a written notice as specified in
subs. (3) and
(4) at the time the building permit is issued.
61.352(2)(b)1.1. A village is not required to give the notice under
par. (a) at the time that it issues a building permit if the village issues the building permit on a standard building permit form prescribed by the department of safety and professional services.
61.352(2)(b)2.
2. A village is not required to give the notice under
par. (a) at the time that it issues a building permit or other approval if the building permit or other approval is for construction activity that does not involve any land disturbing activity including removing protective ground cover or vegetation, or excavating, filling, covering, or grading land.
61.352(3)
(3) Each notice shall contain the following language: “YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS CONCERNING CONSTRUCTION NEAR OR ON WETLANDS, LAKES, AND STREAMS. WETLANDS THAT ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH OPEN WATER CAN BE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL OR MODIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION THAT VIOLATES THE LAW OR OTHER PENALTIES OR COSTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WETLANDS IDENTIFICATION WEB PAGE OR CONTACT A DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SERVICE CENTER."
61.352(4)
(4) The notice required in
sub. (2) (a) shall contain the electronic Web site address that gives the recipient of the notice direct contact with that Web site.
61.352(5)
(5) A village in issuing a notice under this section shall require that the applicant for the building permit sign a statement acknowledging that the person has received the notice.
61.352 History
History: 2009 a. 373;
2011 a. 32.
61.353
61.353
Zoning of annexed or incorporated shorelands. 61.353(1)(a)
(a) “Principal building" means the main building or structure on a single lot or parcel of land and includes any attached garage or attached porch.
61.353(2)
(2) Every village shall, on or before July 1, 2014, enact an ordinance that applies to all of the following shorelands:
61.353(2)(a)
(a) A shoreland that was annexed by the village after May 7, 1982, and that prior to annexation was subject to a county shoreland zoning ordinance under
s. 59.692.
61.353(2)(b)
(b) For a village that incorporated after April 30, 1994, under
s. 66.0203,
66.0211, or
66.0213, a shoreland that before incorporation by the village was part of a town that was subject to a county shoreland zoning ordinance under
s. 59.692.
61.353(3)
(3) A village ordinance enacted under this section shall accord and be consistent with the requirements and limitations under
s. 59.692 (1d),
(1f), and
(1k) and shall include at least all of the following provisions:
61.353(3)(a)
(a) A provision establishing a shoreland setback area of at least 50 feet from the ordinary high-water mark, except as provided in
par. (b).
61.353(3)(b)
(b) A provision authorizing construction or placement of a principal building within the shoreland setback area established under
par. (a) if all of the following apply:
61.353(3)(b)1.
1. The principal building is constructed or placed on a lot or parcel of land that is immediately adjacent on each side to a lot or parcel of land containing a principal building.
61.353(3)(b)2.
2. The principal building is constructed or placed within a distance equal to the average setback of the principal building on the adjacent lots or 35 feet from the ordinary high-water mark, whichever distance is greater.
61.353(5)
(5) Provisions of a county shoreland zoning ordinance under
s. 59.692 that were applicable, prior to annexation, to any shoreland annexed by a village after May 7, 1982, shall continue in effect and shall be enforced after annexation by the annexing village until the effective date of an ordinance enacted by the village under
sub. (2).
61.353(6)
(6) Provisions of a county shoreland zoning ordinance under
s. 59.692 that were applicable prior to incorporation to any shoreland that is part of a town that incorporates as a village under
s. 66.0203,
66.0211, or
66.0213 after April 30, 1994, shall continue in effect and shall be enforced after incorporation by the incorporated village until the effective date of an ordinance enacted by the village under
sub. (2).
61.353(7)
(7) An ordinance enacted under
sub. (2) does not apply to lands adjacent to an artificially constructed drainage ditch, pond, or stormwater retention basin if the drainage ditch, pond, or retention basin is not hydrologically connected to a natural navigable water body.
61.353 History
History: 2013 a. 80;
2015 a. 55.
61.354
61.354
Construction site erosion control and storm water management zoning. 61.354(1)
(1)
Definition. As used in this section, “department" means the department of natural resources.
61.354(2)
(2) Authority to enact ordinance. To effect the purposes of
s. 281.33 and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare, a village may enact a zoning ordinance, that is applicable to all of its incorporated area, for construction site erosion control at sites described in
s. 281.33 (3) (a) 1. a. and
b. and for storm water management. This ordinance may be enacted separately from ordinances enacted under
s. 61.35. An ordinance enacted under this subsection is subject to the strict conformity requirements under
s. 281.33 (3m).
61.354(4)
(4) Applicability of village zoning provisions. 61.354(4)(a)(a) Except as otherwise specified in this section,
s. 61.35 applies to any ordinance or amendment to an ordinance enacted under this section.
61.354(4)(b)
(b) Variances and appeals regarding construction site erosion control and storm water management regulations under this section are to be determined by the board of appeals or similar agency for that village. To the extent specified under
s. 61.35, procedures under
s. 62.23 (7) (e) apply to these determinations.
61.354(4)(c)
(c) An ordinance enacted under this section supersedes all provisions of an ordinance enacted under
s. 61.35 that relate to construction site erosion control at sites described in
s. 281.33 (3) (a) 1. a. and
b. or to storm water management regulation.
61.354(5)
(5) Applicability of comprehensive zoning plan or general zoning ordinance. Ordinances enacted under this section shall accord and be consistent with any comprehensive zoning plan or general zoning ordinance applicable to the enacting villages, so far as practicable.
61.354(6)
(6) Applicability of local subdivision regulation. All powers granted to a village under
s. 236.45 may be exercised by it with respect to construction site erosion control at sites described in
s. 281.33 (3) (a) 1. a. and
b. or with respect to storm water management regulation, if the village has or provides a planning commission or agency.
61.354(7)
(7) Applicability to local governments and agencies. An ordinance enacted under this section is applicable to activities conducted by a unit of local government and an agency of that unit of government. An ordinance enacted under this section is not applicable to activities conducted by an agency, as defined under
s. 227.01 (1) but also including the office of district attorney, which is subject to the state plan promulgated or a memorandum of understanding entered into under
s. 281.33 (2).
61.354(8)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (c),
s. 66.0301 applies to this section, but for the purposes of this section any agreement under
s. 66.0301 shall be effected by ordinance.
61.354(8)(b)
(b) If a village is served by a regional planning commission under
s. 66.0309 and if the commission consents, the village may empower the commission by ordinance to administer the ordinance enacted under this section throughout the village, whether or not the area otherwise served by the commission includes all of that village.
