Chapter 229

229.842   Creation and organization.

229.843   Jurisdiction.

229.844   Powers of a district.

229.845   Minority contracting goals; disabled veteran-owned business contracting goals.

229.846   Powers granted to a sponsoring city.

229.847   Dissolution of a district.

229.848   Transfers; transfer agreements.

229.849   District bonds and debt not public debt.

229.850   Special fund for payment of principal and interest costs on certain bonds.

229.851   State pledge.

229.852   Pledge of revenues.

229.853   Trust funds.

229.854   Sponsoring city employment regulations.

subch. I of ch. 229 SUBCHAPTER I

POPULOUS CITIES

229.11 229.11 First class city museums. Any city of the 1st class however incorporated may establish and maintain, for the free use of the inhabitants thereof, a public museum for the exhibition of objects in natural history, anthropology and history, either the several or any one of these specifically; and may receive, hold and manage any bequest, donation or loan for the establishment, increase or maintenance thereof, under such regulations and conditions as may be prescribed pursuant to law or agreed upon by and between the donors and said city.

229.11 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 27; Stats. 1971 s. 229.11; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 177.

229.12 229.12 Board of trustees, composition.

229.12(1) (1) The public museum shall be administered by a board of 10 trustees, consisting of:

229.12(1)(a) (a) The president of the board of school directors and the city superintendent of schools.

229.12(1)(b) (b) Seven members who shall be appointed by the mayor on the 3rd Tuesday in April. Three of the 7 members shall be selected from among the alderpersons holding a 4-year term, and shall serve as such trustees during their aldermanic terms; and the other 4 shall be selected from among the residents and taxpayers of the city, for original terms of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years, respectively, commencing on May 1 next after their appointment, and for successive terms of 4 years each.

229.12(1)(c) (c) One member who shall be a county board member residing in the county outside the city of the 1st class, who shall be appointed by the county executive and confirmed by the county board for a 4-year term commencing on May 1 next after the member’s appointment, and for successive terms of 4 years each.

229.12(2) (2) Said trustees shall take the official oath, and be subject to the restrictions, disabilities, liabilities, punishments and limitations prescribed by law as to alderpersons in such city. They shall not receive any compensation for their services as such trustees; and shall not individually become or cause themselves to become interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract or job for the purchase of any matter pertaining to the institution in their charge, or of fuel, furniture, stationery or other things necessary for the increase and maintenance thereof.

229.12 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 27; 1971 c. 211, 231; 1971 c. 307 ss. 29, 91; Stats. 1971 s. 229.12; 1979 c. 110; 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 177; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 184.

229.13 229.13 Board of trustees; annual meeting and general functions.

229.13(1) (1) The annual meeting of the board of trustees of the public museum shall be held on the 3rd Tuesday of May in each year, at which meeting a president shall be chosen annually from their number.

229.13(2) (2) The board shall have general care, control and supervision of the museum, its appurtenances, fixtures and furniture, and of the disbursements of all moneys belonging to the museum funds. The trustees of the public museum shall have charge of the receipt, selection, arrangement and disposition of the specimens and objects pertaining to such museum. The board shall prescribe regulations for the management, care, and use of the public museum, and adopt such measures as shall promote the public utility thereof, and may prescribe and enforce penalties for violations of such regulations.

229.13 History History: 1971 c. 152 ss. 27, 36m; Stats. 1971 s. 229.13; 1985 a. 177.

229.14 229.14 Director and employees; curators.

229.14(1) (1) At its first meeting the board of trustees shall elect by ballot a person of suitable learning, scientific attainments, ability and experience for director of the public museum. The director shall be selected in accordance with and shall be subject to the usual laws, rules and regulations of the city civil service commission. The director shall receive such compensation as shall be fixed by the board of trustees and shall be the secretary of the board.

229.14(2) (2) The board shall appoint and fix the compensation of such assistants and employees for the institution as they deem necessary and expedient.

229.14(3) (3) The board of the public museum may appoint an acting director whenever, in their discretion, the service of the museum shall require it, who shall also be acting secretary of the board and whose acts as such shall receive full credit.

229.14(4) (4) The board of the public museum may appoint as honorary curators persons who have manifested a special interest in the museum or some particular department thereof. Such curators shall perform such duties and have such privileges as may be prescribed in the regulations of the museum, but shall not receive any pecuniary compensation.

229.14 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 27; Stats. 1971 s. 229.14; 1979 c. 110; 1985 a. 177.

229.15 229.15 Museum funds; expenditures.

229.15(1) (1) Public museum funds appropriated to the museum by the common council shall not be used or appropriated, directly or indirectly, for any purpose other than the maintenance and increase, payment of the salaries of the employees, purchase of fuel, supplies, furniture and fixtures, or incidental repairs of the museum.

229.15(2) (2) All moneys appropriated for the purposes of said institutions shall be paid over to the city treasurer and credited to said funds, respectively. Each board of trustees shall provide for all necessary expenditures from each said fund, and all disbursements shall be made on orders of the president and secretary of the board, countersigned by the city comptroller; but, except as expressly provided otherwise, the board shall not in any one year expend or incur any liability for any sum in excess of the amount allocated to each such fund by the common council.

229.15 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 27; Stats. 1971 s. 229.15; 1985 a. 177.

229.16 229.16 Donations and miscellaneous receipts.

229.16(1) (1) All moneys, books, specimens and other property received by devise, bequest or gift for the purposes of the public museum shall, unless otherwise directed by the donor, be under the management and control of the board of trustees of the public museum.

229.16(2) (2) All moneys derived from penalties for violations of the regulations of the public museum, or from any other source in the course of the administration thereof, including all moneys paid to the city upon any policy of insurance or other obligation or liability for or on account of loss or damage to property pertaining to the public museum, shall be credited to public museum funds and may be expended in the manner prescribed in s. 229.15 (2), in addition to the annual tax.

229.16 History History: 1971 c. 152 ss. 27, 38; Stats. 1971 s. 229.16; 1985 a. 177.

229.17 229.17 Site, buildings and equipment. The board of trustees of the public museum shall erect, purchase, hire or lease buildings, lots, rooms and furniture for the use and accommodation of the public museum, and shall enlarge, improve and repair such buildings, rooms and furniture; but shall not erect, purchase, lease, or enlarge any building or lot without express authority of an ordinance or resolution of the common council. All deeds of conveyance and leases shall run to the city.

229.17 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 27; Stats. 1971 s. 229.17; 1985 a. 177.

229.18 229.18 Accountability; reports.

229.18(1) (1) Within 10 days after the appointment of a director or custodian or other salaried employees, the board of trustees of the museum shall report to and file with the city comptroller a certified list of the persons so appointed, stating the salary allowed to each and the time or times fixed for the payment thereof.

229.18(2) (2) Immediately after any meeting of the board at which accounts and bills are allowed, the board shall furnish such comptroller with a list of all accounts and bills allowed at said meeting, stating the character of the materials or services for which the same were rendered.

229.18(3) (3) On or before the first day of March in each year, the board shall make a report to the common council, for the year ending with the December 31 next prior thereto, containing a statement of the condition of the museum, the articles added to the museum, and such other information and suggestions as the board deems important, including also an account of the moneys credited to the museum fund, and the expenditures therefrom during the year.

229.18 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 27; Stats. 1971 s. 229.18; 1985 a. 177, 332.

229.19 229.19 Applicability of sections 229.11 to 229.18. Sections 229.11 to 229.18 so far as they relate to museums are extended to cities of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th class.

229.19 History History: 1971 c. 152 ss. 17, 38.

229.21 229.21 First class city auditoriums and music halls.

229.21(1) (1) Any city of the 1st class may establish and maintain public auditoriums and music halls; and may establish, maintain and operate the same jointly, share and share alike, by agreement between the common council of such city and any private corporation duly organized for that purpose.

229.21(2) (2) Such private corporation shall execute to the city a bond, in a sum determined and with sureties approved by said common council, conditioned that the said corporation will furnish its share of money as the same shall be required for the purposes specified in sub. (1).

229.21(3) (3) Said city may acquire all the stock of such corporation and become the sole owner of said auditorium and music halls; and any stockholder may transfer his or her stock to the city by sale, gift or otherwise. If the city shall be unable to agree with the holder upon the purchase price of any such stock, the city may purchase the same at a price to be determined by a board of arbitration consisting of 3 persons, one to be chosen by the common council, the 2nd by the owner of such stock, and the 3rd to be chosen by the aforesaid 2, and the determination of said board shall be final and conclusive upon the parties.

229.21(4) (4) Whenever such city shall have acquired any of the stock of such corporation, the common council shall elect one of its members or the mayor to represent the city at all meetings of the stockholders of the corporation, and shall be entitled to vote said stock; and all notices of such meeting shall be given to said mayor or member of the council in the manner such notices are given to any other stockholder.

229.21(5) (5) Whenever the city has acquired all the stock of the corporation, the corporation shall be dissolved as a result of the city’s action and the title to all its property shall vest in the city; thereupon the auditorium board provided for in s. 229.22 (1) and (2) shall be reorganized under s. 229.22 (3).

229.21(7) (7) Any such city may build additions to such auditoriums and for the purposes of any such addition, by action of the common council, issue revenue bonds under s. 66.0913 payable exclusively from income and revenues of any such addition and of any auditorium to which it is added which said auditoriums and additions thereto for such purpose are declared a public utility. Said private corporation shall not be required to contribute to any such addition. Any such addition shall be subject in all other respects to ss. 229.21 to 229.25.

229.21 History History: 1971 c. 152 ss. 29, 38; Stats. 1971 s. 229.21; 1975 c. 47; 1979 c. 110; 1983 a. 192; 1991 a. 316; 1999 a. 150 s. 672.

229.22 229.22 Auditorium board.

229.22(1) (1) The building, maintenance and operation of the institution shall be under the full and complete control of a board of 13 members, designated as the “Auditorium Board” and constituted as follows: Five of the members shall be elected by the corporation, from among its stockholders, for first terms of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively, and successive terms of 5 years each; and the other members shall consist of the mayor, city attorney, city comptroller, city treasurer, one alderperson member of the library board and a different alderperson member of the board of trustees of the public museum, of the city, selected respectively by the library board and the board of trustees and 2 alderpersons appointed by the president of the common council for terms of 5 years. An alderperson appointed by the president shall serve only while serving as alderperson.

229.22(2) (2) Within 10 days after the members of said board shall have been elected or appointed as aforesaid they shall hold a meeting and shall elect a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer from their number, who shall hold office until the 4th Tuesday of April of the next following even-numbered year, and shall thereafter be elected biennially on the 4th Tuesday in April of the even-numbered years, for a term of 2 years. The treasurer shall, immediately upon election, furnish to the board a bond equal to the amount of such funds as may come into the treasurer’s hands.

229.22(3) (3) If the auditorium corporation is dissolved under s. 229.21 (5), or its operation and existence is terminated by action of the corporation, by a court of competent jurisdiction or by any other means and certification of the termination is recorded in the office of the register of deeds of Milwaukee County, then the common council shall create, by ordinance or resolution, a new board to be designated as the “Auditorium Board” which shall be responsible for the building maintenance and operation of the institution. The common council shall determine, by ordinance or resolution, the number of members of the board, their manner of appointment and the terms for which they are appointed. Upon creation and appointment of members of the board created under this subsection, the board created under sub. (1) shall terminate its activities and shall cease to exist.

229.22(4) (4) The common council may merge, by ordinance or resolution, the auditorium board created under sub. (3) with the exposition and convention center and arena board under s. 229.26. If the boards are merged, the council shall also determine the number of members of the merged board, their manner of appointment and the length of the terms for which they are appointed. Upon creation and appointment of the merged board under this subsection the boards created under sub. (3) and s. 229.26 shall terminate their operation and cease to exist. The merged board shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the auditorium facility and shall have the duties and powers under s. 229.26.

229.22 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 29; Stats. 1971 s. 229.22; 1973 c. 35; 1975 c. 47; 1979 c. 110; 1985 a. 177; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 184, 301.

229.23 229.23 Property and finance.

229.23(1) (1) The title to all property acquired for the purposes of said institution shall be in the name of said city, and shall be held by said city perpetually for such purposes.

229.23(2) (2) Before incurring any liability, the auditorium board shall by resolution determine the amount of money necessary for the purposes of said institution; and thereupon said corporation shall pay into the auditorium fund one-half thereof, in such installments as may be required and agreed upon. All receipts on account of said institution shall be paid into, and all expenditures defrayed from the auditorium fund.

229.23(3) (3) If any such institution shall at any time when there shall be outstanding no bonds issued under s. 229.21 (7) become profit-earning, over and above the expense of maintenance, repairs, insurance and other expenses connected with the operation thereof, the net profits arising from the original auditorium shall be separated from those arising from the addition, and the net profits arising from the original auditorium shall be divided equally between said corporation and the city treasury, and the net profits from said addition shall be paid into the city treasury, the amounts paid into the city treasury from either source to be credited to the general city fund. If, however, at any time there shall be outstanding bonds issued under s. 229.21 (7), any net profit from such auditorium and such addition shall be applied from time to time, or held by the treasurer to apply on the interest and principal of said bonds.

229.23 History History: 1971 c. 152 ss. 29, 38; Stats. 1971 s. 229.23.

229.24 229.24 Operation.

229.24(1) (1) The auditorium board shall regulate and control the use of said institution, and fix the terms and conditions of its use; and shall do all things necessary for the maintenance and operation thereof.

229.24(2) (2) Said institution shall be used primarily for public meetings, conventions, expositions, and other purposes of a public nature, which are hereby declared to be public purposes; but not for exhibits or trade shows if a charge is made for space occupied by any exhibitor or when an admission fee is exacted.

229.24(3) (3) When not in use for any of said primary purposes, the board may rent said institution, or any part thereof, on such terms and for such purposes as may be deemed advisable and not inconsistent with said primary purposes.

229.24(4) (4) 

229.24(4)(a) (a) In this subsection:

229.24(4)(a)1. 1. “Convention” means a county, state, or national assembly of authorized, chosen, or elected delegates or representatives meeting to accomplish some specific commercial, industrial, labor, civil, social, scientific, or educational object.

229.24(4)(a)2. 2. “Patriotic affairs” means affairs given for the encouragement and support of the government in time of war, or for the benefit and support of soldiers, sailors, or marines who have been, or are in the service of the United States, including memorial exercises, exhibitions, fairs, reunions, entertainments, or barracks for such persons, and to all of which affairs the public is admitted without charge.

229.24(4)(c) (c) When not in use for any of its primary purposes, the common council of said city may authorize the gratuitous use of said institution, or any part thereof, for the purposes of conventions, or for offices, class rooms, studios, gymnasiums, lodge rooms, or accommodations for any industrial, commercial, scientific, educational, fraternal, musical, or labor organization which in its opinion will prove a public benefit to the city and promote the welfare and public interests of its citizens and to which said citizens are admitted without charge; and said purposes are hereby declared to be public purposes.

229.24(4)(d) (d) Whenever the common council shall approve the gratuitous use of the institution for the particular conventions and purposes specified in this subsection, said common council shall appropriate to the auditorium fund the usual and customary rentals charged therefor. The aggregate amount to be so expended may be made a part of the annual budget, as provided by ch. 65, 1943 stats.

229.24 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 29; Stats. 1971 s. 229.24; 1975 c. 94 s. 91 (9); 2015 a. 196.

229.25 229.25 Annual report. The auditorium board shall report annually to the common council all receipts into and disbursements from the auditorium fund, and the balance on hand.

229.25 History History: 1971 c. 152 s. 29; Stats. 1971 s. 229.25.

229.26 229.26 Exposition center.

229.26(1) (1) Any city of the 1st class may in addition to all other powers conferred upon it establish and maintain a convention complex and exposition center, hereinafter termed “convention institution”, for the purpose of holding conventions, public meetings, expositions, exhibits, trade shows, gatherings, conferences and other related purposes of a public nature which are hereby declared to be public purposes.

229.26(2) (2) The building, maintenance and operation of the convention institution shall be under the complete and autonomous control of a board which shall act independently and shall be designated as the “(city) Exposition and Convention Center and Arena Board”. Such board shall be composed of the number of members as provided for by resolution adopted by the common council of such city. The common council shall prescribe the terms of members of the board and shall designate the manner in which they shall be selected. The board may sue and be sued.

229.26(3) (3) The board shall have complete maintenance, supervision, control and operation of the convention institution and it shall regulate, control and designate the use thereof. The board shall also fix the terms and conditions for its use and do all things necessary for the maintenance and operation thereof and it shall handle all finances of the convention institution.

229.26(4) (4) Title to all property real or personal of the convention institution shall be in the name of such city and shall, except as provided in s. 229.47 (1), be held by such city for such purposes, but the board shall determine the use to which such property shall be devoted as provided for in this section.